Yu Shu and Jing Chen walked out of Tai Xi Lou one after the other. The former had a gloomy expression while the latter had a forbearing expression. No one spoke until they entered Kun Ling Ju. Yu Shu slowed her steps and let Jing Chen walk in front. Under the furtive glances of several pairs of eyes, she followed him to the second floor.
As soon as the two figures disappeared at the top of the stairs, several heads popped out from the waiting room and stretched their necks to look upstairs. Why did Yu Nuyu come back with You Ling Daren? What were the two of them talking about upstairs?
Yu Shu closed the door and turned around, almost bumping into Jing Chen's chest. "Xiao Yu, don't be angry. Listen to me —"
"Don't explain." She gently pushed him away and walked two steps around him. She turned around and said, "I don't blame you. I'm guessing that you didn't know beforehand."
Jing Chen nodded. This morning, the Emperor departed for Huazhen Garden. He and the Grand Commissioner were in the queue to see him off. After the imperial carriage left Anling City, they returned to the Celestial Commissioner. As soon as they sat down in Tai Xi Lou, the Grand Commissioner mentioned Emperor Zhao Qing's' request 'and sent someone to Kun Ling Ju to find Yu Shu. He didn't give him any room to refuse.
Yu Shu snorted coldly, "The Grand Commissioner definitely knows that you told me the secret of the great calamity, so he doesn't need to hide it in front of me. If the soft approach doesn't work, then use the hard approach."
She dared to say that when the Grand Commissioner proposed the marriage at Tai Xi Lou, if she refused in front of him, it would break the last remaining layer of window paper. The Grand Commissioner would definitely not be polite to her.
Jing Chen worriedly said, "When he asks for your answer the day after tomorrow, what will you do?"
Yu Shu paced back and forth. She couldn't come up with an idea after thinking about it. Just as her mind was in a mess, Jing Chen hesitantly said, "If it really doesn't work, just agree first. Just agree to it first. It will take some time to prepare for the wedding. We can drag it out as long as we can. "
"You make it sound so easy." Yu Shu mumbled. She had hidden this from Xue Rui. If she agreed to help him, what would Xue Rui think if he heard about it? Which man in this world could calmly face the news that the woman he loved was going to marry his rival in love, even if it was fake?
No matter how she thought about it, no matter how she answered the question. It was best to report this to Xue Rui in advance.
"Are you afraid that that person will misunderstand?" Jing Chen suddenly asked.
"Which person?" Yu Shu was absent-minded. He didn't understand.
"The person you like." Jing Chen slowed down his tone. "Haven't you told him about what happened between you and me?"
"Uh." Yu Shu's eyes darted around. She turned her head to hide her guilty conscience. "This is a matter of life and death. How could I tell him? "
She could only quietly apologize to Jing Chen in her heart. It wasn't that she deliberately lied to him. It was that she didn't want to expose Xue Rui. After all, Jing Chen and Xue Rui were brothers. She couldn't be sure that Jing Chen wouldn't hold a grudge after knowing the relationship between her and Xue Rui. The two brothers didn't wait for the day to recognize each other before they became enemies. Thinking about it, she felt guilty, even though she was the most innocent person.
"I'll go back and think of a way. You stay here." Yu Shu said and left in a hurry. She didn't notice Jing Chen's probing eyes behind her.
.....
Yu Shu left early from Kunling Bureau with her two inseparable followers. She worried about how to confess to Xue Rui that she was forced to marry. When she walked to the gate of the Celestial Commissioner, she saw a familiar carriage parked on the opposite street. She couldn't help but want to turn around and hide.
"This person really can't be nagged."
She walked over with a gloomy face. The coachman, Lao Chui, quickly put down a small stool for her to step on. He opened the heavy leather curtain with one hand. Yu Shu stuck her head in. Half of her body was still outside the carriage. She saw the person sitting next to Xue Rui. She was so surprised that she opened her mouth wide and hurriedly went into the carriage.
Jin Ke smiled and said, "Little sister, why are you so happy to see me?"
In the beginning, when Xue Rui introduced Yu Shu to Jin Ke, he addressed her as his sworn sister. Jin Ke had always considered himself as Xue Rui's older brother, so he followed suit and addressed her as' little sister. '
Yu Shu was so excited that she couldn't close her mouth. Seeing Jin Ke at this time was like seeing her savior.
"Jin Daxia, you're back so soon," she moved closer to him and said in a low voice, "Is Mister Yanye here too?" It was inconvenient to mention Yun Hua's name outside, so she addressed him by his wild name.
Jin Ke said with a stern face, "Don't call me Master. Just call me big brother like little brother."
"Yes, big brother." Yu Shu readily accepted his advice. She didn't care that Xue Rui had never called him that before. She asked with a shy face, "You came back alone?"
Jin Ke also moved forward like she did. He pouted at Xue Rui's direction and winked at her, "Godfather also came."
Yu Shu followed his gaze and looked at Xue Rui. It was not difficult to notice that even though Xue Rui pretended to be indifferent, he was actually the same as her. He was happy for Yun Hua's timely arrival.
"Where is the master? Are we going to see him now?"
"Don't worry, he is staying in the south of the city. That place is not easy to find. It is also not convenient to go during the day. When it gets dark, I will send you there quietly. I guarantee that no one will know." Jin Ke patted his chest and guaranteed.
Yu Shu nodded repeatedly. It was not convenient to move during the day. If they were followed, it would be harmful to Yun Hua.
Xue Rui said to her, "Jin Ke came back this morning. He first walked around Baochang Street and found that there were more than ten spies lying in ambush around your house. They surrounded the inside and outside of your house. There are people watching your every move. Don't let your guard down. When it gets dark, change into clothes that are easy to walk in and wait in your room. You don't have to do anything. Jin Ke will bring you out. "
Yu Shu was secretly shocked, but she also knew why there were so many spies in front of her house.
The three of them carefully confirmed tonight's action. Xue Rui sent Yu Shu home and left. In the end, Yu Shu couldn't tell him that she had already started to prepare to risk her life for Jing Chen. Xue Rui also couldn't tell her about Xue Lingnan's arrangements.
The two of them carefully explored their future. They both hoped that after they saw Yun Hua tonight, everything would be explained.
***
At night, Yu Shu had dinner early. She sent away the maidservants in the house and stated that she was going to perform divination tonight. No one was allowed to disturb her. Only An Beikui was left outside to keep watch.
After closing the door, Yu Shu rummaged through the wardrobe and found a set of dark-colored cotton-padded clothes and trousers. Then, she tied her long hair on top of her head. She put on a gray leather hat and a pair of cotton shoes with a thousand layers of soles. After she was ready, she sat by the bed and waited.
At about seven o 'clock, she stared at the candlelight on the table. Suddenly, she heard an owl's cry outside the window behind the house. She immediately stood up and opened the window.
It was dark outside. Suddenly, a hand came out and grabbed the windowsill with a few fingers. Fortunately, Yu Shu was brave. She wasn't frightened by him.
The terrain behind the house was low. The window was about six or seven feet above the ground. Jin Ke jumped in lightly. He was dressed in night clothes. He was wrapped tightly from head to toe. Only his eyes were exposed, shining brightly. He glanced at what Yu Shu was wearing. His eyes curved and he handed her a bag. A low voice came from behind the mask.
"Wrap yourself outside. Don't make a sound."
Yu Shu thought she was wearing the same nocturnal clothes as him, but when she opened the bundle, she found a large black cloak. She didn't ask much and put it on as he said. Jin Ke nodded and jumped out of the window.
"Little sister, jump down. Don't be afraid. You won't fall."
Yu Shu used her hands and feet to climb up the window. She looked at the dark ground, swallowed her saliva, and jumped down. She didn't expect a pair of hands to grab her knees. Before her feet could touch the ground, she was carried on someone's shoulder. Her vision blurred, and she flew up.
She almost didn't cry out. The wind whistled in her ears, and the light and shadow flowed backward. Jin Ke was like a flying arrow, carrying her effortlessly on the roofs and walls.
Before Yu Shu could recover, she was brought out of the mansion by him. After running for a while, they stopped at an unfamiliar alley. Only then did he put her down on the ground. He helped the dizzy and blurry Yu Shu into the sedan that had been prepared a long time ago. He and Gui Liu, one in front and one behind, quickly carried her away.
After an hour, Yu Shu met up with Xue Rui in a simple and crude inn in the south of the city. She'd vomited on the way, and her countenance was ghastly pale. Jin Ke followed her with an apologetic face and explained to Xue Rui in a low voice,
"I ran a little too fast."
Yu Shu let Xue Rui help her to sit down. She waved her hand and said, "It's not your fault. I ate too much for dinner."
There were only three of them in the room, and Gui Liu was outside. Xue Rui poured hot water for her and said, "Mr. Yanye is nearby. You can rest for a while before we go."
Yu Shu took a few sips of hot tea to warm her stomach. She shook her head and said, "No, I'm fine. Let's go." She really couldn't wait.
Xue Rui had no choice but to take out a disguise from the lacquer box on the tea table. He raised her chin and added a few pockmarks on her face. He also drew two thick eyebrows for her. Yu Shu touched her face. She didn't know what he had done to her, but when she saw that he only stuck two moustaches on his lips and still looked elegant, she felt that something was wrong and couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going?"
Jin Ke laughed dryly. Xue Rui didn't answer. He straightened her fur hat and pulled her up, saying, "You'll know when we get there."
The three of them came out from the back door and separated into two groups. When they reached the street, Jin Ke disappeared in a flash. It was already midnight. There were few pedestrians on the road. Most of the shops on the street were closed. Only one tavern was still lit.
In a daze, Yu Shu followed Xue Rui and walked for a while, turning left and right. Suddenly, she heard the sound of music from afar. She didn't know how many street corners they had turned, but the scene suddenly changed. She was intoxicated by the fragrance of colorful flowers.
Oh my, there was a brothel hidden in this place!
"Aiyo, Young Master, come to our Sky Fragrance Courtyard!"
"Sir, please come in and have a drink to warm your body. How about I sing a song for you?"
The street was so narrow that not even a carriage could enter, but there was a group of enchanting women squeezing in front of their doors and giggling. Colorful handkerchiefs fluttered in the air, dazzling Yu Shu's eyes. If she wasn't careful, she would almost be pulled in.
Xue Rui pulled her back imperceptibly, and with a cold expression, he waved away a few prostitutes that were blocking his path. Not only did he not make anyone afraid, there was instead a young woman who giggled in a silly manner. She stared fixedly at Xue Rui's rarely seen handsome face and winked at him. "Big Brother, you're so strong.
Then she reached out to touch Xue Rui's chest. Her long, hooked nails, in Yu Shu's eyes, looked like the claws of a white bone spirit.
Her eyes lit up. She didn't wait for Xue Rui to dodge. She slapped the claws away and squeezed in front of him. She pushed him with her hands. No matter if she touched the girl's chest or shoulder, she only cared about moving forward. She slapped left and right, and she didn't know how many hands she hit. She opened a path for Xue Rui. Along the way, she didn't let any seductress touch him.
Xue Rui looked at her and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Seeing that she was about to go too far, he hurriedly grabbed her and whispered, "We're here."
Yu Shu stopped and looked up. There was a horizontal board hanging on the door of the brothel. The board had the words "Red Flower House" written on it. It was very vulgar. The prostitutes at the door quickly stuck to them like flies. This time, Xue Rui didn't push them away. Instead, he pulled Yu Shu inside. He called the brothel keeper and threw a silver ingot to her.
"I heard that you have a Miss Qianqian here?"
The brothel keeper quickly put the ingot into her sleeve. Her expression was awkward. "I'm here to look for Qianqian. Coincidentally, she's not feeling well today. She hasn't received any customers for the whole day. How about we change someone else? How about letting Yanyan serve you? "
Xue Rui took out another ingot. He waved it in front of her. The brothel keeper's expression immediately changed. "Oh, look at my memory. Qianqian wasn't feeling well yesterday, but she's fine today. Please come upstairs. This servant will call her out to meet the customers."
The two of them followed her upstairs. The stairs were narrow and could only accommodate one person. Yu Shu walked at the back. When the brothel keeper wasn't paying attention, she pinched his waist.
Xue Rui was in pain. He turned around and looked at her.
Yu Shu glared at him. 'What Qianqian and Yanyan? Where the hell is this place?'
Xue Rui's eyes were innocent. He paused for a moment and leaned over to her ear. He whispered, "You'll know when you see her."
Yu Shu let him go. They followed the brothel keeper to a room at the top of the second floor. The brothel keeper knocked on the door and said, "Qianqian, there's a guest here. Hurry up and get dressed."
After a while, a sweet voice came from inside. "Mom, wait for me to put on my clothes."
A layer of goosebumps appeared on Yu Shu's body when she heard the voice, and she waited patiently outside the door. During this period of time, she stole a few glances at Xue Rui, and she noticed that his chin was tightly clenched, so she knew that he wasn't completely looking forward to their next meeting.
She could completely understand that this time was different from the last time. When they met Yun Hua at the Return Residence, Xue Rui didn't know that Yun Hua was his father at all. This time, however, it was a real meeting between father and son. No matter who it was, if they had never seen their biological father since they were young, they would definitely feel at a loss when they suddenly had to meet their biological father after twenty years.
Not long after, footsteps could be heard from the other side of the door. It sounded like someone was dragging their shoes to open the door.
"Creak." The door opened a gap, but the person inside did not come out. Instead, he dragged his feet and went inside again. The brothel keeper smiled at them apologetically and pushed the door open.
"Sir, please go in. Qianqian is waiting." As she spoke, she pulled Yu Shu. "Little brother, follow me downstairs to listen to some music. Don't stay here and hinder your young master."
It turned out that the brothel keeper treated Yu Shu as a servant. Before her face darkened, Xue Rui separated the brothel keeper and sent her away with a few words. He then pulled Yu Shu into the room and closed the door from the inside.
Yu Shu stepped on his foot indignantly and took the lead to walk in. When she raised her head, she was stunned. The room was not big. There were two partitions inside and outside. A layer of gauze hung on the wall, and two screens blocked the door. There was a low couch on the opposite side of the room, and it was covered with a rose red mattress. A person was sitting cross-legged on the mattress. He was wearing a red coat and a fluffy shawl. His hair was tied up, and his hair was tied up with red hairpins and jade rings. His face was pretty, but he had a pair of slanted eyes. No matter how she looked at him, he looked familiar.
"You, you aren't, aren't you that, that who …"
The person rolled his eyes and flung the shawl off his shoulders. "Zhao Xiaozhu. I'm Zhao Xiaozhu. What kind of memory do you have?"
Yu Shu suddenly understood. Wasn't this brothel girl called Qianqian the boy they met in An Xian?
"So you're a girl!"
"Bah bah," Zhao Xiaozhu grumbled unhappily, "Who's a girl? I'm a man, I guarantee you're the real deal."
Yu Shu clicked her tongue in wonder. She stared at him and said, "Really? I can't tell at all."
Zhao Xiaozhu glared at her. "Same here. I couldn't tell you were a girl the first time I saw you."
The two of them started bickering the moment they met. Xue Rui stood at the side. He was much more at ease than when he entered the room. He looked around, and his gaze finally fell on a door in the inner room.
As if in response to his gaze, the door was gently pulled open from the inside. The bead curtain was moved, and a black marten coat came into view. First was a pair of brand-new boots, then a pearl belt, and finally a pair of amorous peach blossom eyes. His whole person walked out of the darkness.
There was suddenly no sound in the room. Yu Shu's words were stuck in her throat. She looked at the man who suddenly appeared. Her mind was a little slow.
Yun Hua was dressed much more neatly than the last time they met. His hair was no longer disheveled, and he was no longer dressed in linen clothes and cloth shoes. He looked very spirited. If it were not for the white hair at his temples that revealed his age, he would have mesmerized many young girls.
Yu Shu guessed that he probably changed his clothes to give a good impression to Xue Rui.
She turned to look at Xue Rui, and then compared him to Yun Hua. She had to admit that although the father and son did not look alike, if they stood together, based on their temperament alone, no one would deny that they were father and son.
"You're here." Yun Hua nodded gently at Xue Rui. There was an indescribable heat in his eyes.
Yu Shu blinked and suddenly reacted. She looked at him in surprise. "You, you can speak?"
Although Yun Hua's voice was hoarse and unpleasant to the ears, and one could not even hear what he said if they did not pay attention, he did make a sound. He was not a mute like she previously thought.
Xue Rui frowned. Yun Hua stared at him intently. Zhao Xiaozhu was afraid that they would misunderstand, so he quickly explained on Yun Hua's behalf, "Foster father's throat is indeed burned. It's not that he can't speak, it's that he can't speak. I haven't heard him speak for many years. Who knew that he would ignore all of you the moment he saw you."
As he spoke, he turned around to support Yun Hua. He wanted to help him sit down and rebuked him in a low voice, "Don't make a sound. You'll cough up blood again later. I'll go and prepare a pen and paper."
Yun Hua gently pushed Zhao Xiaozhu's arm away. He shook his head and refused his support. He took a step forward and stood in front of Xue Rui. He met Xue Rui's deep gaze and smiled. He said slowly and stubbornly,
"Shi Ning, this is the name your mother gave you. She hoped that you would live up to your name and live a peaceful life."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
