The sky was overcast, and the sun could not be seen in the sky.
It should be raining, right?
With this thought in mind, drops of water immediately fell from the sky. He stretched out his palm and stretched out the corridor. The beads of water fell on his palm, wet and cold.
"You should know how to take care of yourself when you're weak.”The light green cloak covered Lian 'er's thin shoulders. When she turned around, she saw Hong Yu, who had a helpless and doting expression.
It had been more than two years since they had left Lian Xiu Lane. He was sixteen now, and the day after tomorrow, he would be seventeen. Hong Yu would be twenty as well. He had not changed much in the past two years. He was still petite and thin, and he still looked like a woman. On the other hand, Hong Yu, Yingying, and the others had changed quite a bit. Although they did not look like dignified seven-foot-tall men, they had also shed the delicate taste of the past.
It had been two years! He did not expect time to pass so quickly.
In the past two years, Yutang had come over frequently, regardless of whether it was morning or evening. Every time, he could see his travel-worn appearance, and when he returned, it was always the moment when he was asleep.
"It's been two years, Hongyu."
"What do you want to say?" She clearly knew that whenever Lian 'er was in a daze, she would definitely be thinking about the same thing. Hong Yu deliberately did not explain it and even glanced at him ambiguously.
Lian 'er didn't care. She smiled and took the white jade bottle from the side. She poured the red grape wine into a cup and took small sips. "I want to say that every year at this time, he will come to Jiangnan. Moreover, the Murong family has lent us this courtyard, and it has already reached the time limit for returning it. I wonder what kind of place we will go in the future.”He also knew that he was attached to Zhu Yutang. That was a fact, and he wasn't afraid of being laughed at.
"The north!" A low, bright laugh rang out from behind her. Lian 'er was stunned for a moment, and the sparkling and translucent luminous cup slipped from her palm. Hong Yu, who had long noticed the abnormality, quickly reached out to catch the glass of wine, and her hand was stained with red.
Zhu Yutang, who was still travel-worn, looked at the thin back of the woman dotingly. Then, he quickly turned around and revealed his beautiful face. His pink lips parted slightly and curled into a curve. Out of habit, he opened his arms, and as expected, her petite body pounced into his embrace. Her slender arms were as usual, tightly hugging her waist until she felt pain, and her palm-sized face was submerged in his arms.
"Did you miss me?" He knew he wanted to, but he still wanted to hear him say it.
"Yes, I miss you so much! I miss you so much!" Laughter flowed out from the curved petals. Usually, Lian 'er was more like an adult. Only when Zhu Yutang was by his side would he act like a child.
Hong Yu didn't understand why. Zhu Yutang, who had only seen Lian 'er smile happily, naturally didn't know. He only knew that no matter when and where he was, he would always remember this little thing in Jiangnan. If the Zhu family's power in Jiangnan was expanding at an astonishing speed because of their cooperation with the Mu Rong family, it would be better to say that it was because he was eager to see Lian 'er. That was why he would often find excuses to go down to Jiangnan to reunite with the people he pitied.
His mother still didn't know about Lian 'er's matter. In these two years, he thought about it and finally decided to build a courtyard for Lian' er on the outskirts of the capital so that they wouldn't miss each other. He didn't know what his mother was busy with recently and didn't care about him. As long as Lian 'er's matters were arranged well, he believed that his mother wouldn't know.
"Are you really taking us to the north?" She caught the overflowing luminous cup, and the ruby-like liquid fell on her fair arm. Hong Yu's words seemed to be asking him and herself.
"Yes, I have built a very beautiful house for you in the north. You will definitely like it.”
The two of them understood what he meant. He was building a beautiful house for them, not letting them move into the Zhu family's mansion.
Hong Yu had a mocking expression on her face, while Lian 'er only smiled. She smiled happily, without sorrow or worry, and she did not mock Zhu Yutang for not being willing to bear the burden.
"I heard that the weather in the north is very cold.”
Zhu Yutang did not see Hong Yu's expression. He hugged Lian 'er and kissed her little mouth. "That's right! I helped you cut a lot of winter clothes. I know that you can't stand the cold. In order to keep warm last winter, you simply leaned into my arms and refused to move. You even needed to be fed when you ate.”
"Someone is willing to warm me up and feed my stomach. Such a good thing is not common. Why should I refuse?”People! When you can enjoy it, you have to know how to enjoy it. Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. Who knows if you won't even be able to eat a mouthful of rice tomorrow?
His answer made Zhu Yutang laugh.
Lian 'er had always been so different. She was bold and not as shy as a girl, and she relied on her gentleness instead of being independent and strong like a boy. Other than Lian' er, he couldn't find anyone else with such a personality…It was hard to distinguish between yin and yang.
"Do you really want me to go to the north?" In fact, he would rather stay here and think about him every day. It was better to think about him than to have nothing one day.
"Yes, are you willing?"
Lian 'er smiled. "There's nothing to be unwilling about. Ever since you bought me that day, I'm yours.”I'll do whatever you say. Even if you want me to kill myself one day, I won't refuse.
"I hope you won't answer me in this way.”Zhu Yutang frowned. He hoped that he was willing. These days, he would miss him every day when they parted, so he was willing to take the risk of being discovered by his mother to build the house in the suburbs close to home. Did his Lian 'er not miss him at all? Was that why he was still so indifferent after hearing the news?
He did not like this idea!
"Are you angry?" Lian 'er easily saw through his thoughts.
This silly man. Did he have to say it out loud every time before he could understand? She wondered where his shrewdness and experience in dealing with people had flown to.
"Don't be angry. I don't care where you want me to live. I just want you to come and see me. When you have time, just think of me.”
He was telling the truth, and there was no grievance in his tone. However, his heart ached when he heard it, and his arms that were hugging her petite body also retracted.
"I don't want you to suffer." For so many days, he had hoped that his Lian 'er could be the happiest person in the world, but every time he saw her, he felt like he owed her.
There were some things that he could never give her. After all, no matter how beautiful Lian 'er was, he was just a small official. Two men would not have any results in the end.
"I don't feel wronged, not at all.”Her smiling face snuggled into her warm neck, and her beautiful eyes gently closed. The moment she closed them, her eyelashes seemed to be stained with a seven-colored light. It was only for a moment, and she could not tell if she was seeing things or if there was really a little light on the thick fan.
This was the first time Lian 'er had gone on a long journey. She was only seventeen years old and was still curious about the outside world.
"Mengxuan, is that the flower street where we stayed?”Opening the curtain, he found that the carriage was passing through Hangzhou City. A familiar scene entered his eyes and he realized that it was an old place with eight years of memories.
He had never seen Flower Street from this direction before, and only then did he realize that the scenery of Flower Street was not as prosperous as he remembered. The crowd was still as numerous as flowing water. The lanterns upstairs were still hung high. The people coming and going were either lustful guests or prostitutes with fake smiles.
That was an illusion. Everything was fake.
The crowd would not always be the same. The lanterns would eventually go out. When one grew old, even the habitual fake smile would not be able to shine on one's face that had been eroded by time.
"That's right! It's the place where we stayed before." Meng Xuan only took a glance and then stopped looking. He was not like Hong Yu, who could change her mind and expression, nor could he be as resolute as Lian 'er. Looking at that place, even though it had been two years, he still felt unbearable. He still could not control the uncomfortable emotions on his face.
"Mengxuan." Lian 'er reached out and hugged the taller body, letting his face lean against her chest.
Meng Xuan was the most straightforward person among them! Hong Yu's straightforwardness was a kind of heroic spirit, while Meng Xuan's straightforwardness was a little hope for the future.
Perhaps he should have left Meng Xuan here and not let him go to the north with him…
"Let's go together." Yan Ting never spoke much, but he always spoke the most truthful words. "We have all been through the same dirty places. We can endure what we should endure, and we know what to do if we can't.”
The world always liked to see people like them, who were rolling in the dust, as fools who only loved money and had no feelings. Little did they know how much time they had spent learning poetry, books, rites, and music in order to please these "refined scholars", and how much they had seen through human nature.
The few of them were no longer just friends who had gone through thick and thin together. They were family that was closer than real brothers. How could he not know what Lian 'er was thinking?
The fact that they had gone to the north could not be hidden for long. When the day came, which was the moment the storm came, they knew very well what the outcome would be with their lowly identities. Moreover, there might not be a need to wait for the storm to arrive. Zhu Yutang was the only son of the Zhu family. One day, he would definitely marry and have children. Usually, when men had family burdens, small officials like them, who were neither male nor female, would not have a good encounter.
"This is just the beginning. Don't think too much.”
"What are you guys talking about?" Zhu Yutang was separated by a bamboo curtain, so he could not hear what the person inside was saying.
"We've never left Hangzhou and don't know what life outside Hangzhou is like.”Looking at his handsome face, the few of them smiled. That smile was not intentional, but came from the bottom of their hearts.
Compared to them, although Zhu Yutang had the power to shelter them from the wind and rain, he was much more innocent. Looking at him, they could not help but laugh. It was as if as long as they smiled like this, they could live like him.
"Hangzhou is a beautiful place, but the places outside Hangzhou are equally beautiful. The beauty of Hangzhou lies in the water, the beauty lies in the softness, the beauty of the capital lies in the vastness, the beauty lies in the momentum.”Zhu Yutang didn't care that the people in Hangzhou City were already pointing fingers at them. He reached into the carriage and carried Lian 'er out. They sat beside the coachman.
"Yutang!" Lian 'er gripped Zhu Yutang's arm tightly. No matter how calm she looked, she still felt uneasy when she met everyone's gaze. He had never faced a group of strangers under the sun. He had always thought that his identity was not to be seen.
"Don't be afraid! They don't know who you are. You can take a good look outside. With me here, no one can hurt you.”
With me here, no one can hurt you…
He had always said this to him. It had never changed in the past two years. Even when they were making love, he had said this to him. She hugged him, surrounded him, and carved her promise into every corner of her heart again and again. It made him believe that even if there was no future between the two of them, he would still stay by his side for the rest of his life.
He believed the words that he couldn't believe. He believed them with all his heart.
"You said, don't break the contract…"
"What?" There was a commotion on the streets because of Lian 'er's appearance. Many people stopped moving because of his beauty. Zhu Yutang could only vaguely hear Lian' er's words from the noise, but he could not hear what she said clearly.
"I said! I've stayed in Hangzhou for eight years, but I've never taken a closer look. Let's stop and take a look before we leave the city, what do you think?”
"If we stop, we won't be able to leave the city gate.”Zhu Yutang pointed at his nose and smiled when he saw his rare delicate appearance.
"Why?" Are there any special rules for leaving Hangzhou City?
"A beauty that can topple cities, a beauty that can topple cities. If we stop now, the city will collapse.”
"Zhu Yutang!"
Laughing loudly, he hugged his slender waist and flew out of the car. "Stop the carriage at Yuelai Restaurant! We'll leave before 10:00."
Hong Yu and the other three looked out and saw a tall figure holding their Lian and flying up to the roof. The four of them looked at each other and slipped out of the carriage with a smile. Their hands were indeed holding the money bag in their arms, but their hearts were already fixed on the scattered stalls.
The market! He had wanted to see it since a long time ago…How long ago was it?
With bags of snacks and candied fruits in her hands, and the newly bought Bo Lang drum and kite hanging on her body, Lian 'er smiled like a child. Anyway, he looked like a girl. If he openly let Zhu Yutang hold his hand on the street, no one would look at him strangely. He was happy to drag his tall body around and look around.
"Flower Street is so deserted in the morning." Inadvertently, he returned to the place where the carriage had just passed by. He sat down on the threshold of a house with a candied haws in his mouth. He was neither too far nor too close, looking at the tightly shut door of Love Sleeve Square.
Zhu Yutang sat behind Lian 'er, letting her lean into his embrace. They often did this. Whenever they had free time, they would snuggle together, regardless of whether it was cold or hot, or whether the scenery was beautiful. He did nothing but stare blankly at the scenery in front of him. He slowly gathered his wandering eyes on the same place. They didn't need to look into each other's eyes to know that they were looking at the same calm.
"This place belongs to the night. How can I wake up early after a tiring day?”
She stuffed the gourd skewer in her other hand into his mouth. Seeing that he was stunned and reluctant to refuse, she also smiled and bit another plum. Chewing the sweet and greasy sugar coating, it seeped in a little sourness and the bitterness of the plum heart.
It was as if the heart was bitter. Only the bitter taste could make people understand the sweetness and sourness of the fruit.
"In the past, we always couldn't see the sun at dawn. Every day when we opened our eyes, it was noon. On such a hot day, she would rather lie in bed to relieve her headache than get up to eat something to feed her stomach. By the time she woke up, it was already close to dusk. The door of Love Sleeves Square was already wide open, and what followed was another hangover.”At that time, he realized that time wasn't as long as he had imagined. It was the same day after day, and he didn't even know how many years had passed. Their brains were just desperately telling themselves why it was still so long and why time had not passed. In fact, time had already passed in what they thought was a long time.
"You know what? Once, when I woke up in the morning, I saw Meng Xuan sitting alone by the window and crying secretly. I didn't ask him why he was crying, but I knew very well why. That day, the sky was especially bright. When they woke up in the morning, they could see a faint firefly color dyeing the sky in the distance, slowly illuminating the entire sky. From a dark blue to a deep purple, the entire sky lit up in the blink of an eye. It was a beautiful scene, but we only realized it at that time.”
From that day on, they got up earlier than the servants who waited on them. Sometimes they gathered together, sometimes they were alone in their rooms, watching the sky slowly brighten and listening to the crowing of chickens in the distance.
His words were actually just muttering to himself, not for Zhu Yutang to hear. However, as he listened, his heart was synchronized with his words. Lian 'er's tone did not sound sad, but his heart was really sour.
"I'll watch the sunrise with you every day when we're in the north.”
"Tian Tian?" Lian 'er turned her head and smiled. She knew that he had misspoken, but her heart was still moved.
Sigh, he's not satisfied!
Zhu Yutang also knew that he had said the wrong thing, so he simply lowered his head and kissed her slightly opened mouth. "Little thing, little face, little mouth, you just love to find my faults.”
Lian 'er giggled. "If you want to say that I'm narrow-minded, just say it. Why take such a big detour? I can't get to the point if you kiss me!”
"I didn't say you were petty. You admitted it yourself.”She tapped his thin chest with her finger and even deliberately slipped.
Lian 'er screamed. He was most afraid of someone tickling him, so he quickly jumped up from his body. "You're always like this, you rogue prince.”
"It's Lian Xiu, not a scoundrel." Zhu Yutang stood up with a smile and immediately pulled the little one back into his arms. He did not forget to tickle the little one until he tried to hide.
"Rascal! He was clearly a scoundrel. If he wasn't a scoundrel, why would he tease a small official on the flower street!”
Lian Xiu, Lian Xiu, she was not Lian Xiu after all…
"What should I do if I don't tease a small official on Flower Street?”He really liked his little thing, like a child, like an adult, like a lover…and like a wife…
Lian jumped into his arms and clung to him like an octopus. " If you don't tease me on Flower Street, you'll definitely love me and dote on me…" She placed her hands on his face and gently rubbed his stubbled chin with her thumb, slowly climbing up his cheeks.
He had a sharp nose, big eyes, thick eyelashes, and straight and long eyebrows. He not only wanted to look at him with his eyes, but he also wanted to look at him with his hands. If possible, he also wanted to use his ears to remember his deep and powerful voice and use his nose to retain the smell of dry grass.
" Don't forget me…" That was his only request.
"How could I forget you?" He felt that this small request was so silly.
"It's an agreement."
If he said it, he could not forget it, because he had already carved it into his heart with a knife. He must not forget it…
In fact, although the capital was quite a distance away from Hangzhou, it was not very far. However, after playing all the way, it was already a month later when they arrived at their new residence.
"Cold!" Hong Yu grabbed her robe and mumbled as soon as she got off the carriage.
"If you're cold, you should wear more clothes." Lian 'er took a cloak from the suitcase and draped it over him. A warm outer robe also fell on her shoulders. Zhu Yutang had just taken it off and it was very warm.
"Don't always remember others. Your body is much weaker than Hong Yu's.”
"That's right! Lian 'er's body is very delicate, so Eldest Young Master Zhu has to serve her well. If Lian' er falls sick, it would be unbearable to have someone at night.”
"Hong Yu!"
Hong Yu rolled her eyes and walked into the newly built house. "I can't even be jealous for a moment. Poor Hongyu! When you're sick, there's no one to take care of you. When you're jealous, there's no one to vent…"
"Hong Yu!"
The protest was met with laughter in the courtyard, and the person had already run away.
Lian 'er sighed. Hong Yu's personality had become more and more like a big child in recent years. Not only Hong Yu, but he was also the same. The title of Tears Lady seemed to have happened hundreds of years ago, and he had not shed tears for a long time.
"This place is so close to the capital.”Yutang was the only son of the Zhu family and was a well-known wealthy family in the capital. Building a courtyard so close to the capital could not be hidden for too long. The atmosphere in the north was not like the south. If people knew about it, the Zhu family's reputation would be ruined.
It was one thing to play with a small official, but it was another thing to raise a small official.
"It will be fine." He had also thought of building the courtyard further away, but when he thought of Lian 'er's unwittingly sorrowful expression, he finally decided to build the courtyard here. Lian 'er liked places with mountains and lakes. The environment here was very beautiful. Although it was a little closer to the capital, he was happy that it made him happy.
Not wanting to dampen his spirits, Lian 'er didn't speak of the worries in her heart. "Show me this place! The courtyard you built must be a beautiful place.”
Speaking of Zhu Yutang's pride, a carefree smile appeared on his bold face. "Of course. I even built a small lake. The pavilion by the lake is a very suitable place for drinking. Don't you like to admire the moon and drink during the full moon?”
"Yes, I am!"
Lian 'er let him hold her hand and was about to step through the door when the sound of hurried horse hooves came from behind, stopping the two of them.
Zhu Yutang knew who it was at a glance, and his brows furrowed. Lian 'er looked at him indifferently, at the carriage that had stopped and the man who had alighted.
"Young Master, Old Madam invites you back.”General Manager Zhao bowed respectfully to Zhu Yutang. When his eyes swept across Lian 'er, they were first filled with surprise, followed by a familiar disgust.
It came so quickly. "I'll go back later. Is there anything urgent?”
"This lowly one doesn't know. Old Furen ordered this lowly one to invite Young Master back to the residence. If possible, please invite that Young Master beside you to go with you.”He couldn't help but glance at Lian 'er again.
He was indeed stunning. No wonder the young master, who had always played around in the streets and alleys and did not take these lowly people seriously, had unexpectedly built a house for him. A man who was born even more delicate and beautiful than a woman was a scourge. Although their Zhu family was not a scholarly family or a descendant of a famous family, they were still one of the richest families. How could they allow a scourge to enter the Zhu family?
"What does mother want Lian 'er to do?"
"I don't know." It was the same reply. The old madam's stern appearance was still in front of him, and the thought of it still sent chills down his spine.
A woman who could support such a huge family was not a simple character. The old madam knew about the young master's romantic deeds. As long as it was not too much, she would usually turn a blind eye and let things pass. However, Young Master's actions this time had already severely tested Old Madam's patience. Bringing a small official back to the capital, what kind of words was that!
"I won't bring Lian 'er back." How could his mother not understand? If Lian 'er saw his mother, she would only be humiliated endlessly. He would never let his mother have the chance to hurt Lian' er.
"Old Furen said…"
"Who is the person in charge of the Zhu Clan?”Steward Zhao's insistence made his handsome face turn cold. It was a coldness that Lian 'er had never seen before, a coldness that penetrated one's heart as he bowed to the person in front of him.
"Yes, Young Master."
"Then should you listen to my orders or my mother's?”He respected his mother and loved her, but that didn't mean that a servant could offend his superior.
"As you wish."
Zhu Yutang didn't say anything. After he glared at Steward Zhao until he didn't dare to raise his head again, he looked warmly at Lian 'er.
"Wait for me here. I'm going to see my mother.”Zhu Yutang's palm touched Lian 'er's smooth and tender face. Her clear eyes looked at him with no intention of reprimanding him, but it made him feel guilty.
"Is this okay? Don't ruin the kinship between you and your mother because of me. I'd better go with you!”He didn't want him to be put in a difficult position. He knew that he had always been a filial son.
"Lian 'er, you don't understand my mother, she…"
"It's okay. I've experienced all kinds of situations. In a place like Love Sleeve Square, I've heard everything that I shouldn't. Old Madam Zhu must be magnanimous and would not say anything more embarrassing than those people. Even though I am a minor official, I am still a man. What others can bear, I can naturally bear as well.”
Sighing, his mother indeed wouldn't say anything worse than the guests in the brothel, but she had a way to say things that were both polite and sarcastic. Lian 'er knew poetry, books, rites, and music, and her heart was exquisite and clear. Naturally, she would understand the meaning behind his mother's words. She didn't want him to go because she didn't want to see his injured expression. It would make his heart ache.
"How can I not understand what you're saying? But…alright!”They would meet again in the future. He was not stupid enough to think that his mother would let him off so easily. Now that they met, he could protect Lian 'er by her side. If his mother wanted to meet Lian' er when he wasn't around, that was definitely not what he wanted.
Lian 'er calmly smiled at him. There was no worry or sorrow in her smile. He was always like this, afraid that he would be worried or unhappy. No matter what he thought, he would always give him such a comforting smile.
Lian 'er, Lian' er…
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