Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 36.2
Shen Zhen greeted him with a salute, bit her lip and said, “I have a favor to ask of me, My Lord.” After that, she poured him a cup of hot tea.
Lu Yan had a knowing gaze in his eyes. If it was nothing important, she wouldn’t be looking for him.
After a moment, he picked up the tea on the table, opened the lid, took a sip and said, “Tell me.”
“My father has an old illness and the pain is unbearable during the rainy season. I have some medicine here, My Lord…”
Before she finished speaking, Lu Yan closed the lid of the teacup with a force.
Shen Zhen trembled.
She was really afraid of him, and for a moment she didn’t dare to continue talking.
Lu Yan stood up, walked to her side, pinched her chin with two fingers, pulled it up, and sneered, “Well, it was your brother last time and your father this time. Who do you think I am?”
Shen Zhen’s eyes were slightly red, and she knew that he had no reason to help her.
After a while, Shen Zhen mustered up the greatest courage in her life, hugged his waist, and said in a trembling voice: “It’s raining heavily outside tonight, please don’t leave, okay?”
“Let go.” Lu Yan said.
Having done this, naturally she could not let go.
“Shen Zhen, weren’t you unwilling?” There was no warmth in his eyes, as if to say – why do you think that I, Lu Yan, must beg you for it?
“It’s my fault, I was ignorant.” Shen Zhen had tears in her eyes.
Seeing that she didn’t let go, Lu Yan pried her fingers apart one by one, shook them off, and looked back at her, “If nothing happens in the future, don’t call me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Zhen’s tears welled up in her eyes.
Don’t know if it’s because of the embarrassment at this moment.
Or for the helplessness at the end of the road.
Or for the loss of self-esteem.
Lu Yan looked back at her and turned to leave.
——
After getting on the carriage, Lu Yan put the hand stove aside impatiently and kept turning the white jade ring in his hand. What was swirling in my mind was her grief-stricken look just now.
After a long silence, Lu Yan said to Yang Zong, “Go to the Zhou Mansion.”
Yang Zong was surprised, “Master is talking about Lord Zhou of Dali Temple?”
“Um.”
Zhou Shu’an, the Minister of Dali Temple, also had a very good reputation in Chang’an.
He was obviously from a poor family, but he had the ability to make the children of those bureaucratic families look up to him.
He is the top scorer in the imperial examination and a close minister to the Emperor. Although he has many titles hanging over his head, he walks alone, living like a worldly man.
Both of his parents were dead, he had no wife or concubines, he was in his mid-twenties and he had no heirs.
There were only two people in this huge Zhou Mansion, namely him and the steward.
Lu Yan asked Yang Zong to stop the carriage at the side gate of Zhou Mansion.
The knock on the door was mixed with the sound of the heavy rain. It took the old steward a long time to hear it. He took out an oil-paper umbrella and ran to open the door.
When he saw it was Lu Yan, he couldn’t help but be a little surprised, “Why did Lord Lu come at this time?”
“Is Lord Zhou inside?” Lu Yan asked.
“Yes, yes, His Excellency is in the study.” The steward said quickly.
The Zhou Mansion was newly given by the Emperor at the beginning of the year. It has three entrances and covers a large area. However, the furnishings of this courtyard were the same as Zhou Shu’an, it is simple and quiet, without any fancy things.
Lu Yan followed the butler through the gate and came to a small courtyard, which was his study.
There were only two candles burning in the room and the door creaked open.
Zhou Shuan sat in front of the desk.
With a high nose bridge, sharp sideburns and a thin chin, he is the kind of man whose bones were more delicate than his face.
Especially those eyes, which look as clear as a spring, but mixed inside are more than twenty years of life experience in poverty and the calmness that only comes from being in a high position.
Seeing Lu Yan at this time, he was not surprised. He just said lightly, “Lord Lu, please sit down.”
It was raining heavily outside and Lu Yan’s clothes were soaked through and he looked a little embarrassed.
Zhou Shuan was the first to say, “Lord Lu, is there something important to do for you to come here?”
Lu Yan looked at him and said word by word: “I am here to ask for the favor owed by Lord Zhou.”
Zhou Shu’an couldn’t help but smile when he mentioned this favor.
He indeed owed the Heir Apparent a favor.
Three years ago, a fire broke out in the Dali Temple Prison. During the period when the fire spread, three Nanzhao1(a local regime in ancient China) officials escaped from prison. If such incidents were discovered, he could be implicated as accomplices of the Nanzhao officials, or even be charged with dereliction of duty.
He is an official from a poor family and walking on the official career path was not much different from walking on a tightrope.
Once he falls, he will be beaten by thousands of people.
In desperation, Zhou Shuan approached Lu Yan.
The eldest son of the Duke of Zhenguo and the only son of Princess Jing’an, who has money and power. He is even more favored by the Emperor than the several princes in the palace.
He thought he would have to persuade a bit but he didn’t expect him to agree immediately, saying he only wanted a favor.
Thinking about the past, Zhou Shu’an raised his eyebrows and said, “Lord Lu, please tell me.”
Lu Yan’s Adam’s apple rolled, “Tomorrow, I want to send a doctor to Dali Temple Prison.”
After hearing this, Zhou Shuan’s expression became more curious.
He really wanted to know who among the prisoners in Dali Temple Prison was worthy of the Heir Apprent’s intervention.
“May I ask who Lord Lu wants to treat?”
“Marquis Yunyang, Shen Wenqi.”
As soon as he finished speaking, even a scheming person like Zhou Shu’an couldn’t help but be stunned.
Shen Wenqi.
Zhou Shu’an said in his heart: this is not like something he would do.
How could the Heir Apparent ever meddle in other people’s business?
Speaking of Yunyang Maquis, Zhou Shu’an admired him greatly.
Yunyang Maquis had been in office for twenty years. He was diligent and honest and rarely neglected his duties.
By building canals and dams, he made countless contributions to the Jin Dynasty.
But he shouldn’t have participated in the party struggle, especially when he should not stand on the side of the Crown Prince.
The news that the Emperor did not like the late queen had already spread like wildfire and everyone in the court knew about it. As for the crown prince, the Emperor naturally never took him to heart, otherwise how could the East Palace only have two to three doctors, treating him every day.
Why would this noble Heir Apparent help the Shen family?
Zhou Shuan was silent for a long time.
In Chang’an, anyone could participate in the party struggle and try to make a fortune, but the Duke of Zhenguo would not.
After all, no matter who gets the throne and obtains that high position, the Duke of Zhenguo will still be the target of everyone’s vying to win over.
Zhou Shu’an turned the brush in his hand while listening to the sound of rain outside.
Then he asked: “Is the third young lady of the Shen family in the hands of Lord Lu?” After the fall of the Yunyang Marquis Mansion, the third young lady of the Shen family and the young master disappeared out of thin air. Countless people in Chang’an City were looking for them, but no one couldn’t find them.
Today, he finally understood.
No one dares to touch the private residence under the name of the Duke of Zhenguo.
Lu Yan’s expression did not change, “Lord Zhou, I am here to ask for favors, not a prisoner of Dali Temple.”
Zhou Shu’an nodded with a smile, “At what time tomorrow?”
Lu Yan: “Chenshi2(The period of the day from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m; 7 a.m.-9 a.m).”
After setting the time, Lu Yan stood up and said, “I hope Lord Zhou will lead the way tomorrow.”
After closing the door, Zhou Shuan said quietly: “Marquis Yunyang is a bit pedantic, but he has given birth to two good daughters.”
Before Lu Yan set off, he suddenly heard that Shen Zhen was seriously ill. Tangyue couldn’t stand it anymore, so she sent Yang Zong the news.
He didn’t want to go back, but for some reason, he still had the patience to go to Chengyuan again.
Lanyue Pavilion….
He walked to the edge of the bed and lowered his head to look at her pale little face. He didn’t know what it felt like for a moment.
When Shen Zhen woke up, she happened to meet his eyes.
Lu Yan turned the white jade ring on his hand and said, “You have become more resourceful again.”
Shen Zhen’s eyes turned red, knowing that he was sarcastically saying that her illness was intentional. She bit her lip and said, “I didn’t mean it.”
Lu Yan was silent for a long time before saying, “Don’t worry about your father’s illness. I sent a doctor to Dali Temple.”
Shen Zhen was stunned and quickly sat up, “Thank you, My Lord.”
Lu Yan raised his hand, curled his index finger, touched her chin, rubbed it casually and sneered, “Just thanking me with words?”
Shen Zhen went to hold his hand and said, “It’s not appropriate today, I’m afraid I might pass my sickness on to you, can we do it another day?”
Hearing this, Lu Yan laughed at himself.
Could it be that when he was with her, he looked like a lustful person?
Lu Yan felt an inexplicable fire in his heart. He bowed his head and took her lips in his. As their lips and teeth intertwined, Shen Zhen’s whole body trembled.
Shen Zhen pushed him away again. As soon as she made the move, she knew it was inappropriate and said quickly: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Lu Yan laughed angrily, “Is it fun to invite someone only to refuse? Shen Zhen, why are you doing this? If you don’t want to, just say you don’t want to. I didn’t force you, so why are you trying to seduce me?”
Shen Zhen was afraid that he would misunderstand, so she had no choice but to tell the truth: “My Lord, today is the seventh day of March, and is the death anniversary of my mother.”
=====
Lu Yan suddenly sat up and woke up from his dream.
