"I thought you'd chased your way into the Shifangzhai. Who would've thought you'd be hiding in this alley, peeping, my dear senior brother." Xu Ruhui gloated with a laugh. "Why don't you just go in? I promise I'll catch you when sister - in - law throws you out later."
Lu Yan cursed, "Is the Marquis's Mansion so idle? Why are you blabbering so much here? Do you want me to assign you more tasks?"
Xu Ruhui quickly raised his hands. "Hey, no no no. I, your junior brother, have so many things to do that I'm swamped. It's just that I separated from senior brother in the carriage just now. As the saying goes, a moment's separation feels like three autumns. I feel so restless without seeing senior brother that I left my official duties and ran out."
"Then I really have to thank you for your longing." Lu Yan forced a smile.
"Senior brother, you're too kind." Xu Ruhui grinned.
Lu Yan was too lazy to bother with him and turned his head to continue staring at the main entrance of the Shifangzhai.
"Why hasn't sister - in - law come out yet? How long has she been in there?"
Xu Ruhui "snapped" open his fan and pretended to fan himself in the cold weather. The cold wind from the fan made Lu Yan shiver. Lu Yan was so angry that he slapped Xu Ruhui directly on the face. "Get out of here right now!"
"What are you doing, senior brother? You can't even catch up with sister - in - law. Aren't I here to help you out of pity? Although three cobblers may equal Zhuge Liang, and we're only two people, at least we can help you get a kiss, right?" Xu Ruhui covered his face and complained.
Lu Yan: "..." Facts proved that one shouldn't think they can have a good conversation with a thick - skinned guy.
Lu Yan took a few deep breaths and was about to ignore Xu Ruhui as if he were air. But Xu Ruhui brought up the wrong topic again. "It's almost dawn and she still hasn't come out. Could she have spent the night with a beautiful courtesan inside?"
Lu Yan's face turned ashen, the veins on his forehead throbbed a few times, and a low - pressure aura surrounded him.
It wasn't until the sun slowly rose and the streets and alleys were once again filled with pedestrians and hawkers that Lu Yan finally said with a gloomy face and a hoarse voice, "Let's go back to the mansion."
Shen Qingfeng came back late yesterday, but he opened his eyes as soon as the birds started singing this morning. He was a light sleeper. This bad habit started when he was a child, wandering outside with his mother, and unexpectedly, he had carried it with him all his life.
A Man brought the washing water early. She set up a small table on the bed and wiped Shen Qingfeng's face while he was still sitting in the quilt. After being reborn, Shen Qingfeng had become a bit lazier. Maybe because the obsessions in his heart had been cut off, he gradually relaxed his nerves and let A Man wipe his face. A Man quickly finished washing him and then asked what he wanted for breakfast.
Shen Qingfeng casually mentioned a few desserts. A Man nodded understandingly and trotted out with the washbasin.
It was already late morning. Since Shen Shiqiu and Shen Yu were both busy today, Shen Qingfeng felt embarrassed to lie in bed any longer. So he got up, dressed himself, and tidied up. When A Man came in with breakfast, she was stunned for a moment and asked, "Is the young master going out today?"
"Yes." Shen Qingfeng nodded. Last night, Liu Mei had given him some information that could help him avoid "people he didn't want to see". But this information surely wasn't free. The Shifangzhai was a business, and businesses always made fair deals. They would never provide information for free. So he planned to go to the Shifangzhai again today to find out what the other party wanted from him in exchange, so as to prevent them from raising the price later.
Moreover, if he wanted to protect the Shen family, it was better to get in touch with Liu Mei earlier.
"Where are you going?" A Man pouted. "The young master's body hasn't fully recovered yet. What if you catch some illness when you go out?"
Shen Qingfeng smiled and sighed, "Don't I know how to take care of my own body? Don't worry."
Just then, Uncle Zhong's voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Young master."
Shen Qingfeng was taken aback. He walked to the door and opened it. "Uncle Zhong, what do you want from me?"
Although Uncle Zhong was old, he was still very strong and spoke with full energy. "The master just sent word that the young master should stay at home today. He'll come back after the court session."
"Does father have something to tell me?"
Uncle Zhong just shook his head. "This old servant doesn't know."
Shen Qingfeng was silent for a while. As if suddenly thinking of something, he said understandingly, "I see. I'll wait for father to come home at home."
Uncle Zhong responded and then asked if Shen Qingfeng's body was better and if he still felt uncomfortable. Shen Qingfeng answered one by one. Only then did Uncle Zhong nod reassuringly and turn to leave.
A Man slowly closed the door and then stood outside waiting. Shen Qingfeng walked back to the table alone. Looking at the breakfast laid out on the table, he let out a long sigh.
He knew why his father didn't let him go out.
In the previous life, on the second day after Lu Yan entered the capital, Xia Chuli came to the Marquis's Mansion and begged him to go back to the palace with her. At that time, seeing Xia Chuli come in person, he packed his things without saying a word during the time when Shen Shiqiu was still in the court session. He sneaked out without telling A Man and Uncle Zhong and went back to the palace again. After that, he never came back to live.
Back then, his father saw Xia Chuli hurrying to the Marquis's Mansion on his way to the court. Although he had also told him like this, he didn't listen.
Shen Qingfeng picked up a red - bean bun and took a slow bite. He chewed it mechanically as if he couldn't taste it.
His eyes were dim.
Finally, it's time to meet again, Xia Chuli.
Lu Yan didn't sleep all night. After returning to the Marquis's Mansion, he originally wanted to take a nap, but he wasn't sleepy at all. He had just stepped into the bedroom one moment, and the next moment he walked out of it again, saying that he still had to go to the Shen family's mansion.
Even Xu Ruhui, who was extremely nosy, was too lazy to mess around with him anymore. With two panda - like eyes, Xu Ruhui gave Lu Yan a look that said "you're really crazy", then "snapped" the door shut and went to catch up on sleep.
Lu Yan didn't take the carriage but walked on foot towards the Shen family's mansion.
He couldn't say why he was so determined to see Shen Qingfeng. Although he knew that he might not dare to see him directly, he just wanted to take a distant look.
A month ago, Lu Yan, who was still in the Northern Kingdom, suddenly received an imperial edict from King Xia Jie.
It was an imperial edict that made him overjoyed at first glance but then felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
King Xia Jie had betrothed Shen Qingfeng to him and asked him to return to Lige as soon as possible to get married.
Lu Yan had long known that Shen Qingfeng was hopelessly in love with Xia Chuli. So five years ago, he resolutely returned to the Northern Kingdom. He numbed himself with war and kept himself busy with official duties, just to prevent his mind from thinking about that face that he had painted countless times in his dreams when he was in a daze.
But King Xia Jie had actually issued an imperial edict for the betrothal.
In the Shanhe Hall, King Xia Jie patted Lu Yan's shoulder earnestly. His voice was deep and hoarse. "Cousin, you know that Li'er is going to inherit the throne. Shen Qingfeng can't be with Li'er anymore. I know you like Shen Qingfeng. This is just the right thing to do to fulfill your wish... What do you think?"
At that moment, Lu Yan understood everything. At the same time, his heart was stabbed with countless sharp thorns.
Yes, Xia Chuli was going to inherit the throne and couldn't have an overly close private relationship with a man. So King Xia Jie betrothed Shen Qingfeng to Lu Yan. Although he said it was to fulfill his wish, in fact, he was using Lu Yan's true feelings as a tool. Although it seemed to be helping Lu Yan, what if he married Shen Qingfeng? Shen Qingfeng was crazy in love with Xia Chuli. He would surely hate Lu Yan because of this. Even if he could lock Shen Qingfeng with the marriage contract, in the end, it would only be mutual torture.
Lu Yan clenched his fists tightly, and the pain was clearly visible in his eyes.
He understood all the consequences, but in the Shanhe Hall, looking at King Xia Jie's face, he suddenly couldn't say no.
Because this might be his only chance in this life to get Shen Qingfeng. If he missed it, he and Shen Qingfeng would go their separate ways and have no chance to meet again in this life.
Lu Yan had carefully hidden his feelings, humble and generous. Five years ago, when they said goodbye at the long pavilion, he had already prepared to never return to Lige in his life, but he never dared to step forward and hug Shen Qingfeng, who was standing beside Xia Chuli.
But on Wutong Street, with a sudden glance, he saw the person he had been longing for day and night.
Did Shen Qingfeng come here specifically to see him?
Lu Yan had thought about this question for a long time. He thought that maybe this was the reason why he was so determined to see Shen Qingfeng.
If Shen Qingfeng had no feelings for him at all, he would leave again. But as long as Shen Qingfeng cherished him even a little bit and had a little bit of different feelings from others, he would never let go.
The Marquis's Mansion wasn't far from the Shen family's mansion, but this road seemed to take Lu Yan a very long time. Until he saw the two big characters of the Shen family's mansion and the person in gorgeous clothes standing in front of it, the person he least wanted to see.
Xia Chuli, who was standing in front of the Shen family's mansion, suddenly felt a strong gaze. He paused for a moment and suddenly turned his head. A look of surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes. "Uncle Wang?"