Translator – Xiao He Lian
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Chapter 3.2
Regardless of the past rules, Yang Zong knelt in front of the bed and choked with sobs: “Although heir apparent never told anyone, this subordinate knew that the arrow that the heir apparent received was actually for Miss Shen.”
Lu Yan coughed violently, “Don’t mention this matter again in the future.”
Yang Zong wiped his tears and continued: “Since heir apparent has never forgotten Miss Shen in the past three years, why not read the letter she left for you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the person on the bed laughed.
Lu Yan seemed to hear his thoughts: If she had written what he wanted to read, he would have read it earlier. He knew her best, how could he not know what she would write?
But farewell words are always heart-wrenching.
Since there was someone else in her heart, he would be determined to let her go.
It’s just that he has regressed to this point, he really doesn’t want to see another sentence saying- “If there is an afterlife.”
In Lu Yan’s eyes, people only have one life and there is no afterlife. The so-called afterlife is just an empty promise…it doesn’t count.
Before closing his eyes, he briefly recalled his life.
He recalled his grandmother’s warm palms; he recalled his parents’ earnest teachings; he recalled the time when he was named in the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations; he also recalled the simple wedding night of flowers and candles……
Twenty-seven years, although short, is also long.
When his vision gradually blurred, he spoke hoarsely, “After I leave, throw away all my things in the house and don’t let my mother see them.”
“As for that letter…it’s up to you to deal with it, no matter what you do with it, you are not allowed to burn it.”
He was afraid that on the way to hell, seeing that letter, would be a heartbreaking torture.
…
On the day when the Duke Zhenguo Mansion hung a plain white veil, it was in late autumn.
He saw his mother, the arrogant Princess Jing’an, kneeling in the center of Bai’an Hall, hunched over in despair, covering her face and crying.
His father helped his mother up and whispered: “Yan er’s1(an endearing way to call a loved one) took this arrow for a life saving grace. In the end, it is a glory…”
Seeing this, Lu Yan felt that the air around him was getting thinner and the pain in his chest was getting stronger. Not only his chest, but also his internal organs began to throb.
He couldn’t hear anything.
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Everything in front of him suddenly disappeared and Lu Yan on the bed suddenly sat up, breathing heavily, as if a suffocated person was being swallowed by air again.
He looked down at his trembling hands, and for the first time he realized what it meant to panic. He forced himself to calm down and recall the scene in his mind just now.
The miracle doctor Bai Daonian?
Arrow wound, Yao poison, Western Region, letter, mourning hall, life saving grace…
Among the many memories, he captured one detail, the plain white sachet with the word “Zhen” embroidered on it.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Even if it is a dream, it shouldn’t be so absurd.
Not to mention why he was poisoned and why he was nearly 30 years old without a wife and children, but one thing was that he never believed that he would miss someone so lowly.
If this is not absurd, then what is it?
But while he was denying everything in his dream, he couldn’t help but feel a chill running down his spine.
Because he suddenly remembered something. At the beginning of last year, a Taoist priest was chased on the road. He happened to be out handling the case and saved him.
Unexpectedly, this Taoist priest was not only ungrateful, but also held his hand and told him that his red thread of fate2(The Red Thread of Fate also referred to as the Red Thread of Marriage, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology.) in his previous life was still intact, and sooner or later he would dream about that person.
What he said was mysterious, but unfortunately he didn’t believe in these ghosts and gods at all. He only believed in the evidence before him.
***
He sat in front of the window and did not move for a long time.
After a while, a fine and dense snowfall drifted outside. He turned his white jade finger and suddenly realized that these eerie scenes appeared after he went to the West Market that day and met her.
Thinking about this, he came to a sudden realization.
There’s something wrong with her.
There is something wrong with the fragrant powder in Baixiang Pavilion.
The incense powder was scattered all over the floor that day and he most likely inhaled some hallucinogenic powder.
After he became more and more sure, he didn’t want to wait any longer. He immediately put on his official uniform and called Yang Zong, “Go find three doctors.”
Yang Zong didn’t know why, so he asked quickly, “What’s wrong, master?”
Lu Yan frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, “I want to go out to investigate a case.”
Seeing his master’s serious expression, Yang Zong thought that something big had happened, so he didn’t dare to ask any more questions and hurriedly found three doctors in the community.
Three quarters of an hour later, Lu Yan led a group of people through the market and came to the front of Baixiang Pavilion again.
The plaque of Baixiang Pavilion has been repaired and hung up.
Lu Yan stared at the woman in the shop who had eyes down, finger fiddling on the abacus, looking harmless and an inexplicable fire rushed into his heart.
If he were to find out something inappropriate in the shop later, he would personally take her back to the Yamen and interrogate her severely.
At the same time, Shen Zhen also felt a pricking sensation on her back. Her hand fiddling with the abacus suddenly stopped and she slowly looked outside.
At this sight, her little hands immediately clenched into fists in fear.
The man was not far away, staring at her with a pair of eyes as silent as a hawk.
Their eyes met again, and Lu Yan said in a deep voice to the doctors on the side, “Check, don’t leave even one bottle behind.”
