Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 72.1
“I don’t want your money, nor your pigeons.”
Shen Zhen said in a tearful voice: “I don’t want it, I don’t want anything.” As long as she could go out, she would definitely be able to support Shen Hong.
Lu Yan was stunned , then he frowned.
Shen Zhen pushed the box back to him. After a long while, her breathing became steady. “My Lord, you have to go on duty tomorrow. Please leave early.”
There was silence all around and the flickering candlelight cast a shadow on his face. Then the man chuckled.
Shen Zhen raised her eyes and looked at him, not understanding why he was laughing.
Thin profile, estranged eyes, slightly upturned corners of his mouth.
He still looked so cold and indifferent, not a single thing had changed.
Suddenly, Shen Zhen’s ears suddenly rang with the words “Zhen Zhen”, only a few people had ever called her that.
The sound was so clear that it made her vision blurry. Tears as big as beans accumulated in her eyes, unable to hold back, fell down.
“Since you asked me to leave quickly, why are you crying? Huh?” the man said in a hoarse voice.
“I can’t bear to leave Tang Yue and Mo Yue. They are both very good to me.” Shen Zhen said with a choked voice.
“Really? Then why didn’t you cry like this when Qingxi left you?”
Shen Zhen was made speechless by him and felt a sharp pain in her heart.
She blames him for being heartless and for not wanting to coax her…
Then, Lu Yan raised his hand and covered the bottom of her eyes with his thumb.
Every time he wiped her tears, a drop fell and every time a drop fell, his heart ached.
It’s really killing him.
Shen Zhen secretly took a deep breath and avoided his touch. Then she pinched her fingertips hard and said to herself: Shen Zhen, you should not cry now that you have gotten rid of that shameful identity. You really should not cry…
Besides, Hong’er will be back tomorrow, and An momo and Qingxi are also back, and she will be able to see her sister whenever she wants…
What else is she not satisfied with?
“Shen Zhen.” Lu Yan interrupted the little girl’s self-hypnosis in a deep voice, “Wait for me, it won’t take too long.”
“Wait for what?”
Shen Zhen looked up at him, herbrows slightly frowned.
Even she herself didn’t realize that the way she frowned looked very much like the man opposite her.
Lu Yan took her hand and said calmly, “Third Young Lady Shen, why don’t you take a guess?”
Shen Zhen pulled back her hand and blurted out: “I am not as smart as you, so I can’t guess.”
Lu Yan savored the word “smart” in her words and subconsciously raised his eyebrows, knowing that she was resentful of him.
It suddenly started raining outside, with crackling sounds on the eaves. A breeze blew by, drying the tears on her face.
“If I wanted to keep a mistress, I could just keep you in Chengyuan. Why would I go to all the trouble of sending you here?” Lu Yan leaned closer to her, “Shen Zhen, are you really stupid, or are you just pretending to be stupid?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Zhen’s head buzzed.
Under his burning scrutiny, the little girl’s ten toes curled up secretly.
“I want to take you back to the Lu family.” The man held the back of her head, tilted his head to kiss her, touched her lightly, then backed away, saying word by word: “Parents’ orders, matchmaker’s words, three letters and six ceremonies1(The process of engagement in ancient times), not a single one will be missing.”
Shen Zhen was stunned and looked at him speechlessly.
“My Lord.” Her voice was very soft, “How is this possible?”
She was the daughter of a criminal and he was the Heir Apparent of the Duke of Zhenguo. The disparity in status was obvious. The Duke of Zhenguo and Princess Jing’an, would never allow her to be the wife of the Lu family.
She knew very well that when marrying into a wealthy family, the most important thing was just three words – being well matched.
Looking into his eyes, she suddenly felt that this moment seemed even sadder than the moment before…
Shen Zhen’s eyelashes drooped and trembled slightly.
“I know what you are thinking, but nothing you worry about will happen.” Lu Yan said softly.
He wouldn’t make a promise easily if he hadn’t thought it over carefully.
Perhaps every foolish girl would do this and hearing such words would make one’s heart ache uncontrollably
Lu Yan looked at her eyes that turned red again and his heart ached again. He couldn’t help but laugh at himself.
She is literally his own nemesis.
Once she starts crying, it was as if he had been cured to death, with no way out.
“Why is the Third Miss crying again? Are you not willing to get married?” Lu Yan gritted his teeth.
Shen Zhen wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her little face in his chest and rubbed against it, her thin and soft hair resting on his chin.
There was an almost inaudible hum of two words: “Yes.”
A hint of a smile flashed across Lu Yan’s dark eyes and he added: “I thought that Miss Shen would be more reserved, but I didn’t expect that you wanted to marry me so badly…”
Before Lu Yan could finish his words, Shen Zhen pinched his waist hard.
Lu Yan smiled and swallowed his words, changing the subject: “When I’m not around, remember to take care of yourself and don’t eat cold food. If the East Palace asks where you’ve been during this time, just say you went to Yangzhou and report Chu Xun’s name.”
“Okay.”
Lu Yan thought for a moment, then bit her ear and said, “If you really miss me, you can go to the gate of Jingzhao Prefecture and beat the drum.”
After hearing this, Shen Zhen’s ears turned red.
“Who misses you?” Shen Zhen retorted.
Lu Yan chuckled, pinched her thin waist and put the box back in her hand, “I’m leaving now, take this.”
Shen Zhen still pushed it back to him, “My Lord, I really don’t want these.”
“Why?”
“I can support myself and Shen Hong.” Shen Zhen looked at him with a pair of beautiful eyes, “My lord, don’t you remember? I have a perfume shop in the West Market.”
Lu Yan was stunned.
Yes, she can indeed support herself.
The day they first met, she was sitting in the perfume and powder shop, fiddling with an abacus.
Although she was a little naive, she was very good at math and kept a clear account book. She also helped a lot when they went to Yangzhou…
“So all my efforts were in vain and you don’t want anything?” Lu Yan weighed the box in his hand, his eyes slightly darkening.
“Yes.” Shen Zhen held his palm and said, “Your pigeon stays.”
The curfew drum sounded outside and the drumbeat was deafening, as if urging people to leave quickly. Lu Yan touched her face and stood up slowly.
He walked to the door and just as he opened the umbrella, Shen Zhen grabbed his sleeve.
When their eyes met, she whispered, “My lord, take care.”
The man uttered a low “hmm”.
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T/N – Day after tomorrow is an important day for me, so I thought I’ll post an extra chapter on that day. So look forward to an extra update on Dec 6th!! 🥰🥰💕💕
