“This Tantai Ye, what is he planning, really going to marry Li Yan?”
Upon hearing Wei Qingge’s words, Lan Murou nodded, “He’s not young anymore, and it’s time for him to get married.”
“Hmph, does he even have you in his eyes? This infuriates me—"
Ye Luan poured tea for the two, sitting to the side.
“Murou, what are you thinking?”
Lan Murou accepted the tea, smiling faintly, “The border skirmishes have ceased. A’yan will be going to the Great Northern Desolate Army camp in Sai Bei soon.”
She had pleaded with Tantai Ye for nights, saying she wanted A’yan to train in Sai Bei. Annoyed by her persistence, he had agreed.
Sai Bei, a desolate and harsh land far from the emperor’s reach!
Once he married, he wouldn’t bother with the effort of capturing her.
It was just a pity for A’yan. When she could escape, she would definitely go to see A’yan.
“If he marries, the Prince Duan’s estate and the Tantai clan will not tolerate me. I cannot avoid a fatal disaster. Perhaps, I can find a sliver of hope within it.”
Wei Qingge grew even angrier, cracking melon seeds and scolding Tantai Ye to no end.
“Don’t worry, Murou. As long as I’m here, no one will dare to harm you.”
Lan Murou chuckled softly, “Mm.”
Ye Luan leaned back against the chair, sipping her tea leisurely. Her dark eyes stared blankly at the tabletop, lost in thought.
“A’luan, you don’t need to worry about me. As long as A’yan can live, that’s enough.”
Ye Luan’s thoughts returned. Looking at her gentle eyes, she asked, “Are you still drinking that?”
She paused, then reacted, shaking her head.
“It’s been a while since I last drank.”
As long as she stopped drinking the love flower, her body would slowly recover.
“That’s good then.” Ye Luan chuckled playfully, “As for a scumbag like Tantai Ye, he can marry whoever he wants. Don’t take it to heart. You won’t be with him forever anyway.”
Lan Murou suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and nodded with a smile.
“No, that’s not right! How can Tantai Ye be like this? He’s too much of a beast! Forcing you to stay by his side, and not letting you go even when he’s getting married. What kind of person is he? He’s just like that Prince—"
Before she could finish, Wei Qingge immediately covered her mouth, glancing around sheepishly.
These words were not to be spoken lightly. If the Prince heard them, she would be finished.
Ye Luan laughed, “You’re right. Men are plentiful. If this one doesn’t work out, there’s the next one.”
After a pause, she patted Lan Murou’s shoulder, teasing, “When you’ve escaped this brute, I’ll definitely introduce you to a gentle and refined young master. A scholar matched with a beauty.”
Lan Murou had never thought of finding someone else, but she didn’t want to dampen their spirits, so she smiled and agreed.
“Exactly! It’s so much better to have a few male companions and live a life without anyone controlling you.”
The three chatted happily until someone came to hurry them along. Wei Qingge reluctantly got up, eating a peach, and quickly bid them farewell before rushing off to help at the restaurant.
Ye Luan, afraid that Lan Murou would overthink things when she went back alone, stayed with her.
After listening to a performance, the two went to the nearby restaurant for a meal. In the afternoon, they went to the opera house to listen to music, and it wasn’t until dusk was approaching that they reluctantly emerged from the opera house.
“A’luan, when we have time, let’s come back to listen. I still don’t quite understand how the top scholar killed his wife of humble origins. I was listening in a fog.”
Ye Luan pulled her onto the carriage and smiled, “Alright.”
These were all sentimental opera scripts written by pedantic scholars. She was almost nauseated by them.
“You don’t need to escort me back. I can take the estate’s carriage.”
“It’s alright, I’ll send you first—”
Before Ye Luan could finish speaking, she saw Tantai Ye approaching on horseback. She rolled her eyes and said nothing more.
“Lan Murou!”
A familiar male voice came from behind. Lan Murou’s body trembled. She turned around and saw Tantai Ye, dressed in black, his face cold as he rode towards her.
She lowered her gaze and, holding up her skirt, descended the steps.
Tantai Ye looked displeasedly at the lively opera house. His sharp gaze swept over her suddenly somber face, igniting his anger even further.
Was he some ferocious beast? The smile on her face vanished the moment she saw him.
“I told you to return to the estate. You, on the other hand, are having too much fun, aren’t you?”
Lan Murou pursed her lips and said faintly, “I’m returning now.”
Ye Luan truly couldn’t stand this fellow’s awful temper. She crossed her arms and sneered.
“General, you truly are a busy man. You just sent the Princess back, and now you’re here to pick up Murou. Who’s next? Even a stud farm isn’t as impressive as you.”
Her words were clearly an insult.
A chilling glint flashed in Tantai Ye’s dark eyes, but he said nothing.
His sharp gaze lingered on Lan Murou. He extended his hand, “Get up.”
“I’ll take the carriage.”
“Say that one more time. Get up!”
Damn it!
Ye Luan listened, grinding her teeth so hard they ached. She wished she could go up and beat this brute. What kind of temper was this? Couldn’t he speak properly?
Lan Murou didn’t want to be a spectacle any longer, so she offered her hand. The moment she placed it in his, he forcefully pulled her up and onto the horse.
“Rou’er, you’re becoming more and more willful.”
In the dead of night, his voice was fierce and chilling, grazing her earlobe, making her more terrified than any evil ghost.
Lan Murou knew that once she returned, she would be locked in the bedroom and tormented again.
“A’luan, you should return soon—”
Before she could finish speaking, he fiercely squeezed the horse’s flanks with his legs. The horse galloped rapidly towards the west road.
“Miss, should we go back too?”
Ye Luan squinted slightly, watching the departing figures. After a moment, she withdrew her gaze.
“Let’s go back.”
The night wind blew gently, accompanied by the rustling of cicadas.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting silvery radiance. The Moon Pavilion was silent, with only the calls of black crows circling on the branches.
Ye Luan disliked being served. There were no maids on duty outside her door. After she entered the room and took off her outer garment, she turned and saw someone lying on the soft couch by the window.
“Who’s there?!”
Startled, she immediately drew her saber.
The shadowy figure remained motionless.
Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the person hidden in the dark mist, revealing subtle, well-defined contours.
Vaguely familiar.
Ye Luan’s eyes darkened. She walked closer to get a better look, and her face immediately fell.
She put away her saber and kicked the person fiercely.
“Get up!”
As soon as she spoke, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her into his embrace, pinning her onto the couch.
Ye Luan was slightly startled. She looked up and met his deep, enchanting crimson eyes.
“You smell of alcohol. Get up.”
She twisted her waist, struggling, but her waist was held tightly and firmly by him, entwined. She couldn’t move at all.
Xiao Chizhan lowered his head, burying it in her neck. His warm breath on her earlobe made her fingertips tremble.
She turned her head to avoid him, “Why are you here making a scene in the middle of the night?”
There were no candles lit in the room, only the sparse moonlight illuminating it.
Xiao Chizhan kissed her flushed eyes, his voice hoarse.
“I can’t sleep even when I’m drunk, so I can only come to find you.”