Chapter 54: Yu Xuan's Heart (Part 2)

  Wei Wei smiled wryly and sighed, "Fourth Sister said this, it's actually forcing me!"

  Under the plum blossom's sparse shadow, Ling Yu Xian's gaze was unusually deep and profound: "I just want to know what Jiu-jie is thinking in her heart!"

  After a moment of silence, Yuandai slowly said: "What I think in my heart is actually not important..." As she spoke, she reached out and took Ling Yuanshan's hand, whose eyes had dimmed slightly: "What's important is... what you yourself think in your heart!"

  Almost subconsciously, Ling Yuexuan grasped Yuedai's hand. The hand was slightly cool and soft to the bone, but it was in stark contrast to Ling Yuexuan's own scorching palm, yet she inexplicably felt at ease. She pursed her lips and said with a quivering tone and somewhat unnatural tone: "Ninth sister, I... actually don't know what I'm thinking either! I just... feel a bit confused..."

  As she said this, Ling Yuexuan unconsciously took a slight step forward. With this movement, half of her lovely face was suddenly exposed under the bright moonlight. Although he quickly became aware of it and swiftly retreated back, Yuan Dài still clearly caught the fleeting confusion and regret on Ling Yuexuan's face.

  There was no reason why, but at this moment, Lu Weiying's handsome and beautiful face suddenly appeared in Yuandai's mind, making her suddenly understand something. Unconsciously, she let out a slight sigh, and Yuandai slowly said: "Some things, I don't know if they are right or wrong, but since my sister asked me today, I'll also say something presumptuous...". At this point, Yuandai couldn't help but feel a pang of sourness in her heart: "In this world, there are many things that cannot be changed by our own strength, so if you have made up your mind to do something, it's better to think about the consequences first!"

  As soon as she finished speaking, Yuandai could clearly feel that Lingyu Xuan's hand holding hers trembled slightly.

  Yan Dai didn't want to continue the conversation, she simply withdrew her hand and gently pulled at the silver fox fur cloak she was wearing: "Once night falls, it's cold outside, and my body is also chilled to the bone. Let's hurry back inside!"

  Ling Yuexuan silently stopped speaking, hung her head and slowly followed Yan Dai's back.

  The two returned to the Xinfang Pavilion, bid each other farewell, and Yuandai took Wenshu back to the west wing. Du Ruofei rarely went to Yanhui Pavilion after arriving at Yuandai's side, apparently not wanting Yuandai to feel that she was in Cao's camp but her heart was with Han. This time was no exception. After everyone got off the carriage, they all went to see Old Lady Xiao first, but she had already told Yuandai and returned to the west wing of Xinfang Pavilion ahead of time. As soon as Yuandai entered the house, she hurriedly came forward to greet her, smiling: "Miss is back!" She then helped Yuandai take off her cloak and called Cuiyi to fetch water to serve Yuandai in washing her face.

  After finishing the collection, Yan Dai finally let out a sigh of relief, smiled and shook her head: "No matter how good the scenery is outside on this cold winter day, it's still not as warm and comfortable as in this house!"

  Wen Ping listened and laughed: "According to Miss Zhao's meaning, it would be better for Miss Xiao to quit! It's always warmest in the house, who cares about what's outside? Why bother going so far, taking a car and climbing mountains?"

  As soon as the words came out, everyone in the house couldn't help but burst out laughing. Yuandai smiled on one face and glared at Wenshu with the other: "It's just that you're a sharp-tongued girl, others who heard my words didn't say anything, only you had to take the lead!"

  Wen Ping didn't mind, and said: "Isn't this exactly what the young lady herself said? How did it become my fault?" She said, pulling Du Ruo: "Sister Du Ruo, come and judge for us!"

  When Yu Ru first arrived at the Dai residence, she had been quiet and reserved for days, not wanting to take the lead or argue with anyone. But now, suddenly pulled by Wen Ping, she was taken aback and then laughed: "Actually, there's nothing much to say about this! It's just that Miss has always spoiled you, so you're used to being impudent and speaking out of turn. Others don't dare to say things, but you blurt them out! As long as Miss doesn't scold you, it's all right!" Later on, she suddenly thought of Old Lady Xiao. When she was by Old Lady Xiao's side, wasn't she just like Wen Ping now?

  As soon as this thought arose in her mind, Du Ruo felt a wave of melancholy.

  Although she quickly gathered her melancholy, she couldn't escape Yuande's eyes. After a faint smile, Yuande glanced at Du Ruo's unusual expression and slightly scolded Wenping with a glance: "It turns out that the source of this matter is still on me! It seems that this time it's necessary to punish you, otherwise you'll become more and more sharp-tongued and unruly in the future!"

  Wenjing suddenly heard this and couldn't help but feel a stir in her heart. She smiled and said, "Then punish me by making me keep watch for Miss tonight!"

  Yuandai heard this and was taken aback at first, but then couldn't help but burst out laughing. She said: "You little scamp, you're quite clever! Guarding the night is originally your duty, but now that you've put it this way, it's as if I'm always bullying you all!"

  Wen Ping laughed and said: "I don't care about this, anyway tonight I'll take turns keeping watch for the young lady!"

  Yuandai smiled and shook her head, after all, she didn't say anything else. After a day of running around, Yuandai was actually feeling tired too, so after chatting for a while, she went to wash up and get some rest in bed. On the other side, Wenshu tidied up the house, sent Cuishan and Duro off to rest, then took out her bedding, just about to spread it out when Yuandai suddenly spoke up: "No need to go to such trouble, you can sleep with me!"

  Wen Ping heard this and was shocked, hastily shaking his head: "How can that be..."

  She hadn't finished speaking, when Yan Dai cut her off: "What's the point of beating around the bush? I know you've found an excuse to stay in my house today, and you must have something to say to me! If that's the case, why bother with one person on each bed, it's so inconvenient for talking!"

  Wen Ping thought about it and felt that it made sense, although she still felt a bit constrained. After all, she had taken her own pillow and bedding and laid them out beside Yuan Dai's. Although Yuan Dai was saying that she was tired, in fact she wasn't sleepy at all, but simply held the hand warmer and leaned against the headboard, too lazy to speak.

  After getting into bed, Wen Ping moved his body a bit uncomfortably and glanced at Yuan Dai.

  Yan Dai slightly gathered her thoughts, looked at her and said: "Are you thinking of asking me who I saw in the bamboo forest today?"

  Wen Jing nodded slightly, but couldn't help asking another question: "And Third Madam... what about her..."

  Yuan Dai said calmly: "Actually, when I was talking to that person in the bamboo forest, I didn't ask him who he was!" Wen Ping was taken aback, and just as she was wondering how to continue, Yuan Dai added another sentence: "But I knew who he was."

  I know who he is! No other reason is needed, just because of those eyes.

  Those eyes, seemingly calm but actually as desolate as dead water. Such eyes had watched over her from when she first learned to speak to when her hair turned gray; had held her hand and written the first character of her life; had painstakingly taught her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; and had even personally pinned on her hairpin at her coming-of-age ceremony, symbolizing her transition into adulthood.

  Even in his last moments, he still held her hand, looked at her with tenderness and said with difficulty: This life is over, only four wishes remain, wishing you a lifetime of no thoughts, no worries, no anxiety, no fear...

  A faintly indescribable feeling of bitterness suddenly rose from the bottom of her heart, and in the next moment, even her nose felt a little sour and astringent, which was very uncomfortable. Yan Dai slightly raised her hand to cover her eyes, and after a long while, she slowly said: "Today's candlelight seems to be somewhat dazzling..."

  Wenping had long sensed Yu Dai's abnormal behavior, but having been by her side for many years, she wouldn't mention it. Hearing this, she hastily responded: "Miss doesn't say it, I didn't feel it either, now that you mention it, it seems to be true!"

  She said, and then got up, blew out the red candle on the table. When she returned to bed again, she only heard a low voice that was both near and far away: "He is... Rui Qin Wang..."

  They are actually very similar. So similar that when she first saw those eyes, she almost lost control of herself.

  The candlelight has gone out, and the moonlight seeps into the room through the thin gauze window, but it is faint and indistinct.

  Wenping was apparently shocked by the three words spoken by Yu Dai and was speechless for a long time. The room fell silent for a long while before Wenping spoke softly, "The person Old Madam chose for Miss..."

  Yuan Dai gathered her thoughts, which had wandered too far, and calmly said, "It's really him!" Today in the bamboo forest, it was as if they were destined to meet, but at least Yuan Dai didn't believe that such a coincidence could happen in this world.

  Wen Ping remained silent for a moment, then asked again: "Then... how does the young lady plan to proceed now?" Wen Ping was a born-and-bred member of the Ling family, and his vision was that of a thousand-golden misses from ordinary families, with nothing left unturned. However, at this moment, he suddenly heard the three words "Rui Qin Wang" and his heart still trembled involuntarily. Rui Qin Wang, that was the imperial nobility, the former crown prince.

  Such an identity...... Now the old lady actually intends to marry her family's young lady to this door...... This......

  She faintly shook her head, and her tone had already returned to its usual calmness: "I've rejected him today!" If he were a clever person, he should understand what she meant. What she wanted was a life without worries or fears, but these were things that he couldn't provide.

  Wen Ping heard these words and was shocked into half a day of silence.

  Yan Dai's soft voice sounded even more calm and peaceful in this moonlit night: "Wenping, you don't understand. If one can't be the highest, it's better to be lower! After all, there can only be one person at the pinnacle of this great Zhou dynasty!"

  Wen Ping pressed her lips together, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start. After all, at this moment, everything Yuande said had already exceeded the scope of what she could understand. Seeing that she didn't speak, Yuande smiled slightly and said softly, "Go to bed early!"

  After saying this, she lay down on her own and closed her eyes.

  This night, the moonlight is like water, on the embroidered quilt, there are more than one person turning and tossing.

  …………

  The manuscript is urgent, I've written 3,000 words today and will add another 3,000 words before it goes online tomorrow.

  Sweaty Flash Man.