Chapter 110: How Can You Repay A Debt of Gratitude?

  Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a happy new year!

  Zhou Jingyu let out a sigh of relief, but still wasn't at ease. She went forward to check for herself before putting down the hanging heart, "The pulse is normal and calm, indeed nothing's wrong."

  Most people who practice martial arts will more or less use pulse diagnosis to examine illnesses.

  Lin Zhaoyan looked at her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, apparently having rushed over in a hurry.

  She furrowed her brow and subconsciously asked: "Do you know him?"

  She didn't expect Zhou Jingyu to answer her question, but unexpectedly, Zhou Jingyu flickered his eyes and leaned in close to her ear, whispering, "How could I not recognize him? He's the second son of Prince Xiao."

  Lin Zhaoyan's whole body shook, and he looked at her incredulously, "What did you say?"

  Zhou Jingyu smiled ambiguously and said, "Don't you know who you just saved?"

  Lin Zhaoyan still couldn't react, "Are you sure?"

  This young man was actually Xiao Qi's brother, Xiao Ming, whose face had been disfigured by a great fire!

  No wonder he doesn't allow people to see his face.

  But since it was Xiao Ming, how could he be beaten up like that?

  Xiao Wangfei isn't supposed to love him with all her heart? Yet she didn't even send someone to secretly protect him?

  "I'm sure." Zhou Jingyu nodded without hesitation, "Otherwise, you think I'm Lin Ruoyan?"

  Refers to Lin Ruoyan's hot-blooded and impulsive personality.

  She is Zhou Jingyu, an unimportant person, who would sacrifice themselves to save?

  But what's the relationship between Zhou Jingyu and this Xiao Erlang?

  What's going on with this thing again?

  Noticing Lin Zhao's suspicious gaze, Zhou Jingyu said slowly: "I'll just tell you his identity, so that after saving him for half a day, you won't even know who you've saved. As for the rest, don't ask any more questions. Besides, don't worry, no one will mention today's events again, and neither you nor Lin Ruoyan need to worry about damaging your reputation."

  Lin Zhaoyan's brow remained tightly furrowed, she felt that this matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

  Ke Zhōu Jìng Yú said it right. These things have nothing to do with her, she's just an unintentional character who appeared out of nowhere, after saving the protagonist, she should exit the stage too.

  "Alright, you can go now. I'll take care of him." Zhou Jingyu returned to her usual calm and proud demeanor.

  Lin Zhaoyan also stopped entangling and considered it a good deed.

  "In that case, I'll leave first." Lin Zhao spoke to the great official and bid farewell. After thinking for a moment, he turned to Zhou Jingyu and said: "Today's matter, please keep it confidential and don't tell this young master that my fifth sister and I were also involved."

  Zhou Jingyu raised an eyebrow, "Naturally, anyway, without you guys, I can still save him myself."

  Lin Zhaoyan said nothing more and turned away.

  As she walked to the entrance of the hospital, she tidied up her slightly disheveled clothes and took a few deep breaths. After calming herself down completely, she stepped out and walked away.

  He hadn't walked many steps when everything went black in front of him. A shadow loomed over, blocking the faint warm light that had been cast out from the clinic.

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly retreated a few steps without warning, but who knew that one foot stepped on the door frame and his body fell straight back.

  The cry had yet to escape her lips when a pair of hands firmly grasped her, then pulled her back with force, steadying her body.

  "Don't you even watch where you're walking?" a familiar voice sounded in her ear.

  Lin Zhaoyan raised his eyes in surprise. Indeed, he met Xiao Qi's pitch-black and deep eyes.

  Her heart skipped a beat, her rationality told her to escape, but emotionally she didn't reject it.

  She had always found it strange that although she knew Xiao Qi was dangerous and couldn't get close to him, every time she faced him, she felt more at ease than when facing Lu Yan.

  She wasn't afraid of him in her subconscious at all.

  "How did you end up here?" Xiao Qi loosened her grip on his hand, her expression still indifferent, just not as icy as before.

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly felt a chill in her palm and only then realized that Xiao Qi had been holding her hand all along.

  Feeling annoyed at her own dullness, she quickly gathered up those inexplicable emotions, silently wiped her hands on her clothes, and slowly opened her mouth, "I came to the medical hall, of course, to treat an illness."

  "Is she ill?" Xiao Qi didn't believe her nonsense, and looked her up and down. Seeing that her complexion was normal and her mind was clear, with only a small bloodstain on the hem of her skirt, he immediately understood what had happened.

  "Was it you who sent Xiao Ming to the hospital?"

  The eldest son of the majestic Xiao King would naturally not come to this remote medical institution. He would only come for one possibility, that is, to find someone.

  Lin Zhaoyan knew from the moment he saw him that he was looking for Xiao Ming, and now that he heard this, he didn't find it strange, but rather a bit annoyed. If she had left earlier, she wouldn't have bumped into him.

  But it's no use being anxious now. Looking at Xiao Qi's hurried appearance, he seemed to be very worried about Xiao Ming.

  No matter how cold-blooded a person is, there is always a warm place in their heart.

  Lin Zhaoyan understood his concern for his family, so he told him the whole story one by one, but omitted the part where he and Lin Ruoyan saved the scene. He only said: "It was the third lady of Chengnan Bo's house who saved Xiao Erlang, but at that time she was blocked by several people, I happened to be with her, so I could only help her send him to the hospital."

  He said, pausing for a moment, "Don't worry, Second Young Master Xiao is fine, it's just a superficial wound."

  Xiao Xi looked at her with a complex expression, from the Drunken Flower Building to this medical hall, although the road was not long, but Xiao Ming was a man after all, and she, a weak woman, supported Xiao Ming who couldn't walk on his own, which required some effort.

  Just look at her demeanor, relaxed and calm, expression steady, let alone complaints, not even a hint of dissatisfaction can be seen.

  This Lin Zhao Yan seems different from what he imagined.

  Lin Zhaoyan was stared at by Xiao Qi with such an inquiring gaze that she felt a chill run down her spine. She coughed twice and said, "Young Master Xiao, Miss Zhou is inside accompanying Second Young Master Xiao. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

  "Thank you." Xiao Xi softly spoke as she brushed past her.

  Lin Zhaoyan's footsteps paused, slightly stunned.

  However, before she could react, Xiao Qi had already walked past her and stepped into the clinic.

  Lin Zhaoyan turned around and gazed at his tall and handsome figure, her heart felt like it was being grasped by something.

  She shook her head and turned away, taking steps to leave.

  Xiao Xi entered the infirmary and immediately saw Xiao Ming lying on the sickbed. Seeing that he was breathing steadily, she finally felt at ease, as there didn't seem to be anything seriously wrong with him.

  He hasn't felt tense for ages.

  Since then, he no longer allowed himself to be anxious or afraid for anyone, that uncontrollable feeling, he didn't want to have it again in this life.

  Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming...

  He took advantage of his unpreparedness and slipped away quietly, but ended up causing trouble at the Drunken Flower Pavilion and got beaten up like this. There must be more to it than that.

  What is Xiao Ming thinking?

  "Xiao Gongzi." A sudden voice came from behind him, interrupting his contemplation.

  Xiao Xi turned around and saw a cold and lonely face, but there was deep emotion hidden in his eyes.

  He had seen such eyes too many times, and didn't have much feeling about it. However, because Zhou Jingyu saved Xiao Ming, he also felt a few points of gratitude and respect for her, so he said: "You are the third miss of Chengnan Bo's mansion?"

  Upon hearing Xiao Qi's clear and calm tone, Zhou Jingyu's face flashed a hint of red. However, she pretended to be calm and said: "Yes."

  "Was it you who saved my second brother?"

  "It's just a glance."

  "Can't bear to look?" Xiao Xi smiled, "I don't know if anyone can make Miss Zhou San look away."

  When her thoughts were pierced through by someone, Zhou Jingyu's body trembled slightly and was somewhat flustered. However, she quickly regained her composure and said calmly: "Of course not, I only save those who are worth saving."

  Xiao Xi raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly at her candor.

  He was informed that Xiao Ming was here by a small servant waiting outside the Drunken Flower Building when he found the Drunken Flower Building, what a coincidence, that little servant should be Zhou Jingyu's person.

  So if Zhou Jingyu doesn't admit it, he will instead think there's something fishy going on.

  As he thought of this, he looked up and down at Zhou Jingyu, who was not like the usual delicate and weak willow in the wind, but had a free and easy air between her eyebrows, with a self-respecting and proud demeanor, which was the type he admired.

  Just then, the young lady from the Chengnan Bo's residence...

  He doesn't have any plans for now.

  He politely yet distantly said to Zhou Jingyu: "In that case, thank you Miss Zhou for today's kindness. Xiao will repay this favor another day."

  Zhou Jingyu's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, "I don't want any repayment."

  Xiao Xi pretended not to hear, and "kindly" reminded Zhou Jingyu, "Miss Zhou, it's late at night, and as a young lady alone outside, it's not proper. You should head back quickly!"

  Zhou Jingyu bit her lip, raised her eyes and stole a glance at Xiao Qi. The handsome man was as beautiful as a painting, with an elegant demeanor, radiant like peach blossoms, and his eyes were as dark and mysterious as a deep pool, as if he wanted to draw people into the whirlpool, and then willingly let them be trapped forever.

  She remembered the scene when she first met Xiao Qi, that year she was only six years old, she accompanied her mother to burn incense, but accidentally got lost, at a loss and in distress, it was this pair of eyes, smiling at her, saying: "Don't be afraid, I'll take you out."

  That beautiful smile was instantly etched in her heart, and from then on, she was enchanted, infatuated to this day.

  But later on, she never saw him smile like that again.

  Just like now, his smile reveals a hint of indescribable falseness.

  Zhou Jingyu let out a soft sigh, and a deep sadness rose up in her heart.

  Everyone will grow up and change, but she is probably the only one who still lives in the past and can't forget.

  Xiao Qi had long forgotten the events of those years.

  Lin Zhaoyan hurriedly went to Xijie River Painting Boat, where she had agreed to meet with Lin Ruoyan.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, Lin Ruoyan and her mother were already waiting here.

  As soon as she appeared, Lin Ruoyan rushed over, "How is it? Is that person okay?"

  "It's okay." Lin Zhaoyan thought for a moment and decided to tell Lin Ruoyan the truth, so she wouldn't be unaware of who she had saved.

  She pulled Lin Ruoyan closer, whispering in her ear, "Do you know who the young master is that you're trying to save? He's not just some unrelated outsider, he's the second son of Prince Xiao."

  Lin Ruoyan's reaction was exactly the same as Lin Zhaoyan's when she first heard the news, "You're kidding, right? How could he possibly end up like that!"

  "This I don't know, it was said by Zhou Jingyu." Lin Zhaoyan shrugged and pulled over Lin Ruoyan's hand, reminding her: "I told you just so that you would know what kind of person you saved. After hearing this, just pretend you don't remember! Remember, we didn't participate in this matter, the only one who saved people is Zhou Jingyu."

  Lin Ruoyan was stunned, and it took her half a day to come back to herself.

  Good heavens! That person is actually Xiao Er Ye! Isn't Xiao Wangfei always doting on him like a treasure, how could she let something like this happen to him? Doesn't he have anyone protecting him by his side?

  "Lin Zhaoyan, I feel like something is off about this."

  "What's the point of thinking so much?" Lin Zhaoyan was also curious, but she had never cared about anything that had nothing to do with her. She just said: "Zhou Jingyu has spoken, let's not worry about this matter being spread out, I believe whether it is Chengnan Bo's house or Xiao Wang's house, they should all thoroughly seal off this matter."

  Lin Ruoyan couldn't figure out the deeper meaning hidden within, so she shook her head to prevent herself from thinking too much. "Then let's just pretend it never happened?"

  "Otherwise, you'll have to go around shouting that I saved the Second Young Master of Xiao Wangye?"

  Lin Ruoyan nodded slightly with a hint of embarrassment.

  Lin's mother and the others on the side also heard a rough idea, and the heart that was originally hanging up suddenly put down, "It's good this way, it's good this way, originally Lao Nü was worried about how to explain to the lady after going back!"

  "Lin Mama, since it's like this, don't mention it to Mother when you get back." Lin Zhao didn't want Liu Shi to worry, and if she told her about this matter, it would be difficult for him to go out alone in the future.

  Lin's mother nodded. "This is natural, I have a sense of propriety in my heart."

  The lady and the old master have finally reconciled, and the third house is now harmonious. Why bring up this matter at this time? It's not worth making people worry.

  On the other side, Zhou Wan-yu also came over after playing with Qin Yu-xue. Seeing them, she hurriedly went forward and said: "Where did you all go? I didn't see anyone after competing with Sister Yu-xue, so I had to go to the temple fair first." As she spoke, she looked around and exclaimed in surprise: "Huh, where's my third sister?"

  Lin Zhaoyan explained, "Your third sister said she wasn't feeling well and went back to the manor first."

  "Is she all right?" Zhou DanYu was somewhat worried.

  "It's nothing, just a bit of a headache, I think she doesn't like this lively atmosphere."

  Zhou Wan Yu didn't ask anymore, instead she pulled Lin Zhao Yan's hand and smiled: "By the way, you said that Yuxue sister's maid looks like your old friend, I actually saw someone who looks very much like a maid from your household."

  "Who is it?" Lin Zhaoyan saw that she didn't break the jar and ask to the bottom, so he felt relieved in his heart, and then asked a sentence along with her words.

  Originally, I didn't expect her to say anything valuable, but unexpectedly, she pointed at Lin Ruoyan and said: "It's the maid next to Miss Lin Wuyi, I don't know what her name is, anyway, it's the one who followed Miss Lin Wuyi into the palace." As she spoke, she clicked her tongue in wonder, "She really looks very similar, just like twin sisters."

  "Are you talking about pomegranate?" Lin Ruoyan asked subconsciously.

  "Pomegranate? I think it was you who called her that in the palace last time." Zhou Wan Yu thought for a moment and nodded, not forgetting to ask, "By the way, Fifth Young Miss, where is your maid? Maybe they are long-lost sisters or something!"

  "She's dead!" Lin Ruoyan replied in a bad mood, she didn't expect Shi Liu to be so high-profile, was he trying to get caught by the Hou Mansion and then implicate her?

  "Dead?" Zhou Wan-yu's face turned pale, and she hastily apologized, "Sorry, Fifth Young Lady, I didn't know."

  "Where did you meet her?"

  "She was three seats away from me on the painting boat."

  "Is she also here for the embroidery competition?" Lin Zhao muttered to himself, his eyes cast downward in thought.

  It seems that Shi Liu has found a better backer, one who can help her more. After all, the embroidery competition is supposed to be open to all women on the surface, but in this world, without any connections, how could anyone get in?

  Pomegranate, it's really hard to express a kind of obsession with entering the palace!

  But Lin Zhaoyan didn't think much about it. No matter what Shi Liu wanted to do, she had already left the Jian'an Marquis's manor, so they no longer had anything to do with each other.

  From now on, whether she lives or dies, succeeds or sacrifices herself, has nothing to do with them.

  "As far as I know, Shi Liu doesn't have any sisters, she just looks like one." She glossed over the topic with a few words, chatted with Zhou Wan Yu for a bit, and then they bid each other farewell and left.

  Today is a rare outing, but so many unexpected things happened, it's really hard to say whether it's good or bad luck.

  Sitting in the carriage returning to the mansion, Lin Ruoyan teased her, "I find that you really have a kind of inexplicable strange aura around you. Why is it that every time I'm with you, many things happen?"

  Lin Zhao said: "......"

  "You're not really possessed by a ghost as that old nun Mingyi said, are you?"

  Lin Zhaoyan said: "From now on, don't call me out the door, even if you kneel down and cry to beg me, I won't go out with you."

  This time Lin Ruoyan changed her expression: “……”

  The horse carriage drove into the Jian'an Marquis's estate under a sea of lantern lights.

  Lin Zhaoyan and her companions had just gotten off the carriage when a maid came forward to inform them that Liu Shi had already returned.

  "Then you can come with me to see Mother at Luyu Hall first!"

  Lin Zhao had no objection.

  She entered the main house of Luyu Hall. Madame Liu was having her face cleaned and makeup removed under the service of Ziying, her complexion looked a bit tired.

  Seeing them return, he busied himself to greet them with a smile: "Back? Had a good time, didn't get into any trouble?"

  Lin's mother replied on their behalf, "The two girls only strolled through the temple fair and went to the Xijie River painting boat to watch the embroidery competition, they were dazzled. The fourth girl likes quiet people, this time she also thinks it's interesting."

  Liu smiled, "In the past, I told her to go out and take a walk more often, but she never would. She'd either stay at home all day or discuss calligraphy and painting with her father, that eccentric artist. A good girl like her has become foolish because of this, earning herself a reputation for being wooden and taciturn."

  Liu rarely spoke to her in such a jokingly intimate tone, and although Lin Zhaoyan felt warmth, she was actually somewhat at a loss.

  She didn't know how to respond naturally and didn't know what to do without arousing Liu's displeasure.

  Just as he was about to speak, Lin Ruoyan said: "Recently she's been with me and has become more spirited, it's all thanks to my efforts!"

  Liu scolded her with a mouthful. "You also have the nerve to say, I think you'd better stay with your sister and restrain that explosive temper of yours."

  Lin Ruoyan pouted slightly, looking somewhat dissatisfied.

  Lin Mama smiled and joked, "Both of you are helpful, both of you are helpful. Two sisters should help each other."

  "This is about right." Lin Ruoyan nodded in satisfaction, but still muttered under her breath, "But I always feel that my help to her was greater."

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but tease, "Yes, yes, yes. You're the most formidable. If it weren't for you, I'd still be that dull and awkward Fourth Miss in everyone's eyes."

  "That's natural. Look at you now, you can even joke around, you wouldn't have done that before." Lin Ruoyan acknowledged openly.

  Everyone was amused.

  Ziying said: "Fifth sister, you are becoming more and more eloquent."

  "She's really poor!" Liu said, speaking the truth and causing a room full of laughter.

  Lin's mother felt that this kind of harmonious and joyful life was the best, and that their previous rivalry was really meaningless.

  Liu also felt this way, thinking that in the past he had actually made everyone unhappy for his own small personal gain, and now he was extremely regretful.

  She thought of all the annoying things that had happened in the palace today, and suddenly felt that Lin Ruoyan not going to the palace was not necessarily a bad thing.

  Lin Zhaoyan was quite sensitive and immediately sensed Liu's abnormality, subconsciously asking: "Mother, did something happen to you in the palace?"

  Liu was taken aback, then waved her hand and sighed, "Don't mention it, but it's those same old power struggles again. Just looking at it makes me sick!" She shook her head in extreme regret, "What a pity that the Seventh Prince has become a sacrifice to their infighting at such a young age."

  Seventh Prince?

  Lin Zhaoyan thought of the little boy with a shy smile he met outside Cining Palace that day, and his heart skipped a beat. Had something happened to him again?

  "What's wrong with the Seventh Prince?"

  "He almost fell from the high-rise building, fortunately he reacted quickly and grabbed the railing in time, otherwise his life would have been gone. Liu's words made her feel colder and colder, thinking of Ruan Fei's pale face and desperate eyes when she knew that the Seventh Prince had almost fallen off, she suddenly felt sympathetic towards this 'rival' for the first time."

  Her days in the palace were not easy at all!

  Can't even protect one's own flesh and blood.

  Liu looked at Lin Zhaoyan again and sincerely hoped that this secret would remain a secret for the rest of his life.

  Lin Zhaoyan's face also turned several shades paler.

  What's going on again? Those people are too lawless! Even if the empress dowager doesn't care, what about the emperor? What about the empress? Don't they care either?!

  And what about Consort Wan, whose own son was bullied and humiliated multiple times, even to the point where his life was threatened repeatedly? Doesn't she know how to fight back? What is she thinking every day in the inner palace?

  Lin Zhaoyan was extremely indignant, she rarely had intense emotions towards strangers, but as soon as she thought of the Seventh Prince's shy and adorable smile, her heart ached with waves of pain.

  But how could they bear to do it to children who are only seven or eight years old?

  Lin's mother also clicked her tongue twice, "This imperial palace is really like the Asura's purgatory, I'm truly glad that Fifth Young Miss didn't make it."