The Marquis of Kangding pulled Li Shiyan, reminding him: “Enough, Shiyan. Now that Zhao Quanzhi has been arrested, don’t think so much anymore. Don’t have any more contact with the Zhao family either, to avoid bringing trouble upon yourself. In any case, you’re fine now, and I’m relieved. Just quickly go back to your room, pack up, and return to the manor with me to avoid any more accidents.”
“Father, you go back first. I want to stay here a while longer.” He still had things to do.
This time he emerged unscathed, thanks largely to Ji Yunshu!
He wanted to see her.
To express his feelings!
But if he just returned to the capital city of Yanjing like this, who knew when he could see her again.
The Marquis of Kangding didn’t permit it. “Don’t cause me any more trouble. Right now Yao’er isn’t feeling well either. Your Uncle Zhu and I need to hurry back to Yanjing to find a good physician to examine Yao’er’s illness.”
Hearing these words, Li Shiyan shifted his gaze to Zhu Yao’s pale face. Apart from apology, he seemed to have nothing else to give her.
Zhu Yao forced herself to stand steady and said: “Shiyan, I told you that you’d definitely be fine.”
Li Shiyan said, “This time, thanks to your help. Thank you.”
“Between you and me, there’s no need for thanks. Besides, I didn’t really do anything, just…” acted as a messenger, that’s all.
Before she could say her last few words, Minister Zhu walked over and pulled her hand.
“Father?”
“Yao’er, you’re unwell right now. You should leave here earlier.” Minister Zhu then said with an icy expression to the Marquis of Kangding: “Lord Marquis, let’s travel separately to avoid crowding together.”
The Marquis of Kangding said, “Minister Zhu?”
“Also, after this incident, I think the marriage arrangement between our two families… may need to be reconsidered.”
Uh!
Zhu Yao’s eyes widened. Before she could say anything, she was already pulled out of the hall. The Marquis of Kangding’s expression turned terrible. This marriage was one he had carefully selected. Although what Zhao Quanzhi said wasn’t wrong—he chose the Zhu family precisely to plan for his son’s future—with the Zhu family’s support, he could rest easy and no longer worry about his son’s future. But now… everything was probably going to dissipate like bubbles.
With his plan falling through, his heart was filled with mixed feelings!
Perhaps he would even gain another enemy at court!
But if the marriage between the two families could be dissolved, it was exactly what Li Shiyan hoped for. He couldn’t have someone else in his heart while ruining another young lady. He couldn’t do such a thing.
……
After being pulled out by her father, Zhu Yao’s eyes brimmed with tears. She pleaded desperately: “Father, please don’t do this! I truly like Shiyan. Please grant us your blessing. Your daughter begs you.”
“Are you still so confused?”
“Your daughter isn’t confused—I’m following my heart’s desire. Father, if you truly cancel the engagement, I won’t be able to go on living.” “You…” Minister Zhu was exasperated at her inability to see reason. Since being harsh wouldn’t work, he could only try being gentle, saying: “Yao’er, didn’t you hear? Their Li family forming a marriage alliance with our Zhu family is just using us, just wanting to find a stepping stone for their worthless son. Zhao Quanzhi was right—you’re just a sacrificial piece. So Father can’t do this. I can’t let our Zhu family become their Li family’s stepping stone, and I can’t let you become a sacrifice between the two families. Father was confused before, not thinking carefully for you before agreeing to this marriage. Fortunately, there’s still time for everything.”
Everything Minister Zhu said was for Zhu Yao’s sake.
But—
Zhu Yao pleaded again: “Father, your daughter doesn’t care about these things. If I’m a sacrificial piece, then so be it. But this marriage absolutely cannot be canceled. Your daughter truly loves him—I’m hopelessly in love.”
“How can you still not understand?”
“Then let your daughter remain forever confused.”
“……”
Minister Zhu truly had no way with her. This matter couldn’t be resolved here right now, so he could only take a step back. “Fine, fine. Let’s discuss this after returning to the manor. You’re weak—let’s wait until you’re better and discuss it carefully with your mother.”
Zhu Yao’s eyes still brimmed with tears.
Finally, Cai’er helped her back to her room to pack and prepare to leave.
On another side, after Wen Cong and the Wen brothers left the hall, Wen Cong said: “You go back to the courtyard first to prepare your things. I need to see the old manor master to bid him farewell before leaving.”
So they separated!
On the way back to the courtyard, Luo Yang muttered to himself beside them: “I wonder if that Chief Justice Huang is stingy or not? But even if he’s stingy, the reward shouldn’t be too small, right!”
As he spoke, he stroked his chin.
Full of anticipation.
Wen Yu glanced at him and said doubtfully: “When did you, this brat, become so capable? You actually found that evidence and even got Chief Justice Huang to help you act!”
“That’s because this young master is talented!”
“I’m afraid there’s more to this story?”
Luo Yang raised his eyebrows, unhappy. “Surname Wen, you mean to say that I, Luo Yang, am just an idiot, right?”
“If you want to think that way, I can’t help it.”
“Hmph! You upper-class people just look down on others. Your eyes grow on top of your heads—a complete dog looking down on people.” The last sentence, Luo Yang said very softly.
Wen Yu’s face flushed with anger. “If I, Wen Yu, looked down on people, I wouldn’t have brought you back to Yanjing in the first place, or arranged everything for you.”
“If that’s the case, why haven’t your previous promises been fulfilled?” Wen Yu rubbed his forehead and explained carefully to him: “Everything has a process. If you want wealth and prosperity, naturally it’s not something that happens overnight. Many things need to be carefully arranged properly. Otherwise, if something goes wrong in the middle, no one will be able to bear the consequences.”
“Delay after delay.”
“……” Wen Yu truly didn’t know how to explain to him all the inconveniences involved. Wen Che, who had been silent the whole time, furrowed his brow slightly and turned to instruct Shu Tian: “Go quickly to Miss Ji’s courtyard to notify her that we’re leaving Ning’an Manor. Have her prepare, and we’ll wait with our carriage outside the manor gates.”
“Yes!”
Shu Tian received the order and went.
After watching Shu Tian leave, Luo Yang shifted his gaze to Wen Che and asked: “Tell me, after I helped Chief Justice Huang with such a big favor, how much silver will he reward me?”
“You’re thinking too much.”
“What do you mean?”
Wen Che replied without looking sideways: “I’m afraid once we return to the capital city of Yanjing, Chief Justice Huang will be very busy.”
“So you mean he won’t give me the silver? Then didn’t I work for nothing?” Luo Yang slapped the back of one hand heavily against the palm of the other, feeling like he’d suffered a huge loss.
Sure enough, he still couldn’t outplay the schemes of city people!
Shu Tian hurried to the courtyard where Ji Yunshu was staying. Now that the case was over, the young ladies in the courtyard were packing their luggage to leave. When Shu Tian knocked on Ji Yunshu’s door, he discovered there was no one inside at all.
Logically, at this time Ji Yunshu should have been in her room.
Just then, several young servants and maids in the courtyard were helping those young ladies move their luggage. Shu Tian grabbed one and asked: “Have you seen Miss Ji?”
“Haven’t seen her.”
Several people all shook their heads one after another.
Suddenly, Qiu Shu spoke up: “Earlier I saw her go out and never come back.” Although she didn’t like Ji Yunshu’s air of lofty superiority, today because of Xiao Guozi’s incident, she had wrongly accused Ji Yunshu without evidence. Now that the truth was revealed, after the coroner’s examination showed that Xiao Guozi died from drinking osmanthus brew containing poison, at that moment her heart was filled with mixed feelings. She couldn’t exactly say she felt embarrassed—she just didn’t know how to face Ji Yunshu for a while, or perhaps… the young ladies in this courtyard.
Now everyone thought she was a shrew!
A shrew who didn’t distinguish right from wrong!
All the dignity she’d built up over these years had become a complete joke.
She truly had no face to show.
After Shu Tian heard that Ji Yunshu had gone out, he thanked Qiu Shu and immediately brought the news to Wen Che.
But they didn’t know that Ji Yunshu was currently at……
Qi’er pushed Su Ziluo back to the courtyard. Su Ziluo suddenly stopped and instructed Qi’er: “Go prepare the carriage.”
“Yes.”
After Qi’er pushed him to his doorway, he went to prepare the carriage for descending the mountain.
Su Ziluo stopped at the doorway for a long time before finally pushing open the door and rolling his wheelchair inside, then gently closing the door.
In the room, a slender figure stood by the window.
Ji Yunshu stood by the window, her gaze fixed on a tree outside. Her expression was calm, her eyes tranquil, showing no emotion whatsoever. Only when she heard the sound of the door closing behind her did she slowly turn around.
Meeting Su Ziluo’s gaze.
Five years! Since their parting at the city tower in the capital, it had been five years.