Conquering the Male Supporting Character – CH 027

Chapter 27. Three-in-One

The man’s arrogant laughter abruptly ceased, his eyes filled with suspicion, and then he gave a mocking smile. “I saw you and Young Lady Lu together all the time, and you even gave her a hairpin.”

He raised an eyebrow. “A few days ago, Young Lady Lu did not miss a single visit to see you. She is truly devoted!”

But Xie Yu just smiled indifferently, looking at him as if he were a joke.

The man, bound and lying on the ground, struggled to sit up, a sudden uncertainty creeping into his heart. Could it be that Xie Yu was deliberately getting close to Young Lady Lu to lure him out?

But then he recalled watching Xie Yu personally insert the hairpin into Young Lady Lu’s hair from the shadows, steadied himself, and continued his provocative smirk.

“You’ve shifted the blame onto my Liu family, have you not? Did you not expect Liu Jize to return one day?”

“Of course not.” It was the precognitive card he’d drawn from the system that warned him.

Xie Yu lowered his gaze, approaching slightly, his scrutinizing eyes lingering on Liu Jize’s tattered clothes and unkempt stubble.

“The third son of the Liu family’s first branch, once arrogant and disdainful of worldly possessions, was always dressed in brocade and adorned with jade, his household filled with servants. Now he’s fallen to such a state, yet he still clings to life—this is something I never imagined.”

Hearing these mocking words, Liu Jize’s eyes widened in fury. He gasped, “Is this not all thanks to you, Xie Yu?

What does the Prince of Yingchuan’s rebellion have to do with my Liu family? It was merely a matter of a member of our clan traveling to Yingchuan…

You uprooted my Liu family under the pretext of treason! What an injustice!”

Xie Yu was not angry. He glanced down at him and sighed softly, “Even if the Liu family exists, with a fool like you, it will be difficult to preserve the family sooner or later.”

He glanced at Xie-Jue, nodded to him, and went out to check the gates.

Now only the two of them remained in the room.

As if taken aback, Xie Yu offered a few words of explanation.

“You assassinated me, merely to pin the fabricated charges on me. Have you never considered that, without the Sage’s secret instructions, how could I have succeeded so easily? The Liu family has cultivated its power for a century, yet it has become increasingly arrogant and complacent, practically living a life of luxury.”

Xie Yu chuckled softly, a tone that was both sympathetic and sighing. “You assassinated me simply because you could not assassinate the Sage.

It’s not me, Xie Yu, but the Sage who wants to destroy your Liu family.”

No wonder, no wonder the Liu family fell so quickly, no wonder none of the once-friendly families dared to speak up for them…

These unspoken realities, these lingering suspicions, were ruthlessly exposed by Xie Yu, revealing their ugliest side. Liu Jize was already half convinced.

A low, desperate growl escaped his throat, veins bulging on his forehead, his once handsome face contorted in agony.

“My Liu family surrendered to the late Emperor, even assisting him in conquering Luoyang! Truly, once the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked!”

After venting for a while, he collapsed, the once-proud young master slumping to the ground like mud, trampled upon.

He murmured as if in a dream, “You are explaining all this, so I will reveal who helped me behind the scenes?”

Xie Yu narrowed his eyes, his voice icy. “You are truly stupid. Have you never heard of anyone leaking the Liu family’s secrets to the Emperor?”

“You!” Liu Jize glared at him for a moment, then suddenly began to provoke him. “Do not think I will believe you just because you say a few things. Your beloved Young Lady Lu is about to die.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Xie Yu said coldly, seemingly indifferent.

“Tomorrow morning, your corpse will be hung before the Dengwen Drum. Then, the mastermind behind it all will surely slip up.

And I’ve come here today simply to see what kind of end the once-famous young master of the Liu family in Luoyang has met.”

If he had not come, had not cruelly exposed Liu Jize’s self-deception, he would feel something was missing. Xie Yu rubbed his fingertips thoughtfully.

Having suffered this wound to his heart for no reason, how could he let this man die easily, especially with the satisfaction of what he thought was revenge?

Perhaps, as Xu Lin often said, beneath his gentle and refined exterior lay a calculating and vindictive nature.

A moment of silence, then a soft chuckle.

“Thank you.”

Liu Jize suddenly spoke, struggling to sit up, his spine straight. He seemed to have calmed down, a slight smile playing on his lips, revealing a hint of the demeanor of a scion of a noble family from the old days.

Born into nobility and with an inflated sense of self-importance, how could he possibly submit to imprisonment? Suicide would be a relief for him.

For once, he was surprisingly clever, calmly saying, “However, by playing along and suffering this injury, you will likely earn a credit from the Emperor, which would barely make us even.”

Xie Yu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he remained silent, seemingly dissatisfied with this outcome.

He turned and left, seemingly oblivious to the sound of bones breaking, unaware that the person behind him had slammed violently against the wall, blooming into a bloody flower within the room.

Liu Jize, in his youth, had been pampered and indulged in pleasure; he could never have imagined he would end up like this.

Yet, this was all within the blink of an eye for an Emperor.

Xie Yu left the room expressionlessly, casting aside his thoughts.

“My Lord, should we immediately send men to search for Young Lady Lu outside the city?”

As soon as he stepped outside, Xie-Jue rushed over anxiously. He was terrified that something might have happened to Lu Wan. It was so rare for a young woman to get close to their lord; what would they do if she died?

Xie Yu slightly raised his eyes and saw the fine snow falling in the courtyard; his words carried the chill of the snow.

“No need.” So be it.

Those with ulterior motives who deliberately approached his young lady were only after something else.

If she were dead, that strange voice would no longer be able to threaten him.

And he would no longer be swayed by her emotions.

“My Lord! That’s…” Xie-Jue was puzzled. He had barely opened his mouth when Xie Yu left. He could only hold his breath and follow, racking his brains for a way to persuade him.

Lu Wan had actually only been outside the city gates for a short while.

She should have left earlier, but she had been lazy for a while, closing her eyes several times in bed, and when she woke up, it was late.

Fortunately, she had told Xie Yu yesterday that she had a whole day to go and get some peace charms.

“Young lady, it is so cold. Do you think Ci’en Temple will be nearly empty right now?”

Inside the swaying carriage, A-Yun’s younger sister sat opposite Lu Wan, rubbing her hands together and blowing on them, grinning broadly, not at all afraid of being scolded.

“A-Yu, be more respectful in front of the young lady.”

A-Yun tapped her lightly, somewhat annoyed.

“It probably will not be. Let’s get the peace charms and go back.”

Lu Wan did not mind. She quite liked A-Yu’s lively personality and had brought her to her side after she finished dealing with the Old Madam’s matter.

Holding the hand warmer, she seemed lost in thought. “What do you think someone like Master Xie would like?”

The purse had been given, but there was no reaction; the delicious snacks and meals, and the strangely flavored soup, were all accepted without question, but there was still no feedback…

The four maids exchanged glances, somewhat hesitant, but finally, A-Yu made a few bold guesses.

“Everyone in Luoyang knows that Master Xie has beautiful calligraphy. I’ve heard that scholars and gentlemen admire each other greatly; perhaps he would like some famous calligraphic works?”

That seemed to make sense. Lu Wan nodded; he did seem to enjoy having her study.

She began to think about where to get some famous calligraphic works or rare ancient books; after all, her mother had plenty of money.

But it was really hard to appease him; Lu Wan was somewhat troubled.

However, this did not stop her from constantly picking up candied fruits and savoring them.

The candied fruits, arranged in compartments in the box, were incredibly tempting, glistening and translucent.

Although Ci’en Temple was not as tall and grand as she had originally imagined, it was still quite imposing. From the glazed tile roof of the main hall, one could see the two-story hall soaring into the sky, and the pagoda on the right even reached into the clouds.

Yesterday, Lady Zhou had sent someone to make arrangements, so as soon as Lu Wan’s carriage entered the temple, someone came to greet her.

“Benefactor Lu, have you come to burn incense, or…?” The monk leading the way was young, handsome, and spoke politely.

“I’ve come to ask for a peace charm,” she said softly, her breath turning into white mist in the chilling cold.

“This way, please.” The monk gestured for her to follow him.

She had not gone far when Lu Wan saw a familiar face, and a headache immediately struck her.

“What are you doing here?”

Zhou Yan, wearing a red cloak with cloud-patterned satin, emerged from a courtyard and saw the person opposite him. His eyes lit up, and he asked.

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, but without much of his usual dislike.

“You heard I am recuperating here?”

The young man, who had always looked down on Lu Wan, felt a slight stirring in his heart and spoke to her with unusual calm.

Having not seen her for so long, he was actually hoping to hear a positive answer from Lu Wan.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Lu Wan gave a polite curtsy, then distanced herself from him.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Zhou Yan’s words, but she had absolutely no desire to be associated with him.

“Young Master Xie suffered misfortune some time ago. I’ve come here to pray for a peace charm for him.”

The young woman speaking lowered her eyes slightly; her shy demeanor when mentioning her beloved sent a chill down Zhou Yan’s spine.

He could not describe the feeling in his heart, so he could only flick his sleeve, give a low snort, and walk past Lu Wan.

“What a temper,” Lu Wan muttered to herself, but did not take it to heart.

She stepped onto the narrow path leading to the main hall, paved with bluestone slabs, followed by her maid and guards, and went straight to obtain the amulet she desired.

“Please copy it here, benefactor. Once you’ve finished, have someone summon me, and I will fetch the amulet for you.”

A scroll of Buddhist scriptures, along with writing materials, was placed on the table.

Lu Wan was somewhat bewildered. She actually had to copy Buddhist scriptures herself to exchange for the amulet? Her mother had not told her that.

No wonder they said the amulets at Ci’en Temple were hard to come by. She clicked her tongue in surprise. This small room was so cold; her hands would probably freeze by the time she finished copying.

Seemingly noticing the forced smile, the monk kindly reminded her, “No one is allowed to copy on your behalf within the temple; you must write it yourself.”

“Thank you.” Lu Wan forced a smile and sat down at the table.

Her fingers, warmed by the hand warmer, touched the icy brush, and her brow furrowed; her hand even trembled slightly.

So cold, so chilling. Was this not made of wood? It was surprisingly cold to the touch.

Lu Wan suddenly regretted her decision. Would it not have been better to spend some money to buy some invitations and send them over? Why did she come here?

She gritted her teeth, determined to explain to Xie Yu properly when she got back that her journey had been difficult, and copying the Buddhist scriptures had been arduous.

Even if it was only a five or six out of ten, she’d still say it was a ten. Hopefully, this trip would improve her reputation.

She copied the Buddhist scriptures with trembling hands, leaving a string of scrawled characters on the paper.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, someone entered. Lu Wan put down her brush, picked up her hand warmer, and curiously looked back, only to see Zhou Yan enter with a cold expression.

He did not bring any inkstone, and without a word, he found a seat, ground ink, and began copying the scriptures.

Seeing that he did not intend to disturb her, Lu Wan looked away, paused for a moment, and then continued copying.

The room was silent, broken only by the faint sound of brush strokes on paper.

The previously focused young man slightly raised his eyes and saw the woman diligently copying the scriptures not far away.

She kept her eyes downcast, rubbing her hands after copying just a few sentences, then clutching the hand warmer after writing a few more, looking like she could not bear any hardship.

Yet, her slender, white fingers were quite delicate, easily becoming red and swollen.

Zhou Yan almost broke the brush in his hand.

Did she really fall for Xie Yu so easily? What did all those years she spent chasing after him amount to?

Nothing more; he smiled coldly. Her sincerity was nothing more than a joke.

Lu Wan felt her hands were going to stiffen. She pressed her numb hands tightly against the hand warmer, but after burning for several hours, it was only lukewarm.

Undeterred, she pulled out a hairpin, opened the lid, and poked at the charcoal ash, finding that there really was not a single ember left.

The replacement items were in the carriage, so she could only press her hands to her cheeks, the coldness making her shiver.

Just as she was about to finish copying, a simple hand warmer appeared in her field of vision.

Lu Wan looked up and saw the young man in red before her, his eyes lowered, placing the hand warmer on her table with annoyance.

Her fingertips touched it; it was warm.

She was somewhat tempted, but remembering the inability to repay a favor, she mustered her strength and finished copying the remaining few words.

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. However, I have finished copying and must return now, so I will return this hand warmer to you.”

“Suit yourself,” Zhou Yan was somewhat annoyed, but did not show it.

“The hand warmer was a gift from someone at the temple; it has nothing to do with me.” He turned his face away, disclaiming any responsibility.

Lu Wan chuckled. She’d been searching for ages, and no one had brought her a hand warmer, yet now one was being delivered—was that not blatant lying?

However, she did not expose them. She simply bowed and followed the person to retrieve the amulet.

From the moment she chose Xie Yu, no matter how good the young man before her was, he had nothing to do with her anymore.

On the way back, Lu Wan leaned against the carriage wall, lazily examining the amulet she’d just received. She was pleased; it really did resemble Xie Yu’s. She began to ponder how to say something that would truly move Xie Yu.

Seeing her lost in thought, A-Yun and A-Yu became even more discreet, afraid of disturbing her.

Suddenly, the carriage lurched violently, nearly throwing her against the side of the carriage. A frantic maid helped her up.

“My Lady, are you alright?”

Just then, the sound of swords being drawn rang out outside the carriage. Lu Wan’s heart tightened. Had they encountered bandits?

“My Lady, do not get out of the carriage! We will protect you!”

The lead guard outside shouted, reassuring the person inside.

Lu Wan gently lifted a corner of the carriage window. With a ‘whoosh,’ a sharp arrow struck the wooden window. The white fletching trembled, signifying the archer’s deadly intent.

“My Lady!” A-Yu rushed over, her expression panicked, stopping her hand. “My Lady, do not open the window!”

“Do not panic; it is alright,” Lu Wan feigned composure, gesturing for her to sit to the side, and then lifted a corner of the carriage window again.

Dozens of burly men in coarse cloth robes surrounded the group of women, their swords drawn against the guards, but they had not yet made a move.

“My master is passing through and is willing to offer his valuables. Would you please let us pass?” the lead guard shouted, trying to appease them.

“Of course not,” said the man who appeared to be the leader, arms crossed, a nonchalant look on his face, pointing at the carriage Lu Wan was riding in, “unless you leave this cart and everyone inside behind.”

They were not after money; they clearly had an ulterior motive, so there was nothing to discuss.

After a brief standoff, the burly men made the first move, engaging Lu Wan’s guards in a fierce battle.

A sharp sound rang out: the clash of swords, the groans of pain, and screams mingled together.

A spurt of steaming blood splattered onto the carriage window. Lu Wan’s hand trembled, and the window slammed shut.

She turned around and saw A-Yun and A-Yu huddled together, trembling, tears welling in their eyes.

“What are you crying about?”

Lu Wan spoke coldly, trying her best to remain calm and find a way to survive.

But her attackers had clearly come prepared, not for money, but to take her life. She wondered who hated her so much.

She closed her eyes, her heart turning cold. Was she destined to die here?

It seemed she was destined for a terrible fate.

She seemed to touch something beside her. She opened her eyes and looked at it—it was the amulet she had obtained for Xie Yu.

Lu Wan smiled mockingly, her hand gripping the talisman tightly, squeezing it until it deformed.

Seeking a peace charm, seeking peace, had instead cost her her life, and even dragged these people down with her.

It seemed like a long time had passed, yet it also seemed like an instant before silence returned outside.

Someone slowly opened the carriage door, a sliver of light gradually illuminating the interior, the cold air seeping in.

Lu Wan steeled her heart, blinked, and saw the boy with beads of blood still on his cheek and his red clothes stained with blood, somewhat faded.

“Ah Wan? Are you alright?”

Zhou Yan asked anxiously, reaching out his hand, which was also stained with blood; he quickly wiped it on his clothes.

In her most desperate moment, a way out suddenly appeared. Lu Wan was stunned, somewhat incredulous.

To Zhou Yan, it looked like she was terrified. He instructed a maidservant, who was weeping with joy, “Help your mistress out. The carriage is unusable; we need to ride horses back to the city.”

Lu Wan’s feet touched the ground, and she finally felt a sense of reality.

She dared not look at the corpses and wounded lying around her, her gaze fixed on Zhou Yan’s face. “Why has the young master come?”

Seeing that she could still ask him, Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief, reassured, and answered her question.

“I was just about to leave and return to the city when I happened to run into them on the way,” he said, gesturing to the agile guards. “What’s more, I brought the guards from the Prince’s residence with me.”

This was a lie; he had clearly seen Lu Wan and, unable to find peace in the Buddhist temple, was on his way back to Luoyang when he witnessed this scene.

“Thank you for your help, Your Highness. If it were not for you, we would likely be dead.”

Lu Wan bowed deeply, very respectfully.

Zhou Yan, unaccustomed to her politeness, cleared his throat and frowned. “This carriage is unusable now. I will take you back and then notify someone to clean up the mess.”

Lu Wan had just heard the coachman’s screams and naturally had no objections.

Zhou Yan mounted his horse, leaned down, and pulled her halfway into his arms, shyly turning his face away, his ears slightly red.

“The matter is urgent, so I am afraid I will have to trouble you to ride with me.”

This was probably the first time he had spoken so gently to Lu Wan.

Previously, he disliked her always following him around, blatantly displaying her affection, utterly shameless, completely unlike a proper, well-mannered noblewoman.

So he always ignored her with a cold face; she would always cling to him, like a stubborn leech.

Naturally, he would not speak to her kindly.

Zhou Yan stopped looking at her, trying to ignore the feeling of holding the woman in his arms, pulled on the reins, and galloped away on his mount.

The cold air stung her face, and Lu Wan snapped out of her daze. Her hand loosened, and the red amulet fell into the snow.

Without close inspection, it looked like specks of blood splattered in the snow.

Seeing them walk away, several riders emerged from the nearby bushes.

“Too late, too late! Your little lady has been rescued by a hero, and by the very man she once loved!”

Xu Lin clicked his tongue, seemingly filled with endless regret and a sense of loss. “Xun’an, what do you think you will do if they rekindle their old flame?”

As he spoke, he gestured, and someone led the group of men who had been following them back.

Xie-Jue looked pained and could not help but grumble inwardly.

“My Lord, I told you to hurry and save Lady Lu, but you stayed in your study for ages before finally coming out.

Now look what’s happened. You braved your injuries to come out and save someone, only to have someone else benefit.”

Having traveled a long way, Xie Yu, already injured, looked even paler. He held his breath, seemingly trying to suppress something, his gaze falling on something in the snow.

He dismounted, bent down, and picked it up. He saw a talisman similar to the one on the shelf in his study.

It was brand new, clearly just obtained from a temple. It was easy to guess who had dropped it.

In such terrible weather, she had come out for him?

Xie Yu’s heart skipped a beat, then his face grew even colder.

Now, upon seeing Zhou Yan, she had discarded it.

This item was so hard to come by, yet the person who sought it had so easily tossed it aside in the snow.

It was as if she wanted to cast aside all her feelings for him.

Just like that, so easily, so lightly.

Xie Yu tightly gripped the amulet, a smirk playing on his lips, his entire being radiating an aura of icy indifference.

Since she had stirred his heart, he would not allow her to let go so easily.

Whatever he wanted, he would never let go.

Regardless of life or death.

Upon returning to the Lu residence, Lady Zhou, Lu Ling, and Lu Xiao, having received the news, rushed over; even Lu Yuan hurried back from outside the residence.

Only after seeing Lu Wan safe and sound did they breathe a sigh of relief.

“Where did these petty scoundrels come from, daring to intercept Ah Wan? This is the capital; how could such a thing happen?”

Lu Yuan’s face was full of displeasure, deeply dissatisfied with the security situation in Luoyang. “Say less.”

Lady Zhou frowned, interrupting him, and cautiously glanced at Lu Wan, who remained unresponsive.

“It’s getting late in the year, and it is not uncommon for bandits to occasionally appear. It is just that this time, Ah Wan did not bring enough servants with her, which is why they dared to target her.”

“Ah Wan,” Lu Xiao offered her her favorite sweet, “try this. I just tried it; it is very sweet.”

Even Lu Ling clung to her arm, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she were the one who had been frightened.

“I am fine.”

Lu Wan finally spoke, looking up at Lady Zhou, “Mother, please help those families.”

What she did not say was that they had died because of her whims; she could not ignore it.

But Lady Zhou noticed. She turned her face away, her eyes stinging, then turned back.

She gently pulled Lu Wan into her arms, soothing her in a soft voice, “I will have someone make sure everything is settled.

Ah Wan, do not be afraid. It is not your fault. They did their duty; they will not blame you.”

She understood these principles, and Lu Wan forced a smile.

But if knowing these principles did not easily bring relief, why would there be so many heartbroken people in the world?

“Mother, I am just having a little trouble accepting this. Let me calm down,” Lu Wan said sullenly, nestled in her mother’s warm embrace.

“Alright,” Lady Zhou agreed, then called for the others to leave.

After they left, Lu Wan hugged her knees, her delicate chin resting on them. Every time she closed her eyes, all she saw were the corpses lying haphazardly in the snow.

Although she knew this was a book and these people were NPCs, she still felt uneasy.

“Young lady?”

A-Yun entered from outside, still carrying a chill from the night. “Master Xie has arrived. Would you like to see him?”

Xie Yu had arrived?

His intelligence network was remarkably efficient; Lu Wan was somewhat impressed.

But right now, she was in a bad mood. Having lost her amulet, she simply did not have the energy to deal with him.

“Just tell him I was frightened and have already gone to bed. Ask him to come another time. Be polite and tactful in your words.”

“Yes.” A-Yun bowed and withdrew.

In the reception hall of the Lu residence, a servant boy said, “The lady has already gone to bed. Please, Master Xie, come again another time.”

A-Yun, worried that others might lack manners, went to inform Xie Yu herself.

“She’s already asleep?”

Xie Yu stood in the hall, hands behind his back, his expression still gentle, neither confirming nor denying the explanation.

“Yes.” A-Yun felt a sudden chill run down her spine. She shivered but still forced herself to lie.

Xie Yu chuckled softly, his tone unreadable. “I will come again another time.”

But his right hand, hidden in his sleeve, gradually tightened, squeezing the amulet until it was deformed.

Well done.

He was somewhat annoyed but could not explain why. He felt like he was possessed, yet subconsciously, he was not quite clear-headed.

Ignoring Xie-Jue’s anxious cries, Xie Yu spurred his horse and galloped through the streets, his wounds tearing open, burning with excruciating pain.

Gradually, a dark liquid soaked his front.

He gently pressed his chest, feeling the sticky substance; the rusty, metallic scent of blood lingered on his fingertips, particularly jarring.

The world seemed to fall silent. Xie Yu suddenly felt that perhaps he should calm down for a while.

—

After being attacked by bandits, Lu Wan initially woke up in terror from her nightmares. But slowly, she recovered and stopped dwelling on these things, only occasionally instructing people to look after the families of her retainers.

Since then, Xie Yu had never come again. Sometimes when Lu Wan visited the Xie residence, he seemed to be deliberately avoiding her.

“Young lady, the master has taken his medicine and is already in bed.”

It was the same evasive answer.

Lu Wan glanced at the sky. She had chosen a time that was neither too early nor too late; if Xie Yu could fall asleep at this hour, she would gladly change her surname to Xie.

“I will trouble you to pass these on to Master Xie. I will come again another day.”

Xie-Jue took the heavy package, a smile on his face. “I will not fail you.”

Watching Lu Wan walk away, Xie-Jue weighed the package in his hands with a bitter expression, then turned and went into his study.

Seated at the front of the desk, brush in hand, was none other than Xie Yu.

“You just heard her,” Xie-Jue said, placing the package on the table. “This is from Young Lady Lu.”

Xie Yu finished writing, glancing at him sideways. “Naughty.”

Xie-Jue, however, felt wronged. He opened the package, holding the top book, and stood beside Xie Yu.

“My Lord, look at this! Though I know nothing of these things, judging by its age, it must be incredibly valuable. Young Lady Lu has come to see you several times, only to be turned away each time.

But she was not angry at all; she even went out of her way to find these for you. And you, on the other hand, have such a temper.”

It was more than just valuable; Xie Yu recognized it at a glance as an authentic work by a renowned artist from a previous dynasty—something money could not buy.

【Ding! Lu Wan’s favorability -10, current favorability 25!】

Ha, he picked up the rare book and casually tossed it onto the table, the still-wet ink smearing into a mess.

She was trying to please him while inwardly cursing him, was she not?

He clearly saw Zhou Yan escort her into the Lu residence and had not come out for a long time. Why was she still trying to curry favor with him? Did she have some other motive?

“Next time she comes, let her in.”

“That’s good!” Xie-Jue clapped his hands happily, carried a pile of books to the shelf, and turned around to say, “You’ve finally figured it out!”

However, this time, Xie-Jue had been eagerly anticipating it for several days, but Lu Wan did not come.

She had actually been quite busy these past few days.

Firstly, the Old Madam had been frightened and fell ill, inviting Taoist priests and monks to the Lu residence to perform several rituals, creating a lot of smoke and fire. There were also various expense arrangements, keeping her and Lu Ling, the accountants, extremely busy.

Secondly, Princess Dingyang’s poetry gathering was approaching, and Lady Zhou had hired a newly arrived tailor from Jiangnan to make dresses for her and Lu Ling. Choosing fabrics and patterns, and taking measurements, the entire process took several days.

Since everything was happening at once, she decided to give Xie Yu a break; she was not going to tolerate his eccentricities.

Last time, he suddenly ignored her. Did he think he was training a hawk? She had to give him a good slap and a sweet treat.

Before long, it was time to go to the poetry gathering.

At dawn, Lu Wan got up early, letting the maids bring her jewelry and clothes to choose from.

“How does this begonia-red dress with embroidered hibiscus and flowing cloud patterns suit you, My Lady?”

A-Yun looked at it, unfolded one, and held it up against Lu Wan.

“Also, bring a set of silver-red brocade with rhombus embroidery. For searching for plum blossoms in the snow, bright colors are naturally more eye-catching against the white expanse.

For jewelry, keep it simple. Bring a set of white jade pieces. Keep your makeup simple as well.”

Lu Wan nodded slightly, but her expression deepened. “I’ve heard there might be distinguished guests from the south at the gathering. They are the true guest of honor. Several county princesses from Princess Dingyang’s family are present; it would not be appropriate for you to overshadow them.

My Lady is beautiful; how can you dress like that and overshadow them?”

A-Yu, who was combing her hair, feigned complaint, sticking out her tongue, which Lu Wan saw clearly in the bronze mirror.

“Once you are out the door, you must be careful what you say. There are many people of high status at the poetry gathering; otherwise, I might not be able to protect you.”

She warned gently, then used her jade hairpin to apply some lip rouge, making her flower-like lips appear moist and supple.

“Yes, yes, yes, I’ve remembered what you told me, Young Lady,” A-Yu replied with a smile.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Lu Zhen arrogantly shouting, “Is that not the Lu family’s emblem hanging on this carriage? Why is only Lu Wan allowed to ride in it? I insist on getting in this one! You unruly servant, get out of the way!”

Zhou Da, having been scolded, lowered his head, remaining silent, simply blocking her path.

“Sister?” Lu Ling nervously grabbed Lu Wan’s arm. “What should we do?”

Lu Wan frowned, feeling annoyed. The commotion started so early in the morning; did she really think her shrill cries were as melodious as the thrushes in the corridor?

“Fifth Aunt, this man’s surname is not Lu; it is Zhou.”

Lu Wan coldly reminded her, causing the arrogant young woman to choke.

“So what if his surname is Zhou? He’s just a servant!”

Seeing Lu Wan arrive, Lu Zhen’s imposing manner immediately diminished, and she even felt a slight pain in her knees from kneeling in the ancestral hall, yet she remained defiant.

“I remember Grandpa once said that he survived to this day entirely because of the desperate protection of the Lu family’s retainers. Therefore, he said that any servant who risks their life to protect their master and is injured deserves the respect of the household. Have you forgotten all that?”

Lu Wan walked up to Zhou Da, bowed deeply, and said loudly, “Several days ago, it was Zhou Da and the others who risked their lives to protect me. They deserve this respect.

I hope Fifth Aunt will be careful with her words and not anger Grandpa again.”

Zhou Da, who had been silent after being scolded, raised his face, his lips moving, his weathered and simple face filled with emotion.

Lu Zhen still argued back. What did this have to do with her? But fearing that it would reach Lu Ming’s ears, she could only snort disdainfully and stride past the two sisters to another carriage. Lu Ling chuckled, then leaned close to Lu Wan’s ear and whispered, “Fifth Aunt is really like a paper tiger!”

Lu Wan smiled back, thinking that Lu Ming’s reputation was quite effective; he could scare anyone with a single move.

Jimei Garden was not far. Lu Wan had not even had time to replace the charcoal in her hand warmer before they arrived.

The carriages bearing the insignia of various families were led in order and stopped. A-Yun helped Lu Wan down from the carriage.

As soon as she stepped off, the delicate and elegant fragrance of plum blossoms wafted over her.

She looked up and saw an endless expanse of plum trees, their brown, gnarled branches exuding a subtle fragrance.

Speaking of which, Jimei Garden had some connection to the Lu family. This was the garden of the former Prince Qingyuan. The Prince’s only daughter was the matriarch of the Lu family. After the Prince’s death, the garden was bestowed upon Princess Ding’an.

It was thanks to this that she could guess the incident at the tavern was related to the matriarch.

“Ladies, please follow me,” the maidservant leading the way said respectfully, gesturing for them to follow.

After crossing the stream and bridge, they walked along a pebbled path, winding past countless plum trees, before arriving at the banquet area. Surrounded by layers of plum trees, a corner of a double-eaved hip roof appeared—an exquisite two-story viewing pavilion.

This time, for viewing purposes, a long stretch of blue tents had been erected outside the pavilion. Lu Wan immediately recognized many familiar faces, gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing.

She immediately spotted the young man drinking alone somewhere, paying no attention to the others.

After escorting Lu Ling to her friend’s young mistress, she gracefully approached the man, gathering her emotions before speaking in a tone that was a mixture of excitement, reproach, and hesitation.

“Young Master, you’ve been ill for a long time; why are you still drinking here?”

Xie Yu had already noticed her arrival and had coldly watched her walk away after seeing him, almost crushing the cup in his hand.

A gentle smile gradually appeared on his face. “This is plum blossom wine; it is nothing. Besides, Ah Wan has not been to the mansion for a long time, so she does not know that my injury has almost fully healed.”

Was this not a case of turning the tables? Clearly, Xie Yu had gone mad and refused to see her, yet he was blaming her.

Lu Wan paused, a look of grievance in her eyes. “I’ve gone several times, but I have not seen Lord Yu…”

Clearly, Xie Yu did not want to see her.

Hearing this, Xie Yu smiled slightly, the curve of his lips just right, his clear eyes reflecting the elegant woman in red and simple makeup before him.

Casually placing his cup on the table, he approached Lu Wan, bowing slightly, his posture as graceful as bamboo, then straightened up again, saying, “I’ve been disrespectful to Ah Wan.

Would you forgive me this once?” He softened his tone, moving closer to her, lowering his voice, the last syllable deep and resonant. “It’s my fault; I’ve hurt Ah Wan.”

This attitude was acceptable. Lu Wan smiled, deliberately turning her face away from him, but an involuntary smile played on her lips.

“It will have to be alright.

Then I will punish you by making you go into this grove and pick a plum blossom for me. How about that?”

“How could I ask for anything?” Xie Yu gazed at her, as if looking at his beloved, with boundless doting and indulgence.

If she had not known that his favorability rating was only 30, she probably would have drowned in that affectionate gaze, Lu Wan thought with a cold smile.

Watching the elegant young man depart, Lu Wan was far from idle.

Both she and Xie Yu were exceptionally beautiful, attracting many eyes. No sooner had Xie Yu left than a disgruntled young woman came to provoke her.

Not openly, but three people in a group, deliberately gossiping as they passed in front of her.

“I recently acquired a mirror inlaid with rubies and white jade, exquisitely beautiful. I decided to buy it at first sight. But who knew, after taking it home, I discovered the mirror’s surface was dull and lifeless—a complete waste of money.”

“You are too careless. What use is a beautiful mirror if it cannot even reflect your face? It is merely for show, certainly not the work of a master craftsman.”

The veiled criticism was quite obvious. Lu Wan smoothed the white jade hairpin in her hair, the crimson hem of her sleeve brushing against her temple.

Black hair, red dress, white jade hairpin, skin like jade, pure and elegant.

Using the dull red and white mirror as a metaphor for her, and implying the mirror was not a masterpiece, was a mockery of the Lu family’s current low ranking among aristocratic families.

This was a complete and utter denigration of her.

“Young Lady Lu, come and argue your point. Is what Ninth Sister said correct?”

Seeing that she remained unfazed, and fearing she might misunderstand, the leading woman deliberately called her out.

What to do if this were a bit embarrassing? She needed help urgently.

Lu Wan touched her purse at her waist, suddenly realizing how good it was to be rich; she could afford a complete outfit just by going out. She reached into the purse and took out something.

The others exchanged disdainful glances, clearly assuming Lu Wan genuinely did not understand. One impatient woman bluntly stated, “Young Lady Lu, Sister Zhao is talking to you!”

The conversation abruptly stopped.

Because Lu Wan had indeed pulled a small mirror inlaid with rubies and white jade from her purse. The mirror was so smooth it reflected her image, and the craftsmanship was exquisite; it was clearly not an ordinary item.

“I think everything sold in the shop is worth its price. The shop that Sister Zhao bought from is used to cutting corners; they focus on appearances, so it is naturally not as meticulous as the skilled craftsmen my mother hired.”

Lu Wan glanced at her makeup in the mirror, then casually waved it around in front of them.

“This one in my hand is exquisitely detailed.”

This was a blatant statement: Madam Zhao could not afford expensive things, so she could only afford to maintain a facade.

Indeed, who could compare to her mother’s wealth? Lady Zhou’s riches were no joke. Moreover, her mother was extremely generous to her two daughters.

“Today is a rare poetry gathering, a time of refined elegance. How can you speak of such vulgar things? It is an insult to Princess Ding’an’s hospitality,” one of them argued weakly.

Lu Wan looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

“They are just some inexpensive items. Why are you bringing up gold and silver? Do you ladies think they are particularly valuable?”

She deliberately turned the mirror over to examine them closely, her voice tinged with doubt. “They are just ordinary materials, nothing special.”

Those who had been dazzled by the translucent, vibrant rubies and the smooth, lustrous white jade reflected in the mirror…

They had no answer to that.

After dismissing the embarrassed ladies, Lu Wan lazily poured herself a cup of buttermilk. Since her drunken night at the Xie residence, she had not touched a drop of alcohol, only drinking buttermilk tea.

“Ah Wan is quite the sharp-tongued one now.”

The fiery red-clad young man chuckled as he turned the corner of the corridor, clearly having observed the whole thing from the sidelines.

Zhou Yan was now her savior, and she could not afford to be rude. Lu Wan straightened her expression and gave a polite bow.

“Greetings, Your Highness. I have not yet come to thank you for saving my life, but we’ve unexpectedly met here.”

Zhou Yan toyed with a red plum blossom he had casually picked, his eyes lowered, his expression somber. “No need for formalities. You used to call me ‘Brother Wenxu’ all the time.”

This was a bit awkward. The original owner of this body had been unfairly blamed, and Lu Wan had no choice but to take the blame, her expression embarrassed.

“I was ignorant before, but now that I understand things better, I will naturally be more careful with my words.”

“Alright,” Zhou Yan said, not wanting to make things difficult for her. “This plum blossom is extremely beautiful, perfectly complementing your red dress today. How about I offer it to you as a gift?”

As he spoke, he was about to place it in Lu Wan’s hair.

But a handsome young man in a blue robe grabbed his wrist.

Xie Yu lowered his eyes, concealing the coldness within them. He had searched around, picking the most beautiful branch in the forest, only to have someone else snatch it first.

Upon returning, he saw the young woman and man, both dressed in red, standing under the eaves, chatting and laughing gently. Both were beautiful, like a perfect couple, which made him quite… displeased.

“I have already picked one for Ah Wan; perhaps you should give this one to someone else, Your Highness.”