Chapter 204: Only A Yan Can

Chapter 204: Only A Yan is Capable

"Lu Mingchao, your hands are indeed immaculate. You have no intention to harm others and are adept at turning situations to your favor."

"But, the capital’s waters run much deeper than Changhe County’s."

"I hope you can keep winning. The more you win, the less I’ll seem like a failure."

"You’ll have company," Lu Mingchao said softly.

"I don’t start fights, but I’ll finish them."

"If crossed, I won’t come out the loser."

Sun Zhiye looked at the strand of hair falling by Lu Mingchao's temple and instinctively reached out, wanting to tuck it behind her ear.

Lu Mingchao frowned and took a step back.

She couldn’t stand people who overstepped!

Sun Zhiye's hand froze in mid-air and then fell onto his own sleeve, brushing off the creases.

"You befriended Feng Jinyu despite her slander, saved her life, letting bygones be bygones, took her as your disciple, and taught her to read and write."

"You understand Cheng Zhi’s plight, hired a lawyer for her, and helped her flee the Cheng family’s clutches."

"You can even acknowledge Qi Rui’s schemes."

"Then why can’t you bury the hatchet with me?"

"Doesn’t that make me special to you?"

Lu Mingchao felt a wave of nausea, like she’d swallowed something vile.

She had reason to suspect that Sun Zhiye had lost his mind after too long in prison.

"Yes, you are uniquely malicious."

Sun Zhiye chuckled, "Lu Mingchao, when I first took the reins of Sun Ji, I didn’t want to do anything evil either."

"But once you cross that line, there’s no going back. Once you reap the rewards, you can never go back."

"Lu Mingchao, I’m not beaten yet."

"Lu Mingchao, you’ve got someone on your tail."

Sun Zhiye's voice was particularly firm.

"Lu Mingchao, pick a plum branch for me."

"Pick a plum branch, and I will stay silent and await my end quietly."

"It’s a fair deal."

"This winter, I haven’t had the chance to enjoy the plum blossoms in comfort."

Lu Mingchao gave Sun Zhiye a deep look, adjusted her cloak, and turned to leave.

"As if I’d enjoy plum blossoms now!"

Go chase your pipe dreams!

Lu Mingchao hurried out of the long, dark staircase. The bright sunlight flooded down, and the crisp air dispelled the gloom in her heart.

She looked at the wild plum tree in the courtyard, left untended and growing wild.

She once picked a snow-covered plum branch from this tree, tucking it into Cheng Zhi's hair and telling her that even if it falls and turns to mud, its scent lingers.

That was her sympathy for Cheng Zhi's tragic fate.

Sun Zhiye, what’s there to pity?

Is it pity for being abandoned by his parents and living a short life?

But Sun Zhiye said a plum branch would keep him quiet and waiting for death!

Think of it as helping Magistrate Xu out.

Lu Mingchao bent down and picked up the plum petals scattered by the cold wind, then hurried back. With a flick of her hand, the petals danced in the air.

"It looks just like the paper money flying at my second brother’s funeral," Sun Zhiye's gaze followed the petals.

Lu Mingchao: What bad luck.

"Take care." Lu Mingchao turned to leave.

Sun Zhiye suddenly spoke, "Lu Mingchao, you gave me paper money, so I owe you silver. Fair’s fair."

Lu Mingchao smirked, "The Zhangs in Lianhua Town are crammed in a leaky shack, eating scraps. Zhang Cheng, once living in luxury, is now nearly begging."

"Silver? You can’t even afford paper money."

Sun Zhiye showed no remorse and said matter-of-factly, "Nine times out of ten, you lose, and risks are shared."

"If I’m not wrong, you once had someone talk to Grandfather Zhang."

"But when Grandfather Zhang heard my backer was the Marquis’s daughter, he lost his mind, dreaming of greatness."

"Whether they eat scraps or end up homeless, the Zhangs should’ve been ready."

"Lu Mingchao, you’re so kind, what’s to be done?"

"You should be with someone like me, who’ll do anything to get what I want."

"Go on, wait for the silver I owe you."

Sun Zhiye silently knelt, carefully gathering the scattered petals.

Because of him, Tiandong, Chuanbo, and Duzhong were spared the death penalty but could not escape severe punishment. His parents had long since turned against him.

He thought that after his death, no one would collect his body.

Lu Mingchao took one last look at Sun Zhiye and walked away.

On the long street outside the county office.

"A Yan."

Seeing Xie Yan, Lu Mingchao’s heart leapt with joy.

Why does everyone want to compete with A Yan?

When Xie Yan heard Lu Mingchao's call, the coldness in his gaze instantly vanished, replaced by tender affection.

"A Yan, the prison cell is so cold," Lu Mingchao whined, extending her hand towards Xie Yan.

Xie Yan naturally took Lu Mingchao's hand in his.

Xie Yan's hand was large and warm.

"Today is Laba Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday, we need to prepare some ingredients to make Laba porridge to take back," Xie Yan said with a smile in his voice.

To Lu Mingchao, it felt as soothing as Xie Yan's warm, dry hand.

The steady warmth filled her with comfort and joy.

"It's already Laba Festival."

"Time flies so fast."

Lu Mingchao sighed.

She remembered being in the boudoir of the Yongning Marquis's residence, opening her eyes with a bloody hole, pitifully begging for some money to comfort herself.

Now, she was the proprietor of Changhe County, Mr. Lu.

Xie Yan agreed, "Yeah, time really flew by."

With Mingchao, there was no need to count the days one by one anymore.

"Come on, let's go get the ingredients," Lu Mingchao said with a beaming smile.

As they walked, Lu Mingchao casually told Xie Yan about the conversation in the prison cell.

Xie Yan's ears echoed the phrase that it wasn’t just anyone—it had to be Xie Yan.

It was as if a crack had formed in his heart, with joy bubbling up endlessly, as if to soak his entire heart in sweet water.

Mingchao had always been clear about where she stood.

That was enough.

Mingchao was willing to give him clear and unwavering security, and he was willing to look up to Mingchao's vast seas, leaping rains, high skies, and soaring birds.

Their relationship was never about control.

It was about respect, trust, and mutual support.

"A Yan," Lu Mingchao pulled her hand back and waved it in front of Xie Yan, muttering, "What’s on your mind?"

"I was talking to you, and you zoned out."

"If you ignore me now, you’ll walk all over me later!"

Xie Yan held Lu Mingchao's waving hand, "I was thinking about how high and far Mingchao could soar."

If Mingchao were a gust of wind, it would be a wind as gentle as a whisper, a wind that would linger for those who believe in her.

In fact, as the wind brushes past your palm, you can still hold onto it.

"Don’t worry, I’ll soar high and far, watching your back," Lu Mingchao said with a raised eyebrow and a roguish grin.

Xie Yan’s smile deepened. "Then this husband will count on his wife to have his back."

Lu Mingchao patted her chest. "You got it."

"Stick with me, and you’ll live the good life."

"Hey, isn’t that my second brother?"

Lu Mingchao pointed at Lu Yao, dressed in a green robe and white cloak, standing outside the nearby teahouse.

"Making a clumsy move that backfires."