Even though Liu Yunyan felt quite bothered inside, facing the current situation, she could only say it was nothing!

Better to avoid trouble than to invite it!

Jiang Bin: “Miss is magnanimous, beautiful in appearance and even more beautiful in heart.”

Liu Yunyan: “…”

She remained silent.

Although Luo Yang didn’t like this person called Jiang Bin, he had at least stepped forward to resolve the predicament just now, so he said: “I say, Young Master Jiang, you people are truly lawless. Do you really think you are the law itself? Being so arrogant, aren’t you afraid of stumbling one day?”

Jiang Bin’s expression stiffened, but a smile still hung at the corners of his mouth as he said: “Young Master Luo, I already said this was a misunderstanding. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll definitely give them a good talking-to later and guarantee this kind of thing won’t happen again. You’re a magnanimous person, so just let this matter pass.”

“The way you talk, it’s as if I, Luo Yang, am some unreasonable troublemaker.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Hmph!” Luo Yang raised his eyebrows high, turned back to glance at the still-shaken Liu Yunyan, then said, “Since this young lady has already said it’s nothing, this young master doesn’t want to pursue it either. Just keep your own people in check, otherwise next time I can’t guarantee I’ll let it slide.”

“Understood, I’ll give them a good talking-to.”

Of course it couldn’t just end like this!

Luo Yang’s eyes rolled around: “You see, your people frightened this young lady and disturbed my dining mood. Oh, and there’s also the wine that was knocked over on the floor earlier. How should we settle this?”

Jiang Bin immediately understood his meaning and said generously: “All of this young lady’s and your expenses will be on me, including the spilled wine—put it all on my tab.”

Luo Yang’s little scheme succeeded, and he said with a laugh: “That’s more like it.”

This matter was thus resolved!

Jiang Bin apologized several more times in a pleasant manner, then told the innkeeper that their expenses should be charged to him, after which he left.

Meanwhile, Liu Yunyan’s maid had searched the back courtyard thoroughly without finding Liu Yunzhu. When she arrived at the front, the earlier drama had already ended.

“Miss, what… happened to you?”

Liu Yunyan had gradually calmed down. She shook her head and said: “It’s nothing. Did you find Yunzhu?”

“Still haven’t found her.”

“Where could she have gone?”

“This servant will first escort you back to your room, then go out to search again.”

Liu Yunyan was unwilling, but her body couldn’t hold up anymore. She panted lightly, her frail body suddenly swaying to the side.

“Miss?” Luo Yang reached out and caught her in his arms.

“Miss?” The maid’s eyes brimmed with anxious tears.

Luo Yang quickly asked: “Where is the room?”

“Up… upstairs.”

“Take me up.”

“…Yes!”

The maid hurriedly led Luo Yang upstairs. As Luo Yang carried the trembling Liu Yunyan upward, he unintentionally pulled off the veil covering her face.

The moment the veil fell away, he had expected to see an enchanting, devastatingly beautiful face, but instead found it covered with fine red rashes, looking quite alarming.

He remembered that previously it had been a clean, pretty face. How had it now… become like this?

What had happened?

The people sitting inside eating and drinking all saw it and began murmuring amongst themselves.

Everyone was startled!

They had all assumed the face beneath the veil would be supremely beautiful, yet unexpectedly… it was like this!

Luo Yang was also stunned for a moment, but had no time to think further as he carried Liu Yunyan upstairs.

Yet the gossip didn’t stop. Those dining and drinking guests exchanged glances with each other. Someone said in a lowered voice, “Who do you think that man is? Even Young Master Jiang deferred to him? Looking at his appearance and clothes, he doesn’t seem like a young master from a noble family. I’ve been in Yanjing City for so long and have never seen him before.”

“I haven’t seen him either. Who is this mysterious figure?”

“He must have significant backing!”

Everyone speculated wildly about Luo Yang’s identity, coming up with all sorts of nonsense. The most outrageous claim was that someone said he was the Emperor’s son who dressed so ordinarily to conceal his identity…

How absurd!

Luo Yang would have liked to have such an identity, but simply didn’t have that fate!

However, some people turned their attention to Liu Yunyan, whose veil had fallen, and began discussing: “If that young lady hadn’t had her veil removed, we really wouldn’t have known she looked like that. It’s truly disgusting to look at.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen such an ugly woman in Yanjing City.”

“Look at those red rashes on her face—just looking at them is disturbing.”

“I’ve lost my appetite.”

…

One after another, everyone was mocking Liu Yunyan’s appearance.

Indeed, men are visual creatures.

Without exception!

However, Luo Yang paid no attention to these comments. He carefully carried Liu Yunyan to the room upstairs, placed her on the bed, and immediately told the maid to fetch a physician.

The maid panicked and was about to go—

But Liu Yunyan had already regained some consciousness and woken up, saying: “No need, I’m fine.”

“Miss, are you truly all right?”

“I’m fine.” Liu Yunyan leaned against the bed, her expression weary, face pale, breathing slightly labored.

Luo Yang glanced around the room a few times. After all, it was a young lady’s quarters, so he felt rather embarrassed to look too carefully. He stepped back toward the door and said: “Miss, since you’re already fine, rest well. Don’t dwell on what just happened. I’m sure those people won’t come looking for trouble again. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Young Master.” Liu Yunyan called out to him, then suddenly realized her veil was gone. Momentarily flustered, she immediately turned her head to the side, raising her hand to cover her rash-covered face, saying, “Thank you, Young Master, for intervening to help me.”

“It was nothing.”

“This humble woman’s appearance is ugly and has likely frightened you, Young Master.”

“Miss, you’re overthinking. I’m not frightened at all.”

Ugly was a bit ugly, but not to the point of being frightening!

Although Luo Yang distinguished between beauty and ugliness in his heart, he wasn’t so rude.

Only then did Liu Yunyan slowly lower her hand and look at Luo Yang, a few traces of admiration rising in her eyes: “So Young Master is not someone who judges by appearances. I thought…”

“An ugly appearance with a kind heart is the most beautiful thing. I see that you, Miss, are gentle and refined—far superior to countless other young ladies!” As Luo Yang spoke, he added in a soft mutter: “At least kinder-hearted than that shrew.”

The shrew he spoke of was none other than Qiu Shu!

So you see, being beautiful doesn’t necessarily mean having a kind heart!

After hearing his words, Liu Yunyan felt greatly comforted and felt there was nothing more to hide from him.

The maid at the side spoke up: “Young Master, our Miss isn’t ugly at all—she’s a beauty like a celestial maiden. It’s just that she accidentally ingested something before, which caused these red rashes to appear on her face.”

Luo Yang was surprised: “What kind of thing causes this after eating it?”

The maid was about to speak—

“Li’er, don’t be loose-lipped.” Liu Yunyan interrupted her, then said to Luo Yang: “Thank you for your concern, Young Master. Actually, it was just some fruit. When I eat it normally, red rashes appear on my face.”

“Oh.” Luo Yang didn’t doubt it.

“This humble woman’s surname is Liu. Earlier I heard that young master address you as Young Master Luo. You intervened to save me today, so in the future this humble woman must properly repay you.”

“No need, no need. I already said it was nothing.”

“How can that be? You did save me after all.” The upbringing Liu Yunyan had received since childhood told her she must repay this kindness.

But Luo Yang currently lacked nothing and needed no help, so he said: “Miss, don’t worry about how to repay me. I see you’re unwell, so you should rest. I won’t disturb you further. Farewell.”

Not giving Liu Yunyan a chance to make him stay, he slipped out the door in a flash.

Liu Yunyan’s brows knitted tightly, words on the tip of her tongue but unspoken. Her gaze clung to the doorway as ripples inevitably arose in her heart. That feeling was something she had never experienced before—like a thread continuously winding around her heart, causing her heartbeat to quicken rapidly and bringing forth a blush on her face.

Could it be that she…

She became somewhat aware, her hands clasped tightly together.

She couldn’t help biting her lip.

The maid Li’er completely failed to notice her abnormal state and said with concern: “Miss, rest quickly. This servant will first go bring your medicine.”

Liu Yunyan’s train of thought was interrupted, and she quickly said: “Don’t worry about me. Go look for Yunzhu first. I’m afraid she really did run out and something happened—what would we do then!”

“Miss, don’t worry. This servant will go right away.”

The maid hurried downstairs, had the inn’s server bring the medicine up, then left the inn to search for Liu Yunzhu.

Where could that girl have gone? In the vast Yanjing City, what if she got lost?

After Luo Yang went downstairs, he returned to his original seat and continued eating and drinking. Since Jiang Bin had said all expenses would be charged to him, Luo Yang ordered a whole table full of dishes in one go.