Chapter 29: Dear Ruan Ruan, Are You Alright?

Chapter 29: Dear Ruan Ruan, Are You Alright?

In the capital, everyone knew that Feng Guzi of the Moon God Temple was a celestial attendant of the Moon God himself, reincarnated on earth. She had an unparalleled discerning eye, and there was no match she couldn't bless or union she couldn't forge.

But in this world, how could everything be perfect without a single flaw? If it seemed so, there must be more to the story.

Today, the appearance of Li Yue'e tore away the veil of pretense.

There was nothing extraordinary about her insight; it was merely a facade for vile deeds.

The 'auspicious match' she spoke of—if the young lady consented, it would be ideal. But if she refused, then a trap would be set. They would deceive her out or directly abduct her, ensuring she shared intimacy with the man, thus losing her virtue. Afterward, who else could she possibly marry?

"Presumptuous!"

Today's public trial involved Chen Yong'an, the Deputy Minister of Revenue. The presiding official was Wu Fu, the Minister of Justice. Due to the involvement of the Five-City Military Command when Chen Yong'an was apprehended, Pan Qiantian was also present in court. Upon hearing such audacious accusations, he immediately rebuked them.

His eyes were filled with malevolence, his aura intensifying. "How dare you spout such preposterous claims! If what you say is so secretive, how do you know of it?"

Li Yue'e displayed no trace of fear; instead, she met his gaze head-on. "As I understand it, isn't it true that Lord Pan is the one most informed?"

Pan Qiantian's gaze was as sharp as a blade. "You dare to show me disrespect?"

"Why not?"

Li Yue'e clenched her trembling fingers into a fist, refusing to back down. Courage surged within her, her resolve growing stronger.

Why couldn't she live for herself once? Why couldn't she say no? Young Master had saved her from the depths of despair, not to let her drift aimlessly or succumb to weakness. He showed her courage and hope, revealing that her life belonged to her alone, needing no guidance or arrangement from others!

"It happened precisely because I was bestowed upon you, Lord Pan, in such a manner!"

The courtroom erupted in shock.

Some were astonished by Li Yue'e's boldness. For a woman to speak so openly in front of everyone, the damage to her reputation would be immense. What suffering must she have endured, what determination must she possess, to dare accuse a high-ranking official in court!

Others thought of the numerous concubines in Pan Qiantian's household. His philandering ways were well-known in the capital, but in this era, men's lustful desires weren't considered shameful as long as they could afford it and the women consented. However, the frequent turnover of his concubines, their sudden disappearances without a trace, had long sparked speculation...

Was it all connected to Feng Guzi of the Moon God Temple?

It made sense now. Pan Qiantian, overseeing the Five-City Military Command, could provide many conveniences to Feng Guzi in secret. In return, Feng Guzi supplied him with a steady stream of fresh female companions. As for the aftermath... concubines were treated like commodities.

Reflecting on the past, Li Yue'e's countenance remained composed and tranquil, her voice as serene as could be. "I am the niece of the Duke's Manor's matriarch. Following my family's misfortune, I sought shelter there. Throughout the years, my aunt treated me with kindness, and we never encountered any discord. Upon reaching marriageable age, she endeavored to find me a suitable match. Yet, a month prior, rumors started circulating that becoming a concubine wasn't necessarily undesirable. My aunt even broached the subject with me. I declined, having no interest in knowing the identity of the man. My aunt then remarked that my matrimonial prospects were bleak and suggested I pay a visit to the Moon Goddess Temple for divine counsel. The temple was renowned throughout the capital, always bustling with visitors. I didn't suspect anything amiss. When I lost consciousness, I was disoriented, unaware of what was happening. The only memory I have is of being pressed against a wall by the crowd and catching a whiff of an unfamiliar scent. When I regained consciousness, I beheld your face, Lord Pan."

"I never anticipated being abducted in such a brazen manner right in the heart of the bustling capital. Neither did Lord Pan wish to instigate strife with the Duke's Manor. He often spoke of potential matrimonial alliances between our families, not genuinely intending to forge a union but rather to pressure my aunt into silence, ensuring she wouldn't divulge the incident. Provided she cooperated, he pledged future recompense..."

Li Yue'e only criticized the actions of the Moon God Temple and Pan Qiantian, deliberately obscuring the role of the Zhou family in the affair. After all, the Duke's Manor had sheltered her for several years. Although life hadn't been entirely satisfactory, she had at least had a place to call home, protected from the elements. This ordeal could be seen as repaying that debt.

"...Lord Pan was coarse and showed no leniency towards women, yet he appeared to take a liking to my visage. He informed me that should I withstand the suffering and disregard my reputation, he would furnish me with a life of ease and opulence. I rejected his offer. Observing that he was preoccupied with external affairs, I seized the chance to flee..."

"However, having just left the wolf's den, I encountered a tiger's lair. That night was the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, and something significant was happening near the capital outskirts. In my panic, I stumbled into danger and was rescued by a man named Xiong Ding. Originally, he was one of Pan's men working outside, and he was involved in the plot to frame Minister Chen."

Li Yue'e stared directly at the presiding official, Wu Fu. "Xiong Ding was infatuated with me. Apart from keeping me confined and preventing my escape, he didn't hide anything from me. I know the extent of his involvement in various schemes, what the Pan family planned, and what Feng Guzi was plotting. I know where the evidence is. To protect both our lives, Xiong Ding secretly hid some items, and I know where he concealed them."

The courtroom fell silent for a moment. No one could have anticipated the case taking such a turn. With new evidence presented, the proper procedures needed to be followed. "Where is Xiong Ding now?" asked Wu Fu.

This was common knowledge, and a voice promptly exclaimed, "He's the new pipa bone that the Sixth Prince apprehended just a few days ago. I wonder if he survived the ordeal!"

Wu Fu was speechless.

"In that case, we shall inquire at the Sixth Prince's residence to see if they can provide verification," he said sternly, assigning someone to handle the matter. Turning back to Li Yue'e, he continued, "Reveal every detail you know, without any deceit or falsehoods."

Li Yue'e bowed deeply. "Yes."

As the Deputy Minister of Revenue, Chen Yong'an excelled in his duties, particularly in calculations and resource allocation. Despite his upright and stubborn nature, he was a good official to both the court and the people. However, to many interest groups, he was a thorn in their side—a stubborn obstacle that couldn't be easily removed. The attempts to frame him had been ongoing, and it was only a matter of time before they bore fruit, sooner or later.

Perhaps Chen Yong'an himself was aware of this. Therefore, during the disaster relief efforts, he was especially cautious. He didn't discuss the distribution of funds and supplies with outsiders, and he sent them out of the city in batches, not all at once.

On the evening of the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, a convoy of grain and silver vehicles departed, heading in different directions. Both Pan Qiantian and Feng Guzi took action, but their priorities seemed to differ. Feng Guzi focused solely on the silver convoy, ignoring the grain vehicles. Meanwhile, the Pan family wanted to seize both. There appeared to be some disagreement between the two parties during the pursuit, but Chen Yong'an had the upper hand. He had arranged the routes and directions strategically and deployed decoy vehicles. Although there were losses that night, the majority of the silver and grain remained unaccounted for, eluding both Feng Guzi and the Pan family.

It was on this very day that Li Yue'e escaped and encountered Xiong Ding, who was in the midst of his operation. He took her back with him.

Chen Yong'an's silver and grain convoys didn't leave the city all at once. It seemed he anticipated these losses and wasn't deterred. On the following night, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, another batch of silver and grain vehicles departed the city. Feng Guzi and the Pan family received word of this and repeated their previous tactics, attempting to plunder the convoys once more...

The process was similar to the previous night, yet not quite the same. Similar in outcome—everyone managed to seize something—but different in the details. Decoy vehicles were still present, creating confusion. The real and fake trails intermingled, making it difficult to discern the truth. Especially noteworthy was Chen Yong'an himself, who was among the various convoys that night.

This was the final delivery. Some of the silver and grain were intentionally sacrificed as bait for the wolves, while others were cleverly rerouted to the canal port. Regardless, the scene was chaotic. Due to their familiarity with the area and the arrangements they had made, Feng Guzi and the Pan family vanished swiftly. Left alone in the wilderness on the outskirts of the city, Chen Yong'an had nowhere to hide, no secret passages or connections to rely on. He was captured, and with all the silver and grain mysteriously disappearing, he was thrown into prison without uttering a single word in his defense.

...

At the Sixth Prince's residence.

Zhu Yan cast a glance at the apprehensive servant from the Ministry of Justice. "What fear grips you? Do you doubt my willingness to hand it over?"

"Well..." The servant bowed deeply, his form nearly parallel to the ground. "Given that this matter involves critical witness testimony, it holds the utmost significance. We most humbly beseech His Highness, the Sixth Prince, to make the necessary sacrifice..."

"Do you think he deserves it?"

Zhu Yan had already ushered Xiong Ding forward. Despite being wounded and disheartened, his robust figure remained conspicuous. "A coarse and witless lute bone—how could he possibly be deserving of such a sacrifice?"

The attendant from the Ministry of Justice responded, "I shall remove the individual at once..."

Zhu Yan interjected, "Yet, you are correct. My lute bone, regardless of its stain or beauty, ought not to be carelessly cast aside."

The humble servant from the Ministry of Justice found himself speechless.

Zhu Yan continued, "Let's go. I'll personally attend the court session to see what happens."

When they arrived, Li Yue'e had already revealed most of the facts. She had indeed uncovered the evidence Xiong Ding had hidden—a stack of account books detailing the transactions between Feng Guzi of the Moon God Temple and the Pan family, including the receipt of 'silver goods.' The Pan family was doomed.

Xiong Ding was stunned. Without the evidence to save his life and having incurred the deadly enmity of the Pan family, his fate was sealed.

"I did it all for you... I wanted to save you from the hands of Master Pan, leaving behind these things, hoping to make you happy, stealing fragrant soap from the Huo family shop in the market district, wanting your peace, offering you a lifelong commitment, promising to marry you, even if it meant fleeing for the rest of our lives... I did it all for you! How dare you repay kindness with enmity!"

"I never asked you to steal, rob, or do evil for me!"

Li Yue'e, undaunted by Xiong Ding's fierce gaze, looked straight into his eyes. "You saved my life, and I am grateful to you, willing to repay you in any way I can, as a cow or a horse, I can thank you in every way possible, but not with my person, my body! I don't like you, I don't want to be forced, you say you're good to me, truly fond, without beating or scolding, yet you still confine me, force me, making it sound nice doesn't make it less of a wrong, does it? What difference do you have with Pan Qiantian, except that he uses force, and you use persuasion, I tell you, I won't!"

Xiong Ding: "You..."

Li Yue'e turned her face away. "Don't say it was all for me, whether I exist or not, you would have hidden those pieces of evidence, this is what you use to protect your life, to gain wealth."

"Are you so reckless, not afraid of implicating your loved ones?" Pan Qiantian changed tactics. "The Zhou family of the Duke Wen's Mansion has been kind to you, closely related to you over the past few years, she loves you the most, don't you care about her?"

Li Yue'e could hear the threat in his words. "Everyone must take responsibility for their own choices, I can only say, I have no regrets."

She was no longer so humble, nor so naive, she was no longer a burden to anyone, no longer begging for others' charity, she already had a contract for work, and would strive to live a decent life, others, older than her, would only see through her more clearly.

Pan Qiantian narrowed his eyes. "Have you sold yourself? To whom?"

Li Yue'e smiled. "Only someone like you would talk about buying and selling, I have nothing to say to you."

"Reporting to the master, that Feng Guzi escaped!"

While Wu Fu was ordering people to find the Sixth Prince for Xiong Ding, he also sent men to the Moon Old Temple, clearly, Feng Guzi was much more cunning than the Pan family.

"Immediately issue a warrant for her arrest, she must be captured!"

"Yes!"

The trial continued, but the facts were clear, regardless of how many people wanted to harm Chen Yongan, the collusion between the Pan family and Feng Guzi, plotting to embezzle the disaster relief silver and grain, was as certain as nails on a board, the details of their cooperation, and the disagreements, someone wanting money, someone wanting grain, one could only imagine the filth and corruption involved...

Yet everyone was highly emotional, angry, sad, sorrowful, or compassionate, except for Chen Yongan, who remained silent throughout, standing in the hall with shackles on his hands, unperturbed, unmoved by storms, as if neither slander nor vindication mattered to him.

Did he foresee it? Knowing others would target and harm him, he arranged so many details... it was unclear, being specifically targeted, no matter what he said, there would be more mud thrown at him.

Feng Guzi... The Pan family... how dare they? That was disaster relief silver and grain, things to save the lives of the common people, how could they so easily seize it, just because they wanted a piece of the pie, just because they wanted to frame an innocent official!

"I didn't expect so many things to happen in between..."

Outside the city, in a teahouse, the Second Prince Zhu Bin walked out of the private room, 'accidentally' meeting the Third Prince Zhu Fu in the hallway, looking at his third brother with pity. "How pitiful."

Zhu Fu's narrow eyes narrowed slightly, his hooked nose particularly prominent in the light. "What are you pretending for, Second Brother? You dare say you didn't stir up trouble in this matter?"

Zhu Bin crossed his arms, smiling. "I can only know some details, how can I compare to Third Brother - the Pan family, they are your people."

Zhu Fu's eyes became more fierce. "What do you mean by 'your people' and 'my people', all officials in the court are Father Emperor's people, Second Brother should cut down on drinking, remember that a ruler loses his country if he isn't discreet, a minister loses his life if he isn't discreet."

Zhu Bin: "I'm just reminding Third Brother, why are you in such a hurry?"

The two briefly crossed paths, parting unhappily.

Neither descended the stairs lighter than the other.

It's over.

The Second Prince Zhu Bin thought, with such a big mess, this time he might not get any benefit, he had to think quickly about how to erase his traces in this matter...

It's over.

The Third Prince Zhu Fu thought, not only would he not gain anything, but he would suffer great losses, the Pan family was clearly going to fall, how to deal with the aftermath was a problem...

Those troublesome silver and grain, due to the 'careful operations' of Feng Guzi and the Pan family, were not transferred out of the capital at the time, the seals and tokens that should have been preserved were not kept well, all lost, the two people who should have cooperated fought the most fiercely, secretly competing against each other, now, it was all lost, no one knew where it was!

This wasn't his instruction, after all, he also wanted talent like Chen Yongan, but those below him had their own interests to consider, in a fit of passion, they did such a thing, he couldn't stop it now, now... he had to decisively cut off the gangrene, not to implicate himself.

Finished.

In the Duke Wen's Mansion, Lady Zhou fell to the ground, losing all strength, unable to stand for a long time.

Indeed, it wasn't just house arrest... Wen Ruan, that star of misfortune, bullied her, Li Yue'e was also an ungrateful wretch, after the Young Marquis's disturbance, and now with the pressure of the trial, how could there be any good for her? She was just informed that due to these shameful matters, affecting the reputation of the Duke's Mansion, the children's marriages became problematic, she, the wife of the eldest branch who couldn't handle affairs, besides kneeling in the ancestral hall and house arrest, she couldn't even meddle in her daughter Wen Ru's marriage!

She couldn't personally help her daughter find a good match, nor could she manage the dowry list, if she performed poorly, she couldn't even meet the in-laws, everything would be handled by Lady Lu of the second branch!

She was truly scared, asking Lady Liu to redo her hair, she secretly went to find Lady Lu, kneeling and begging, tears streaming down her face, sincerely and emotionally. "...It can't be like this, Second Aunt knows, my body is useless, I can't bear a son, under my knees is only Sister Ru..."

Lady Lu took a step back, avoiding her hand, casually. "Just because there's only this one daughter left, she needs to accumulate virtue more carefully, not asking for anything else, only hoping for her future prosperity, rest assured, as her aunt, my love for her is no less than yours, how to discipline her will be done properly, I will not neglect her."

Lady Zhou gritted her teeth, not neglecting didn't mean neglecting, Sister Ru was after all the Duke's Mansion's legitimate young lady, with so many people watching inside and outside, Lady Lu, managing household affairs, understood that reputation couldn't be lost, but as the saying goes, the water one drinks is cold or warm only known to oneself, appearance or substance, they were completely different things!

What to do? Her poor daughter...

"I didn't know she was so pitiful."

At the manor, Nanxing was telling Wen Ruan the details of the trial in the capital, he sent people there, all the details were relayed back in real-time.

Li Yue'e was personally rescued by him, he guessed the girl might have some inconvenient past to share with outsiders, he didn't expect it to be such an experience.

"It was actually Pan Qiantian..."

Wen Ruan never intended to pry into a young girl's sad history, he just felt that women in this world found it hard to live, willing to offer some assistance, to help her become independent, he didn't expect it to be such a matter, he originally thought it was a mistake, thinking it was Pan Peng, as Pan Peng had searched for Li Yue'e during the banquet at the Duke's Mansion, and chased her at the Moon Old Temple, it turns out it wasn't for himself, but to cover for his father.

Nanxing: "Wasn't it arranged by the Young Master?"

Wen Ruan shook his head. "I only hope she can open up, and live a good life afterwards."

A beautiful, gentle, upright, and skilled young girl shouldn't be trampled on like that.

"The Young Master is always like this," Nanxing recalled herself. "Never demanding what others must do, what is right, but spending a little time with the Young Master, talking, one becomes enlightened, knowing what to do."

The Young Master was like sunshine, helping people dispel haze, illuminating the path ahead, people have a tendency towards light, wanting to make the right choice, wanting to become better, wanting to like themselves more.

In this world, they were so fortunate, to have encountered Young Master.

"Young Master, take your medicine." Nanxing lifted the bowl of medicine.

Wen Ruan stiffened. "If I'm not mistaken, you were just expressing gratitude for our mutual companionship?"

"Exactly because I'm grateful to Young Master, and I want you to be healthy and blessed with longevity," Nanxing said without changing her expression. "I've already cooled the medicinal soup to a suitable temperature."

Wen Ruan struggled. "Look, the rain has stopped, I'll be fine soon. This medicine... isn't it unnecessary?"

Nanxing: "The Sixth Prince said that Young Master will have to take medicine every day from now on. After three to five years, the illness will be cured."

Wen Ruan's eyes suddenly widened.

Was this human speech! What did he mean by taking medicine for three to five years? After three to five years, one would be marinated in the taste of medicine! The Sixth Prince wouldn't be retaliating against his disrespect in the cave, would he!

Nanxing was particularly ruthless, holding the medicine bowl to Wen Ruan's mouth. "The physician the Sixth Prince invited is different from the doctors we've consulted before. If he says it will work, it will definitely work. This medicine, Young Master must take it whether you want to or not. You don't want the Sixth Highness to come and persuade you personally, do you? His temper doesn't seem very good."

Wen Ruan drew in a sharp breath.

"Very well, you've learned your trade."

Using all the rhetorical skills you've learned from me on me, right!

"Young Master's guidance has been effective," Nanxing wasn't modest at all, smiling gently. "Young Master, drink your medicine. There are still many days ahead."

Wen Ruan swallowed. "Nanxing ah."

"Mm?"

"It's not even dark yet, don't rush into telling ghost stories."

"Young Master's reprimand is well taken, I'll remember it. Next time Young Master refuses to drink the medicine, I'll go to the Sixth Prince's residence and tell him that you called him a ghost."

Wen Ruan: ...

He took the medicine bowl and downed it in one breath.

To say the least, this medicine was truly... too bitter!

Due to the case taking a significant turn, various pieces of evidence and procedures needed to be sorted out. Chen Yongan was not released immediately but was brought back to prison. However, it was clear that he wouldn't be staying there much longer.

Chen Yongan didn't need the jailer to drive him away; he walked towards the familiar cell himself. Seeing the figure in front of the cell door, he was momentarily stunned.

The Sixth Prince, Zhu Yan, stood under the wall lamp, his face illuminated like a pearl, as if the moon had risen brightly, its radiance covering everything in splendor. He was indeed a gentleman, elegant and refined, making people forget his temperament for a moment, only wishing his gaze could be warmer. But when he looked over and opened his mouth, the cold and dangerous atmosphere returned.

"Does Lord Chen find this surprising?"

"I certainly did not expect to meet Your Highness here." Chen Yongan clasped his hands and bowed in respect.

He had seen the Second Prince and the Third Prince here before. Their words were different, but their thoughts were similar. He didn't think he would see the Sixth Prince here, nor had the Sixth Prince ever shown any intention of vying for power or winning hearts.

"Who said I wanted to win you over?" Zhu Yan's gaze was critical. "Old and ugly, what use is having a straight back if it doesn't bend? And your shoulder blades aren't attractive either."

Chen Yongan: ...

Zhu Yan: "Why hasn't Lord Chen defended himself until now? Is it because the problem hasn't been solved, or because even if it has, it's useless?"

Chen Yongan remained silent, it was unclear whether he was caught off guard or had nothing to say.

It seemed that Zhu Yan didn't insist on hearing him speak, continuing on his own: "The grain and silver you lost are all with me—the amount, you should be clear about."

Chen Yongan's eyes changed slightly.

Zhu Yan: "If you no longer wish to manage worldly affairs and don't come out to deal with this batch of silver and grain, I'll pour them all out and spend them."

Chen Yongan found it unbelievable. "A prince uses these things to threaten me?"

"But in this world, only Lord Chen, with your righteous spirit and concern for the world, would succumb to such threats, wouldn't you agree?" Zhu Yan's thin lips curled slightly. "I hope Lord Chen doesn't respond to this provocation. After all, human nature is inherently evil. In this world, where can one find good people?"

Chen Yongan looked seriously at the Sixth Prince, as if he was meeting him for the first time.

Zhu Yan: "I also know where more grain can come from and where more silver can be earned. Recently, an extraordinary talent appeared in the capital. Lord Chen probably doesn't know about it yet. If you accept my challenge, sincerely kneel to me and beg me, I can introduce you to him and see what tricks Lord Chen can pull off."

Chen Yongan: ...

Was this Sixth Prince insulting him or giving him a chance?

But one thing should not be wrong: the Sixth Prince wouldn't deceive him.

No one would deceive someone using this method. What was the point?

Chen Yongan lifted his robe and knelt, his expression stern and his words sincere. "I beg Your Highness to make the introduction."

"Lord Chen is indeed a remarkable person," Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes. "In the future, please maintain this. Don't let me find you boring."

Chen Yongan didn't bother to ponder what the Sixth Highness was threatening him with. He only knew that he was still himself, able to walk under the sun in the future, unbound by anyone's shackles, not belonging to any faction, continuing to serve diligently and doing every task well, worrying for the country and thinking for the people.

With great talents appearing in the world, the light of national fortune, how could he still be depressed!

Leaving the prison, Zhu Yan didn't return to the Sixth Prince's residence but prepared to visit the estate of the 'extraordinary talent'.

Lan Tian looked back at the Ministry of Justice's prison. "Your Highness is wise."

Talents often had high pride and strange temperaments. To subdue them for one's own use required special methods.

"Hmph."

In response, the Sixth Prince gave a cold laugh. "I just want to see a joke, that's all. How interesting human nature is, don't you think?"

Lan Tian: ...

His Highness, if you continue to be so stubborn, sooner or later, you'll hit a wall.

Indeed, the wall came soon enough.

The Sixth Prince rushed out of the city at great speed, but as he approached Mount Lai, his pace slowed, and by the time he neared the manor, his horse was almost at a standstill.

Lan Tian, understanding the situation, immediately suggested, "I wonder if the young master of the Duke's household is feeling better? Should His Highness pay him a visit?"

The Sixth Prince remained silent, continuing on his way, leisurely passing by Wen Ruan's manor.

Lan Tian: ...

"Woof!"

The black dog barked at him, defending its master's honor more fiercely than he did, as if saying, "Mind your own business when it comes to my master!"

Lan Tian: ...

Alright, this dog knows the rules better than I do.

In the past, this manor never crossed his mind, but now he always wants to come here. It can't be that the manor has suddenly become beautiful and attractive. He keeps it inside, not knowing if His Highness feels stifled.

Upon entering their own manor, he noticed the Sixth Prince's clothes. "Having been in the courtroom and prison, the aura of blood and slaughter is too strong. Perhaps His Highness should change into another set of clothes?"

This time, the Sixth Prince listened, not only changing his clothes but also taking a bath while he was at it.

Lan Tian: ...

What does he want to do? It's obvious, isn't it?

Seeing the Sixth Prince ready to go out for a stroll, Lan Tian tactfully held back, coughing once and looking at the black dog, signaling it to follow.

The black dog didn't need any prompting; it followed obediently.

By now, the sky had grown dim, making it inconvenient for an acquaintance to pay a visit.

Man and dog strolled along the mountain path. Initially, it was the man leading the way, but soon the dog took over, with the man trailing behind. No one knew how the dog navigated, but it leisurely led them to the wall outside Wen Ruan's manor, stopping precisely where Wen Ruan's courtyard lay within.

The black dog first looked around, sniffed the air, then turned to look at its master, letting out a soft 'woof' towards the top of the wall. Its voice was very low, as if it were a thief afraid of being heard, conveying the message—quick, climb over the wall! What are you waiting for?

Zhu Yan: ...

Seeing no movement from him, the dog grew anxious, tugging at the corner of his robe and growling softly, urging him forward. The message was clear: with me keeping watch, no one will know!

Perhaps unable to resist the dog's insistence, Zhu Yan paused, lifting his robe and leaping over the wall in a single bound.

Unfortunately, he arrived at an inopportune moment. Wen Ruan had just taken his medicine and fallen asleep again. The surroundings were very quiet, with only Wen Ruan's breathing audible. There was no one else around, nothing else to hear.

Zhu Yan sat by the bedside, silently watching Wen Ruan for a while. Seeing him slightly sweating, he couldn't bear the sight of the unruly strand of hair, gently tucking it behind his ear.

He didn't know how long he sat there until he heard Wen Ruan murmur in his sleep, calling out someone's name.

"...Nan...Xing..."

Zhu Yan lowered his gaze, withdrawing his hand.

But halfway through, it was caught.

The youth grasped his hand, lightly pressing it against his cheek, rubbing against it. In his dream, he softly called out, "Brother..."

Zhu Yan, as if burned by the warmth of the youth's neck, quickly pulled his hand away.

The youth's hair was damp with sweat, and the blanket had been kicked off entirely. It was barely June, and summer was still long ahead.

"How can you stand the heat like this? How will you survive the summer?"

Zhu Yan didn't cover the youth with the blanket; instead, he left coldly.

Wen Ruan slept well that night. Perhaps due to breaking a sweat, his condition significantly improved, and he felt quite spirited. However, by his bedside...

"What is this?"

"I don't know," Nanxing was equally puzzled. "The Sixth Prince suddenly sent over this set of clothes, saying it's called Resounding Cloud Silk, perfect for summer wear—cool and breathable. Does he know the young master gets hot easily? Did the young master talk about this with him?"

Wen Ruan shook his head in confusion.

How could he have discussed such things with the Sixth Prince? That would be presumptuous and overly familiar.

But why did this fabric seem so familiar? Didn't he ask Huo Er to make it?

"Hehehe, I'm here, I'm here! Is anyone inside? Where's Ah Ruan? Where's Nanxing? Have you made tea for me yet? Your Brother Huo Er is finally here, hurry up and open the door, open the door, I know you're all in there!"

Huo Xuning, the second young master of the Huo family, swept into the courtyard like a tornado, instantly invading the room. The door slammed against the wall and bounced back, and if not for its sturdy construction, it would have broken under the force.

"My little Ah Ruan, my precious Ruan Ruan, how are you! Do you remember the formula you gave me last year, guiding me in making Resounding Cloud Silk? Ta-da! It's done, and I've made a fortune selling it to wealthy households, a huge profit. Are you ready to collect your share?"

Wen Ruan glanced at the Resounding Cloud Silk clothes by the bed and fell silent.