Hidden Shadow – CH 284

Chapter Two-Hundred-Eighty-Four: Liking

An Jiu avoided Hua Rongjian and glanced back.

Chu Dingjiang’s progress was rapid. If he deliberately concealed himself, An Jiu could no longer pinpoint his location as clearly as before. But just now, she vaguely sensed he was nearby.

“What are you looking at?” Hua Rongjian followed her gaze but did not notice anything unusual.

An Jiu’s mood suddenly plummeted.

Hua Rongjian asked, “Is it Chu Dingjiang?”

“I do not know,” An Jiu replied.

“Ah Jiu, do I look a lot like him?” Hua Rongjian chuckled and sighed. “When I was a guest at the Yu family in Yangzhou, I once dreamt of someone while drunk. He said he was me, but he clearly did not resemble me at all. Instead… his build was more like my older brother’s.”

An Jiu said, “You are more suited to being a carefree young master.”

“There’s no going back. Some things, once you know them, you cannot pretend you do not.” Hua Rongjian gazed at the dimly lit river. “Ah Jiu, do you know why I wanted to marry you in the first place?”

“Because I was beautiful,” An Jiu calmly stated the truth.

Hua Rongjian laughed heartily. “I’ve never seen a girl like you! I wanted to marry you because your purity made me feel at ease. Of course, being beautiful was also a factor.”

“Pure?” An Jiu did not think she could be associated with the word “pure” in the slightest.

“Yes, when we first met in the cemetery, your face screamed ‘Keep Out,’ and your eyes were filled with murderous intent, nothing more, a clean, unambiguous gaze,” Hua Rongjian said, glancing at her, hands behind his back. “Though I may be a bit of a rascal, I am not stupid. You are different now, but you are more humane.” His handsome profile was illuminated by the lamplight, his eyes smiling, yet tinged with a hint of bitterness, as if he stood alone amidst the clamor.

For some reason, An Jiu immediately thought of Chu Dingjiang, whose loneliness was deeper and more profound than Hua Rongjian’s.

“I’ve enjoyed so much wealth and privilege for so many years. If I were to say I hate Chu Dingjiang and hate everyone who manipulated my fate, would that not be too sentimental?” Hua Rongjian asked.

“You do not have to think like that.” An Jiu paused and then told him, “Actually, you’ve always been quite dramatic.”

Hua Rongjian, exasperated, raised his leg to kick her. “You bastard, would it take a piece of flesh to say a comforting word?”

An Jiu did not dodge; the kick landed squarely on her shin.

Hua Rongjian was taken aback. “Why did you not dodge?”

“Marrying Mei Ruyan is a bit of a sacrifice for you,” An Jiu said sympathetically.

This was probably one of the reasons he hated being manipulated all along. It was not that he did not want to marry, but he knew very well that he had no say in who he married, so he might as well enjoy a few more years of single life.

“Mei Ruyan?” Hua Rongjian asked. “An Shun?”

“She’s Fifteenth Young Lady Mei,” An Jiu said.

“That does not seem like it. She does not have the beauty of the Mei family.” Hua Rongjian smiled indifferently. “You are talking about her having feelings for someone else, are you not?”

“You know?” An Jiu was surprised; they’d only been married three days.

“Who am I? A dashing young master who ‘passes through a sea of ​​flowers without a single petal clinging to him’! Who in Bianjing does not know me? I can tell at a glance whether someone is affectionate or not,” Hua Rongjian seemed to read her mind. “Even if the person in her heart were still alive, let alone someone already dead, she’d have to stay obediently in the mansion. Otherwise, I would not need to discipline her.”

How could Madam Hua tolerate her daughter-in-law’s impurity?

Those around them turned to look at him frequently upon hearing this.

Hua Rongjian smoothed his temples, looking quite pleased with himself.

“You are already in a bad mood; I did not intend to say anything to discourage you…” An Jiu hesitated.

Hua Rongjian glanced at her. “Tch. Tell me, you were born to belittle others. Have you not done enough despicable things? One more will not make a difference.”

“People in Bianjing have always used you as gossip fodder.” An Jiu had been to teahouses several times and heard plenty of stories. Most of what Hua Rongjian was associated with was hardly anything serious. He probably knew this himself, yet he still laughed it off. “You can face all of that so calmly, so why now…”

To put it nicely, Hua Rongjian was broad-minded, optimistic, and easygoing; to put it bluntly, he was a heartless fool.

Those around them, hearing An Jiu’s words, quickly averted their gazes, afraid of incurring Hua Rongjian’s wrath.

But his reaction was remarkably calm; he even seemed to be considering An Jiu’s words.

However, the reason he could act this way was that he had always lived a smooth life. Now that his home was no longer the same, could he still remain so heartless?

“Ah Jiu,” Hua Rongjian said, turning to her with a composed expression, “I only learned today that you have never had any romantic feelings for me. Even so, I still want to marry you.”

He had not gone to great lengths because he knew his elder brother had already married a woman from the Mei family; he and An Jiu were no longer possible, even if An Jiu were willing to humble herself as a concubine.

Just like Hua Rongjun’s childhood sweetheart engagement, was it not all changed by the prevailing circumstances?

“You are exposing yourself. Are you stupid or just plain dumb?” An Jiu said. “You just said you could tell at a glance whether someone had feelings for you or not.”

“Those involved are often blinded. I am always pragmatic; you could call me cowardly or incompetent,” Hua Rongjian said dismissively, leaning down to quickly kiss her forehead. “But no matter what, I want to tell you what’s in my heart.”

Today, An Jiu came to give him a wedding gift, and he got angry, firstly because of Chu Dingjiang, and secondly because he discovered she had no feelings for him whatsoever.

Hua Rongjian’s actions were like pouring cold water into a pot of boiling oil. The onlookers, who had been secretly watching, erupted in a frenzy, some even shouting, “Young master, give him a hug!”

An Jiu’s face darkened. He always managed to create a commotion with ease. An Jiu was used to hiding her true self; being surrounded by onlookers felt like being stripped naked and exposed to the public eye.

Hua Rongjian seemed oblivious, grinning happily.

“Let’s go,” An Jiu said, turning and walking away.

Hua Rongjian did not follow, watching her figure disappear into the crowd before turning and walking slowly along the riverbank.

The lights faded into the distance.

Hua Rongjian unknowingly arrived at Wu Lingyuan’s wonton stall.

It was bustling today; Wu Lingyuan was just preparing to pack up. The surroundings were quiet, save for the sound of Hua Rongjian’s footsteps. He listened intently. “Young Master Hua is here.”

Since his first visit with An Jiu, Hua Rongjian had become a frequent customer.

“Your ears are quite sharp.” Hua Rongjian sat down, glancing at the several more tables that had been added around them. “Are there any more wontons?”

“We’ve been saving them.” Wu Lingyuan washed his hands, quickly wrapped up about twenty, and put them in the pot. “It’s been a long time since Fourteenth Young Lady has come.”

Hua Rongjian did not answer, staring intently at the Diamond Sutra on the table in the dim light.

Wu Lingyuan did not ask any more questions. After serving the wontons, he smiled and said, “Thank you for the medicine, My Lord. My eyes can see light and shadow again.”

Hua Rongjian, with a wonton in his mouth, mumbled an “Mmm” and wolfed down a bowl.

“Would you like more, My Lord?” Wu Lingyuan asked.

“That’s enough,” Hua Rongjian said. “With a little more medication, you might be able to see again.”

“My Lord, you seem to be in low spirits today.” Wu Lingyuan cleared away the bowl and poured him a bowl of tea. “In my situation, being able to eat well makes me feel much better.”

After a pause and receiving no reply, Wu Lingyuan said, “I have spoken too much.”

Hua Rongjian snapped out of his reverie. “Sir, you are a man of great wisdom.”

“My Lord flatters me too much,” Wu Lingyuan said.

Hua Rongjian said, “Once your eyes have recovered, I will recommend a teacher for you so you can continue to participate in the imperial examinations.”

Wu Lingyuan did not immediately express his gratitude but remained silent for a moment. He asked, “Does My Lord need me to do something?”

“Not necessarily.” Hua Rongjian looked at his thin face. “With your wisdom, you could have lived a much more magnificent life. I simply cannot bear to see you buried in obscurity.”

Although Wu Lingyuan was blind, his mind was clear; he understood why Hua Rongjian could say such things. Most likely, he was also dissatisfied with his current situation. “Then I entrust my life to you, Young Master Hua.”

He had no attachments and was quite satisfied with his current carefree life. But if he could truly accept mediocrity, he would not need Buddhist scriptures to comfort himself. If he could live life to the fullest, his life would be complete.

Hua Rongjian had not yet understood his own heart, and upon hearing his words, he did not immediately react.

But he quickly realized, “Do you know Wei Yuzhi, Sir?”

“He’s a figure in the martial world, is he not?” Wu Lingyuan, being located at a crossroads of waterways, was well-informed. Piaomiao Mountain Mansion was quite famous. “I’ve heard he’s a renowned sage.”

“Even the wisest person has their darkest hour. In terms of experience and character, I think he’s inferior to you, sir.” Hua Rongjian deduced from Mei Ruyan’s words that Wei Yuzhi’s current situation was not good.

Wu Lingyuan was somewhat puzzled. “I do not understand. Why does Young Master think I possess such talent?”

“Intuition,” Hua Rongjian said.

Wu Lingyuan had not done anything particularly remarkable, but his extraordinary abilities were evident in every little detail. To be able to set up a wonton stall in such a remote place while blind and to build a thriving business in such a short time with the small amount of money An Jiu had provided—that was something most people could not do. Furthermore, Hua Rongjian had spoken with him quite a bit recently and could judge his talent to some extent.

“I will offer you a cup of tea instead of wine, My Lord,” Wu Lingyuan said, raising his teacup.

Stars hung low over the great river; the night was vast, and Hua Rongjian smiled as he raised his teacup and gently touched his.

…

An Jiu returned to Chu Dingjiang’s residence, but he was no longer there, so she hurried back to Mei Mansion.

She rowed her boat on the lake, a thin mist drifting by, the water and sky a uniform dark blue, both studded with stars, as if she were in a dream.

She did not rush back to the island but let the small boat drift on the lake.

Only when a sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon did she row the boat ashore.

Only one night after she left, the flower seeds Mo Sigui had planted had already grown a foot tall, their tender green color seemingly fragile enough to crumble at the slightest touch.

An Jiu went ashore, and Da Jiu happily ran over, its chubby cheeks jiggling as it grinned with a gaping maw, looking so silly it was almost unbearable to look at. However, given its enthusiastic welcome, she still reached out and patted its large head in gratitude.

Sensing that Mo Sigui was nearby, An Jiu went to investigate.

He was dressed in a loose, ivory-white silk robe, sitting against a tree, puffing away.

“It’s barely dawn, and you are already smoking your drug cigarettes?” An Jiu asked.

Mo Sigui turned his head, his face deathly pale with dark circles under his eyes, startling An Jiu.

“I’ve been smoking all night…” Mo Sigui’s expression resembled that of a struggling, exhausted, trapped beast. “I have a feeling this medicine has completely lost its effectiveness for me. This is the third time I’ve changed the prescription…”

“I have a feeling too.” An Jiu stood in front of him. “You will poison yourself to death sooner or later. A legendary physician dying from his own medicine, his name will be remembered for eternity, hahaha.” An Jiu laughed three times expressionlessly, without a trace of amusement.

“Get lost!” Mo Sigui threw his pipe at her.

An Jiu caught it steadily and sniffed the medicine inside. “I have not been able to sleep for a while either, but I will get used to it.”

She was still a light sleeper, easily awakened by the slightest noise.

“If you are really worried about Lou Mingyue, why not go with her?” An Jiu sat down beside him.

Mo Sigui immediately bristled. “Who said my insomnia is because of her? Open your eyes and look carefully! Do you think I am the kind of person who’s easily swayed by romantic feelings?”

“In life, return to me; in death, I shall long for you forever.” An Jiu stared at him, mercilessly exposing his lie. “Most people who are easily swayed by romantic feelings would not say such a thing.”

“That was written by someone else! I just borrowed it casually—borrowed it!” Mo Sigui angrily retorted. “Besides, do you think an ignorant fool like you can even understand its meaning?!”

An Jiu retorted unhappily, “Who said I am ignorant?”

“If you are so capable, tell me what’s written on the plaque in your house!” Mo Sigui laughed, hands on his hips. “Do not think I do not know.”

“You were not this irritable before.” She handed him back his pipe, earnestly admonishing him, “You need to be more careful.”

“Da Jiu, bite her!” Mo Sigui waved his hand.

Da Jiu roared thunderously, leaped powerfully to An Jiu’s feet, lowered its head, and gently nibbled at her calf, finally licking it with its tongue as a gesture of soothing. Then, as if its mission was accomplished, it swaggered over to Mo Sigui’s feet to collect its reward.

“You! You! You!” Mo Sigui pointed at it, shaking his pipe. “How dare you treat me like this!”

Da Jiu innocently shrank its head.

“You are even getting angry with a tiger now; you are clearly quite ill. Go and save yourself,” An Jiu advised.

“Hmph!” Mo Sigui flicked his sleeve, pulled out a folding fan, and fanned himself for a while. “You should be worrying about yourself instead!” The aura of the Ice Dragon Brain gradually calmed him down, and his mind cleared considerably.

Whether it was insomnia or his mood, he was becoming increasingly irritable.

“Oh, right,” he remembered the important matter after regaining his composure. “That Li Qingzhi went to the border.”

“He’s always wanted to join the army,” An Jiu said.

Mo Sigui slowly fanned himself, his usual composed demeanor returning. “I heard it is because General Ling was urgently summoned back. Li Qingzhi was worried he might be in trouble, so he went to see if there was anything he could do to help along the way.”

An Jiu asked doubtfully, “Why was he summoned back?”

“Because he launched an attack on the Liao Kingdom and reclaimed a province, but the Liao people adopted a stance of fighting to the death. The war was fierce and lasted for a month. The court could not sit still any longer and advocated sending someone to negotiate peace.” Mo Sigui became agitated again, his fan whirring loudly. “Those cowards!”