A woman’s fate was inherently filled with such helplessness. Especially for ladies from prominent families, who couldn’t afford a single misstep in their conduct. In these difficult times, she never imagined Zhuang Yushan’s actions would push her into such a predicament!
The couple, for whatever reason, continued their activity while moving closer in this direction. A few more steps and they would see Han Yan hiding by the palace wall.
Han Yan felt both hatred and anxiety. Glancing at the person beside her, she suddenly felt a jolt in her heart.
From the beginning, this person hadn’t shown any panic, simply standing quietly in place. Even when Han Yan suddenly approached, the person showed no movement.
Due to her guilty conscience, Han Yan hadn’t dared to look up. But seeing those official boots, she knew this man must be either wealthy or noble – not someone she could afford to provoke. However, in this situation, they were both in the same boat, yet why wasn’t this grasshopper anxious?
Could his composure mean he truly had nothing to fear?
He might not fear, but she did!
She was just an unfavored young lady of the Zhuang family. If this person held a high position, he could naturally walk away without worry, but she would either be secretly killed or forced to marry that adulterer in the plum grove. Neither outcome was one she wished to face!
Why should she bear the consequences of others’ mistakes? In this life, would she die again in Zhuang Yushan’s schemes?
She refused to accept it!
Who knows where she found the courage, but as the footsteps drew closer, she lifted the man’s black sable cloak and slipped underneath it.
Han Yan regretted her action immediately, as the piercing cold emanating from this man almost froze her solid.
Simultaneously, she began to feel afraid. In her impulsive moment, she had assumed this man would certainly have ways to handle the situation without exposing her, so she ducked under his cloak. But she didn’t even know if he was friend or foe – he could easily throw her out. Moreover, how could she act so boldly? Her body pressed against this man, his masculine scent mixed with an elegant bamboo fragrance assaulted her nose, making her heart pound like a drum.
He was angry – Han Yan could feel the displeasure radiating from the body she was pressed against. Feeling desperate, expecting to be thrown out, her body trembled.
After a brief pause, she suddenly felt a tightening around her. Through the cloak, the man’s hand supported her back, holding her firmly beside him. Then he precisely gripped her nape and leaped upward. Han Yan felt weightless, her feet leaving the ground. Frightened, she clutched his clothes tightly with closed eyes, feeling suspended in mid-air. Her heart pounded furiously, but within moments, they landed.
She dared not move, curled up in his cloak, feeling somewhat warm despite the darkness. What had just happened?
Then she heard an enchanting cold voice from above, rich and elegant like aged wine, brushing gently across her heart.
“Still unwilling to come out?”
Han Yan was startled, quickly emerging from his embrace, only to find herself standing in an open space, facing a stone wall that blocked the path. She quickly understood – this man must know lightfoot kung fu and have carried her away, no wonder he had been so calm earlier. Thinking of what had just happened, she blushed.
After some thought, Han Yan raised her head, about to speak, but froze when she looked up.
Before she was an incomparably handsome face. The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with slanted eyebrows extending to his temples, a straight nose, and phoenix eyes as dark and still as deep pools, calm yet containing infinite ripples, with a touch of romantic charm. His thin lips were pressed together, his features as if carved from stone. His ink-black hair fell to his waist, held up only by a jade hairpin. He wore a sky-blue silk robe with silver trim and orchid embroidery, loosely draped with a black sable cloak. His figure was like a painting, an elegant immortal in exile.
Now, this handsome young man was staring at her silently, his gaze carrying an overwhelming pressure.
In her previous life, Han Yan had married Wei Rufeng partly because of his handsome appearance, but compared to the man before her, they were worlds apart. Though young, this man carried an innate nobility. Without doing anything, he exuded elegance and dignity, carrying himself with extraordinary bearing. Some people were born to embody the word “aristocrat,” and Han Yan felt this man was one of them. Such nobility likely meant he was from the royal family. Thinking of how she had clung to him earlier, Han Yan felt extremely uncomfortable. After some thought, she curtsied to him and said sweetly, “My lord, this humble girl lost her way earlier and, seeing two strangers, panicked and offended you in her haste. Please don’t take offense.”
Her smile was innocent, her face childlike, her manner docile, her dress adorable – any ordinary person would think this young lady was just a playful child, without guile, who had stumbled into this situation by accident.
Unfortunately for Han Yan, the person she faced was no ordinary man.
Fu Yunxi lowered his gaze, his dark eyes flashing with deeper meaning.
That plum grove wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. He had been handling matters for his royal brother today and was passing by after finishing his task, with no intention of staying, when he happened to see a frail young girl.
Through the plum blossoms and heavy snow, Fu Yunxi couldn’t see the girl’s appearance, but remained alert – whoever entered this place and was discovered by him had no reason to leave easily.
However, he soon discovered that the young girl emanated endless sorrow. Even from such a distance, Fu Yunxi could sense her despair and desolation. She gazed dazedly at the red plum blossoms on the branches, reaching out as if to touch them but stopping mid-air as if they were something extremely fragile. Though he couldn’t see her expression, in that moment, Fu Yunxi felt that the distant young girl seemed ready to depart from this world.
How could such a small girl, appearing only eleven or twelve years old, harbor such profound sorrow?
He seemed moved, his thoughts suddenly deepening, but the little girl quickly noticed his presence. What surprised Fu Yunxi was that she merely stood there observing him, neither screaming nor running away, maintaining composure instead. Even if it was an act, such steadiness at her age was remarkable.
Feeling the little girl’s inquiring gaze, Fu Yunxi stood quietly with his hands behind his back, initially just wanting to see what she would do, but unexpectedly two more people appeared.
He immediately became suspicious – had this girl brought others with her?
Yet he saw the girl hesitate for a moment, as if making some determination, before suddenly rushing to hide near him.
He grew doubtful, watching as the young lady ran to him with her head lowered, appearing somewhat frightened.
With only one palace wall for cover, Fu Yunxi thought this girl was truly bold, and then immediately heard those embarrassing sounds.