Chapter 62 – Love Letter

Chapter 62 - Love Letter

"I'll see who dares to touch my brother!"

"Where did you bandits come from, daring to lay a hand on our young master!"

"The Princess of Jian is here, who dares to act rashly!"

"The guards are conducting business; everyone ahead must stop. Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

Young Master Huo finally arrived with reinforcements.

He had gathered help from his own network, contacted the Canal Guild members in an emergency, and even had access to the estate's guards under the Prince of Jian's order for critical situations. The helpers arrived like a mountain and sea, roaring to the scene, completely changing the atmosphere.

The Luan brothers and the Empress Dowager's faction were stunned.

Despite their overwhelming numbers and seeming victory, they suddenly felt deafened by what they had just heard.

What young master? What princess? Whose princess? What prince?

The person before them was merely someone the Prince of Jian had sent over, pretending to be naive and sweet to deceive them, making them underestimate him. But it turned out that the one handling matters wasn't just anyone—it was the princess herself!

"What are you staring at? Move your dog eyes away!" Young Master Huo was livid, urging his horse forward forcefully. "If you dare to leer again, this young master will gouge out your dog eyes!"

Luan Fengyu was the first to explode in anger, pointing at Wen Ruan and then at Young Master Huo, trembling with rage. "Fine, you... you... you—were just here to fish! From beginning to end, you never intended to discuss cooperation!"

"So what?"

Young Master Huo bared his small sharp teeth, looking at Luan Fengyu provocatively from head to toe. "With your looks, sitting in front of this young master is already an eyesore. How could you deserve even half of my sincerity?"

Luan Fengyu's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'm going to kill you—"

"Ah, don't rush. Considering you treated me to a meal, I'll give you a piece of information as a friendly gesture," Young Master Huo said with a sly smile. "Not only did I reel you in, but also your family head, your older brother. Guess why your meeting with me went so smoothly?"

Luan Fengyu couldn't believe it. "You also... with him... and he... entangled—"

Luan Fenglin was equally furious, but accustomed to his position of power, he didn't display his emotions as openly as Luan Fengyu. "Two-faced and treacherous, the salt trade cannot tolerate such behavior. Today, you will surely die by the blade of the Luan family!"

"Young Master Luan, don't rush either. On such a beautiful night, how could we forget about your lover?"

Young Master Huo pulled out a cloth bag and threw it at Luan Fenglin's feet. As the wind blew the bag open, a delicate handkerchief was revealed inside—a pale smoky purple color embroidered with a simple orchid. "Oh, your complexion changed so quickly. I suppose Young Master Luan recognizes this handkerchief. Want to guess where I got it from?"

Luan Fenglin's hands instantly clenched into fists.

How could he not recognize it? It belonged to Zi Su, very private. She claimed she would only give it to someone close to her heart. Even he only had four or five of them, obtained after much begging. Why did this outsider have one too!

"Zi... Su!"

"Young Master Luan, don't be enraged and humiliated," Young Master Huo continued to pour oil on the fire, speaking earnestly. "At your age, it's not the best time anymore. How can you compare to young men like me who please women? There's nothing wrong with accepting old age—right, Miss Zi Su?"

Zi Su was almost laughing in anger. Having been involved in such affairs for so many years, she had long cast aside her reputation. Never before had she felt such urgency to clarify her relationship with a man.

Young Master Huo raised his voice. "Miss Zi Su, don't deny it. After all, you personally stuffed this handkerchief into my hands."

If he hadn't needed to do it for the young master's plan, how could he have endured such humiliation, even using a handsome man's trick!

Fortunately, he only had to make contact once. His acting skills were good enough that he didn't even need to touch her. This woman's perfume stank to high heaven; she didn't even use decent fragrances!

The faces of the Luan brothers, including Zi Su, all turned purple with anger. They hated not only the exposure by the person before them but also each other's disloyalty and betrayal!

When they had surrounded Wen Ruan together earlier, they were unusually united. Now, the more united they had been, the more scattered they were now, unable to maintain their unity for even a moment.

It was only at this moment that they realized there were particularly many people around them—not only Young Master Huo but also some rough men from unknown origins, each with broad backs and bear-like waists, tall and strong. There were also the estate guards, people from the imperial court, and even some of the scattered merchants they had previously interacted with...

"How could you...?" They genuinely didn't understand.

The leading merchant stepped out from among his people and bowed slightly to Wen Ruan, spitting in disgust at the Luan brothers and Zi Su. "Let me inform you that this is our young master! These past few years, our business has thrived. No matter where we operate, we always make money. Guess why?"

The three fell silent.

They had heard these merchants bragging at banquets about having a god of wealth who could turn stones into gold. Wherever he pointed, there was fortune. Whatever they did, they succeeded. As long as they acted with integrity, didn't engage in dishonest trade, and didn't deliberately cheat others out of money, they would always remain friends and always have opportunities to prosper...

Could this god of wealth be this young master!

"Haven't recognized a gem when you saw one, lowly dogs with eyes that look down on people. Pah! Step back, or die!"

Their faces darkened even further. How could they have known... that this youth was a treasure? And possessed such great power? If they had known earlier, if...

But in this world, there were no ifs.

At this point, there was nothing left to say. Their people were already surrounded. Initially, they had the advantage in numbers, but now, the ones with the numbers were the others. They could only wait to be slaughtered like fish on a chopping block. All they could think about was how to extricate themselves without implicating their masters behind the scenes.

"Is the young master alright? Why does he look unwell?"

A group of people came over to inquire. Young Master Huo frowned, reaching out to feel Wen Ruan's forehead. "You have a fever? Because of this damn rain!"

It had been overcast earlier, with a faintly fishy air carrying moisture. Now, it had started pouring heavily and urgently!

"Nanxing! Where's Nanxing! Quickly, take Ah Ruan back to rest—no, get medicine first, bring the medicine over!"

Wen Ruan gripped Young Master Huo's arm, chattering his teeth as he struggled to hold on. "He still has things to do..."

"What else can he do now! There's no one else here except him!" Young Master Huo had already spotted Nanxing and stomped his foot to get him to come over.

Nanxing hurried over, supporting Wen Ruan, whispering quickly. "Young master, rest assured, everything has been arranged. Qing Sanshan will be properly buried, and the Dark Guards are searching for what he hid. They will send it over shortly. With Young Master Huo here and the guards sent by the prince, everything will certainly be handled well."

Wen Ruan silently looked at Young Master Huo.

Although Young Master Huo didn't know what it was about, he replied: "Don't you trust me! I will definitely handle everything for you! If I fail even a little bit, you can beat me to death when you wake up!"

"You have my gratitude."

With these words, Wen Ruan finally succumbed to a deep and restful sleep.

This slumber was heavy and long, lasting for what seemed like an eternity without waking.

The clouds were abundant this time, and the rain persisted without pause.

As Wen Ruan's consciousness drifted between wakefulness and sleep, he could hear voices nearby, speaking in hushed tones to avoid disturbing him, discussing a myriad of topics.

They spoke of their concerns over the weather, how the continuous rain not only affected Wen Ruan's health but also the salt production. Someone mentioned that Young Master Huo had developed drying technology specifically to cope with prolonged rainy days, ensuring the salt yield, but they had to be extremely cautious about storage to prevent any further water damage...

They complained about the numerous issues plaguing the salt fields, likening it to a sieve being punctured by various thorns. Regardless of whether it was the Luan brothers or the Empress Dowager's sect, each faction had its own spies. There were informants from local officials, imperial bureaucrats, and even princes, creating a tangled web that was exhausting to untangle. However, Qing Sanshan proved to be a true man, providing the most detailed and crucial evidence in every chain. It was clear that he had endured much hardship to gather such information, making his efforts truly commendable...

There was also the unexpected mention of Han Yan's appearance —

"Tsk, why hasn't this woman been dealt with yet? She still dares to show up?" Young Master Huo was incredulous.

Nanxing remained silent: "…I forgot about her. I've been too busy dealing with external matters lately. Han Yan probably hasn't received any news since she's not at a high enough level."

Young Master Huo: "…Alright then, we'll interrogate her next time. Don't let her appear again; it would save us from Prince Jian getting jealous."

Nanxing: "Would His Highness get jealous?"

"How couldn't he? He's human," Young Master Huo narrowed his fox-like eyes, glancing at the young master on the bed. "Last time at my place, I noticed something off about the way he looked at my elder brother. He must have seen how good my brother is at pleasing his wife and felt envious and jealous. If he found out someone else wanted to charm Ah Ruan, hah…"

Wen Ruan couldn't open his eyes, and his chest felt heavy with sorrow.

Would Zhu Yan… be jealous for him?

He couldn't quite imagine that scene.

Perhaps those who were unwell were especially vulnerable, allowing emotions that were previously unnoticed to slowly seep through, causing an inexplicable sense of injustice.

His relationship with Zhu Yan felt incomplete. Did Zhu Yan truly have feelings for him? Was the intimacy they shared during Mid-Autumn Festival not just a figment of his imagination?

He didn't want to be swayed by others, but there was something unsettling about Wen Yu. It seemed as though he always knew some obscure information. Wen Yu mentioned that Zhu Yan once had a beloved, a white moonlight, and although Qing Sanshan didn't know much, he was aware that two and a half years ago, Zhu Yan had been saved by a young man…

Was it that person?

Fortunately, the current situation was almost resolved. Once the rain stopped and he woke up, he could immediately return to the capital.

He wondered if, after being apart for so long, Zhu Yan had thought of him at all.

Wen Ruan belatedly realized that, despite the lack of technological advancements in this era, there were still means of communication, such as letters. After such a long time, he hadn't received any correspondence from Zhu Yan… Perhaps it was because he hadn't written.

He truly awoke several days later.

Wen Ruan obediently took his medicine and ate his meals, but he lacked spirit, feeling disinterested.

Nanxing entered carrying a small box, no more than a foot long and palm-width wide.

Wen Ruan: "What is it?"

"It's a letter from Prince Jian," Nanxing placed the box on the bedside table. "Due to the special operation this time, we anticipated surveillance upon entering the scene. The young master instructed beforehand that all communications should be temporarily suspended, including with Young Master Huo. As a result, His Highness' letters were held back, unable to reach us. Now that the young master has awakened, reading the letters will help pass the time. Rest for another couple of days, and we can arrange our return journey."

It wasn't that he hadn't written; it was that he hadn't received them.

Nanxing, understanding the situation, collected the empty medicine bowl and left. Wen Ruan quickly opened the box, and as he read, his ears turned red.

Letter after letter, Zhu Yan had written many. How could he dare write anything!

Each letter began with "My thoughts are with you…" How could he, a prince, write such things without fear of the letters being intercepted and read!

In his letters, Zhu Yan was noticeably more talkative than in person, like a chatterbox, detailing what he did each day, where he went, and what he was doing. Perhaps due to the abundance of confidential matters that couldn't be written down, he focused on trivial details, especially his emotions.

He complained about the thick dust on the road, making everyone look drab and ugly, the trees unappealing, and even the dogs unattractive. There was nothing worth seeing.

He criticized the border troops for being too rough, none of them understanding the lute, neither Fang Xiaogou nor the old man from the Fang family.

He complained about the cook's lack of improvement in culinary skills over the years…

But he still ate three large bowls of rice, claiming it was out of frustration. He questioned Wen Ruan about the girl named Han Yan, asking how he could accept such a fake story of selling herself to bury her father. What if she hurt him?

There were moments when he wasn't as critical. For instance, although the weather at the border was dry and unappealing, the sunset was round and beautiful, its afterglow painting a picture of Da Li's mountains and rivers. The snow was also decent…

Yet, he clearly remembered that the scenery used to be even more stunning, far surpassing its current beauty. He asked Wen Ruan why, despite the same landscape, he couldn't appreciate its beauty anymore.

Wen Ruan didn't know the answer.

But Zhu Yan provided his own response in the next sentence: perhaps it was because Ah Ruan wasn't by his side to share the view.

Wen Ruan paused, his fingertips lingering on the page.

Zhu Yan wrote that on the clearest night with the fullest moon, he woke up at midnight and called out Ah Ruan's name, wanting him to rise and admire the rare sight of the full moon. Realizing he wasn't in the mansion and Ah Ruan wasn't beside him, his interest waned, and even the soft moonlight became blinding. He tried covering himself with the blanket but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

He mentioned that when his mother and Crown Prince brother were alive, he always wanted to venture out, eager to explore the vast world and witness its magnificent landscapes, never feeling lonely. Instead, he found it slightly annoying to be constantly supervised. Now, however, he suddenly disliked this freedom and yearned to be managed again—

Ah Ruan, could you take care of me?

He wrote about seeing flowers blooming in the snow, pure and beautiful, wanting to send them to Wen Ruan but fearing that the long journey would rob them of their freshness, diminishing their beauty. He mentioned trying a type of pancake made with ingredients unique to the border region, thinking of sending a box to Wen Ruan but worried that he might not enjoy it. In reality, it wasn't particularly tasty, but the flavor was distinctive, believing Wen Ruan would want to taste it. He recounted seeing a girl by the roadside and immediately avoiding her, adding…

The following words were crossed out, replaced with new ink, written forcefully: Do not look at random girls!

Realizing his overbearingness might be off-putting, Zhu Yan resumed writing in a more proper manner, attempting to soften his tone and avoid sounding like a plea. He said he had learned a new lute melody and asked if Wen Ruan would like to listen to it upon his return.

The earlier letters were fine, focusing mainly on himself, but later on, he started urging for replies, becoming increasingly irritable—

Reply! Reply! Reply! I'm getting angry if you don't reply!

Not yet replying, see how this King will punish you!

Only two sentences, then the tone softened as if helpless: Good Aruan, would you write me back?

Finally, it was a thick letter, opened to reveal a pile of torn 'endure' characters.

Wen Ruan looked at these scraps of paper and suddenly laughed out loud.

He got out of bed and opened the window—

The room filled with sunlight, the sea breeze gentle.

"Northern lands... it's snowing there, huh."

Nanxing heard the movement, knowing the young master had finished reading the letter, she came in to serve tea, hearing this exclamation, she replied offhandedly, "Yeah, it gets cold early over there."

Wen Ruan turned to look at her, "Will it snow in the capital?"

"It should?" Nanxing said, "There are always a few snowfalls every year, but it has to get colder. Young Master, have you recovered?"

Flushed and energetic, Prince Jian's letter must be some kind of elixir! If only I had delivered it sooner!

Wen Ruan: "Let's set off."

Nanxing: "Huh?"

Wen Ruan smiled, "We're going back to the capital."

After staying so long, everything that needed to be arranged was taken care of, and Zhu Yan's people would handle the follow-up matters. Wen Ruan's illness delayed things a bit, but fortunately, there was nothing urgent at the moment, they could afford the delay. However, considering his health, their return to the city was a bit slow, and by the time they reached the capital, it was already the 20th of October.

Wen Ruan didn't know that on the day he returned to the capital, the envoy also arrived. Unlike his leisurely pace, the atmosphere within the envoy wasn't good.

"We need to speed up our progress, we've already had two heavy snows, this winter is bound to be bitterly cold. If we return too late, we might be blocked by heavy snow and unable to leave..."

Indeed, as Zhu Yan predicted, previously it was the Northern Di envoy dragging out the negotiations with Da Li, now the ones in a hurry were themselves.

"Hush." The man sitting in the carriage was tall and hirsute, well past middle age, yet his eyes remained sharp. He was the leader of this envoy, Bi Luhun.

His subordinate was still anxious, "But when the winds and snow make travel difficult, what do we do? This time, we won't gain any advantage..."

Bi Luhun narrowed his eyes, "What are you afraid of? Although we underestimated our enemy this time and couldn't defeat Zhu Yan, we did find out his weakness, didn't we?"

Subordinate: "What?"

"Prince Jian's consort," Bi Luhun's eyes glinted eerily, "Do you know how many letters Zhu Yan wrote to his consort during his stay in the north?"

Subordinate, dazed: "This... How would your subordinate know?"

Bi Luhun: "A full sixty-nine letters! More than one per day!"

"How does the leader know..."

"Zhu Yan's letters are delivered by special homing pigeons, an old habit of his. No one would know except those familiar with him!"

"If the leader knows, why didn't you intercept them?"

"If I intercepted them, wouldn't he know? What if he changed his methods or stopped writing altogether? How could I know how important his consort is to him?"

"You're right."

Bi Luhun's eyes gleamed with cunning, "Once we reach the capital, we'll meet this consort!"

Zhu Yan was like a thorn in his side. Even as a child, he dared to run wild along the border, causing him no small amount of trouble. He didn't know how many assassins he'd sent after Zhu Yan, but the latter always managed to evade them, even surviving life-threatening injuries, such as the one two and a half years ago...

Last time, my information was insufficient, I lost a move. This time—

Zhu Yan, do you think I can't kill you?

Together with your beloved consort.