After Zhao Shuning returned to her room, Yan Ruyu followed suit.
"How is it? Is that girl okay?"
Yan Ruyu shook his head.
"Really? You can't handle this one?"
Yan Ruyu heaved a sigh and said, "Does she know?"
"What?"
"She knows Ji Qinglin is dead."
Feng Zhan let out an "oh" and slumped back into his chair, wearing a worried look on his face.
If, as Bu Ran said, Ji Qinglin was the child Ye Ling had raised since childhood, and Zhao Shuning was the reincarnation of Ye Ling, then Ji Qinglin's death must have hit her hard.
"Bu Ran, do you want to go and check on the girl?"
"She doesn't want me around for now."
Feng Zhan sighed, feeling a knot in his heart.
"Who came just now?"
"Xia Wanning."
"Did she tell the girl about Ji Qinglin's death?"
Yan Ruyu nodded.
Feng Zhan fumed, "The girl's birthday is coming up. What's that woman doing here? And why on earth did she tell the girl about this?"
"I saw them fighting when I went out."
Feng Zhan quickly asked, "Is the girl okay? After all, Elder Xia is quite powerful."
"She's fine."
"Bu Ran, sometimes you need to learn to understand women. Take the girl for example. Although she seems carefree, is chivalrous in her deeds, and never minces her words, I can tell that she has a kind heart."
"Brother, I know. I'll always trust Ning'er."
"Right. And look at Elder Xia. Everyone says she's gentle and generous, but to me, she just doesn't seem like a good person."
Yan Ruyu remained silent.
Feng Zhan was indeed the first to evaluate Xia Wanning like this. Although Xia Wanning's recent actions had been a bit strange, there was nothing really suspicious about her.
Just then, Lin Miner entered with a pot of hot tea and some candied fruits.
After a while, a young boy walked in. Seeing the two men, he was startled for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.
Yan Ruyu nodded and smiled at the boy.
Feng Zhan leaned over and whispered in Yan Ruyu's ear, "This young lad is quite good-looking. Has the girl been keeping a boy toy behind your back in the past year or so?"
Yan Ruyu replied, "He's Ye Ling's younger brother."
Feng Zhan let out another "oh" and sat back down.
Ye Xingchen said, "Are you the honored guests from the capital, Chang'an?"
Yan Ruyu said, "We're hardly honored guests. We're just here to attend Ning'er's birthday banquet. How long have you been at the Zhao Mansion?"
The young boy was surprised. "How do you know I'm not from the Zhao Mansion?"
"Because you look a bit like her."
They all knew who "her" referred to.
Ye Xingchen looked at the two men again, then fixed his gaze on Yan Ruyu.
The man was dressed in a blue robe with a flute at his waist. He seemed to have figured out who the man in front of him was.
"Greetings, Emperor Venerable."
The young boy knelt on one knee, placing his right hand on his chest.
"You're Ye Ling's younger brother. There's no need to kneel before me."
Yan Ruyu waved his hand gently, and Ye Xingchen was lifted back to his seat by an invisible force.
"I'm really surprised that the Emperor Venerable could come to attend my sister's birthday banquet."
"Don't be surprised. There'll be more things about him that'll surprise you."
Feng Zhan added, then said, "Bu Ran, is it about time?"
The girl should have calmed down by now.
Yan Ruyu nodded.
He got up.
Hearing the noise from the inner room, Lin Miner walked in.
"Gentlemen, is there anything you're not satisfied with?"
Feng Zhan said, "No, no. You go ahead and do your thing. You're the host. There's no need to be so polite to us."
Yan Ruyu nodded slightly and said gently, "I'd like to go and see Ning'er. She's not in a good mood."
"This... Ning'er is an unmarried girl after all. It's not very convenient for you two to go to her room. You wait here for a while. I'll go and call her."
Seeing Yan Ruyu being turned away, Feng Zhan thought that the ever-cold Bu Ran finally looked a bit funny.
The two of them sat back down.
Ye Xingchen asked, "Is something wrong with my sister?"
"She'll find out about this sooner or later."
"Okay. Emperor Venerable, I'll take my leave first. My injury hasn't healed yet."
"Here, this is for you."
Yan Ruyu handed a small white jade bottle to Ye Xingchen.
Ye Xingchen took it. The bottle was cold to the touch. The things given by the Emperor Venerable must be extraordinary.
"This is a good medicine for healing wounds. It should help with your injury."
"Thank you, Emperor Venerable."
Yan Ruyu nodded, and Ye Xingchen withdrew.
Ye Xingchen had heard that two honored guests had come from the capital, Chang'an. He was afraid they were here for revenge, so he followed the servant to take a look. After finding out that they weren't from the Lin family, he followed them in to find out their purpose. Since one of them was the Emperor Venerable and the master his sister had mentioned, Ye Xingchen had nothing to worry about.
Not long after Ye Xingchen left, Zhao Shuning walked into the room. There were no traces of tears on her face. Maybe she didn't want her parents to worry, so she didn't show it.
After Zhao Shuning entered, Lin Miner gave her daughter a few words of advice and then was called out by Zhao Zheng.
Yan Ruyu whispered, "Ning'er, are you feeling better?"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
Yan Ruyu continued, "Shall I take you to the top of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda to watch the stars?"
Feng Zhan said, "Bu Ran, the girl won't agree. She's not a child anymore. Going to the rooftop to watch the stars? This is so childish. It won't work."
But when Feng Zhan turned around, the two of them were already about to step out of the door.
He quickly followed them.
Yan Ruyu looked back at Feng Zhan.
Feng Zhan said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Brother wants to come along?"
There was a hint of coldness in Yan Ruyu's eyes.
Feng Zhan took a few steps back and said, "I know. I understand. I'll just stay in the room and sleep. I won't get in your way. You two can discuss anything you want."
Hearing the answer he wanted, Yan Ruyu nodded and led Zhao Shuning away.
Feng Zhan murmured, "Really. They even treat me as a burden."
When would he be able to stop being a third wheel?
When he was in the Qingyun Kingdom, Feng Zhan had stayed in the palace for a few months. At that time, Su Mu would always drag his sister to play chess with her, and his sister had no time for him. Most of the time, his sister would say that Su Mu was a patient and told Feng Zhan not to think too much. Su Mu was indeed a patient, but in Feng Zhan's opinion, Su Mu's illness shouldn't have required her to cling to his sister all the time.
Yan Ruyu led Zhao Shuning to the top of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda. He gently took her hand and let her lean on his shoulder as they slowly sat down.