Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 60
The moonlight came in through the thin paper of the window and on the wall by the edge of the bed, there were shadows of two people sticking together.
The man’s tone was bewitching but she didn’t want to listen to him at all.
God knows how aggrieved she felt when she was awakened by the three words “Xu Yiqing” he was saying yesterday.
To say it’s heartbreaking was not an exaggeration.
Lu Yan looked at the back of her head and since she hadn’t turned around yet, he knew that she was still angry.
Come to think of it, she has never lost her temper with him.
Of course, he could understand…
He thought that if Shen Zhen dared to call another man’s name in her dreams, he would not let her off so easily either.
Lu Yan closed his eyes, as if he had made a big decision.
“Zhen zhen.” The man’s breathing became heavier. “Are you still angry?”
As soon as the words fell, Shen Zhen’s petal-like toes immediately curled up together. The tip of her nose became slightly red.
Too many things that she dare not speak of and dare not be angry about burst out in an instant.
It has to be said that with Lu Yan’s looks, it is very easy to coax a little girl. Even an unintentional glance can make people flustered let alone, such a gentle whisper of deep affection.
Shen Zhen’s heart trembled a little.
“Hmm?” His breath followed into her ear and he kissed her butterfly bones.
Ever since Shen Zhen met Lu Yan, he has always been strong and cold. When has he ever coaxed her like this?
“Why don’t you pinch me a few more times?” Lu Yan asked.
Shen Zhen bit her lip and muttered in a low voice, “How dare I?”
This voice, which sounded a little aggrieved, also expressed one’s true feelings.
Lu Yan chuckled, turned her around, and looked into her eyes. He placed his hand on her abdomen and asked, “Does it still hurt?”
Shen Zhen hesitated for a long time and finally leaned towards him, “It hurts.”
Lu Yan looked at her delicate appearance, smelled the fragrance of her hair, and felt the veins on the back of his hands bulge, slide, and tremble.
He finally gave in, he gave up even struggling.
…
A beam of weak sunlight spilled obliquely into the inner room, and after a short while, the dark clouds moved in, and it was cloudy and gloomy outside again.
Shen Zhen gradually regained consciousness and opened her eyes.
The man sitting by the bed was already dressed neatly, his expression serious.
“Awake?” His tone was indifferent, as if the one last night was not him and the one today was him.
“Um.”
Shen Zhen propped herself up and sat on the bed, the pain in her lower abdomen has already subsided.
Seeing that she had woken up, Lu Yan told Tang Yue to go down and make some medicine. “After washing up, drink the medicine first. It’s summer now, so try to nourish the cold in your body.”
Shen Zhen nodded in agreement.
He coughed lightly, said, “I’ll leave first,” and left.
After closing the door, Lu Yan’s tense hands finally relaxed.
——
Lu Yan stayed in Chengyuan for several days.
Thus, the news that he stayed in the brothel in pingkang lane once again reached the ears of the Grand princess.
When Lu Yan returned home, he happened to meet the Duke of Zhenguo going out. Duke Lu Jun glanced at him, stopped, and said, “I heard that you have been getting closer to the East Palace recently?”
Lu Yan replied: “This son knows his limits.”
He patted Lu Yan’s shoulder. Although his son was a little absurd in terms of relationships, he was indeed reassuring in terms of how to be an official and a minister.
Lu Jun smiled and said, “Your mother is waiting for you inside, don’t provoke her.”
It must be said that people’s hearts are fickle. If the Lu Yan before saw him now, he would definitely think that he was crazy, just like how he scolded Sui Yu at that time.
“For a mere woman, would you do that?”
“Which woman in the world doesn’t have two eyes, a nose and a mouth? If you can’t forget her, why not find someone who looks like her?”
But what about when it was his turn?
Even though he knew there would be obstacles ahead, he still wanted to keep going and didn’t want to turn back.
Lu Yan walked into the inner room. The Grand Princess was holding a palm-leaf fan in her hand, fanning herself intermittently with a slightly raised eyebrow. Based on his understanding of his mother, this was a sign that her patience was running out.
Lu Yan walked up to the Go1(a game played with black and white pieces on a board of 361 crosses) table, raised his hand and touched his nose, and said, “This son still owes you a game of Go. I wonder if you are interested to play with me today?”
The Grand Princess walked up to him and sat down, with a hint of coldness on her lips, “It’s amazing that you still remember.”
Lu Yan sat down, picked up the black piece, and put it down with a “thump”.
The Grand Princess pressed on step by step and Lu Yan was willing to give in. After a while, he gained the upper hand.
The Grand princess threw the piece in her hand back into the basket, raised her head, and looked at Lu Yan.
She knew her son’s personality very well. She had never won when playing Go with him.
He has only been hanging out with those girls from brothels for the past few days and yet he has even learned the art of coaxing people?
Princess Jing’an smiled and said, “Last time you said to give you some time, how long will that be?”
Lu Yan knew that if there was no explanation today, the Grand Princess would probably not let it go. He paused and said directly: “Till the end of the year.”
Princess Jing’an was very surprised and narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t this a delaying tactic?”
Lu Yan smiled and said, “This son doesn’t dare.”
The Grand Princess glanced at his ruthless eyes and felt that the woman from the brothel in Pingkang lane was just a pitiful person, so she didn’t continue the topic.
After the game of Go was over, the Grand Princess said, “By the way, on the seventh day of next month, Empress Xu will host a polo match.”
Lu Yan’s eyes froze.
Next month, the polo match…
He suddenly recalled the name “Xu Yiqing”.
In his dream, he had never liked this name in the first place, and after coaxing Shen Zhen for several days in a row, he didn’t even want to hear it anymore.
After thinking about it, Lu Yan said directly: “I’m afraid this son won’t be able to go to the polo match.”
“Why is that?” Princess Jing’an frowned slightly, “The Empress even listed your name on the list for the polo match.”
“I can’t go.” Lu Yan pointed at his lower back, “Mother, have you forgotten the injury your son suffered in Yangzhou?”
The princess clapped her hands and said, “It’s your mother’s fault. I’ll send someone to report it to the palace later.”
——
A few scattered raindrops fell from the sky, gradually merged into a whole and the rain gradually became heavier, while the huge imperial palace was shrouded in misty rain.
Anhua Hall.
Empress Xu took off the jade bracelet on her wrist, put it on Xu Yiqing’s hand, and said slowly: “I have already sent invitations for the polo match next month to each family. Your cousin will help you at that time and you just need to listen to your aunt.”
Xu Yiqing’s cheeks turned slightly red.
Although Xu Yiqing knew that her aunt made such arrangements to use her to win over the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion, it was undeniable that if it could really result in a better marriage, she would be willing to do so.
Besides, if the Sixth Prince can achieve success in the future, the status of every girl in their Xu family will rise accordingly. The Xu family and the Sixth Prince are on the same boat.
“Don’t worry, aunt. Qing’er will listen to you in everything, and it will be the same in the future.” Xu Yiqing said.
The same will be true in the future. These four words made Empress Xu narrow her eyes. She knew that Xiaoqi from the Xu family was the most insightful girl in the Xu family.
Just then, an eunuch knocked on the door.
Empress Xu sat up straight, looked outside with a smile, and said softly, “Come in.”
The eunuch slowly stepped forward and said, “The Grand princess’s reply has been delivered.”
Empress Xu took it, slowly read the reply and her smile froze.
“Aunt, what’s wrong?” Xu Yiqing asked.
Empress Xu never expected that after she had finally set up the fishing rod, put the bait, and even found the fishermen but the fish did not come.
——
Twenty Sixth of the fourth month is Shen Zhen’s birthday.
Tang Yue woke her up early in the morning and dressed her up. Shen Zhen squinted her eyes, yawned and said,”Do you know where the young master is going to take me?”
Tang Yue whispered: “This…I don’t know either.”
Shen Zhen put on a veil, got on the carriage, headed south and came to a very famous restaurant in the East Market – Manyilou.
But her identity was not suitable for appearing in the crowded Chang’an East City.
Shen Zhen whispered in Tang Yue’s ear: “Are we going to walk in like this?”
Tang Yue said, “Don’t worry, young lady. This is the restaurant owned by the heir apparent. There is no one inside.”
Shen Zhen curled her lips. See, she knew that, Tang Yue already knew about it.
Shen Zhen walked in and was taken to a private room on the third floor. There was a figure on the side and she recognized her at a glance.
“Big sister.” Shen Zhen took off her veil and hugged Shen Shu.
Sometimes Lu Yan is very self-aware. He knows that what Shen Zhen values most are the people in the Shen family. The fact that she was willing to commit herself to him so quickly and please him was directly related to the evidence he had on Shen Shu’s guilt.
Under the circumstances at that time, even if he wanted Shen Zhen’s life, she would not hesitate.
Just like their first meeting in their previous life, he forced her to tell him where the card for leaving the city came from, but she would rather be beaten than say a word.
All children raised by aristocratic families, whether naive or not, understand that the interests of the family are above all else. Shen Zhen’s feelings for him, whether admiration or dependence, are based on the fact that he has never hurt the Shen family.
He was not so conceited as to think that he is more important than Shen Shu.
Shen Shu held her shoulders, looked Shen Zhen up and down, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.
The reason was simple: her third sister was raised too well by that man…
Shen Shu watched Shen Zhen eat noodles, and talked to her for a long time, then asked her: “Tell your sister the truth, did he bully you?”
Shen Zhen shook his head. His sincerity was evident to all.
“Do you like him that much?” Shen Shu scratched the tip of her nose.
Shen Zhen was stunned, her mouth slightly open as she forgot how to answer for a moment and her eyes were full of guilt.
She blinked her eyes a little sadly and whispered, “I did something wrong, will big sister blame me?”
In Shen Zhen’s opinion, if you like someone, you like them, and there is nothing wrong with admitting it.
But she shouldn’t like him and she knew it.
“How could this be wrong?” Shen Shu pinched Shen Zhen’s little face. “But Shen Zhen, have you ever thought about what would happen if he hurt you in the future? He is the eldest son of the Lu family and the Emperor’s nephew. Many things are not decided by him alone.”
Shen Zhen clenched her palms and wanted to speak, but didn’t know how to say it.
She only whispered: “Big sister, I won’t do what I shouldn’t do, and I won’t say what I shouldn’t say.”
Shen Shu looked at Shen Zhen’s cautious appearance, smiled and swallowed all the words of persuasion she wanted to say.
In Shen Shu’s current view, love between men and women is the most insignificant thing in the world.
Shen Zhen met Lu Yan when she was sixteen, at a time when she was at her lowest point in life. It was perfectly normal for her to fall in love with him, just like a person who falls into the deep sea and instinctively grabs onto driftwood.
But who knows if he will still hold on to the piece of wood after getting ashore?
