Perfect Match – CH 041

Chapter 41

“Say you are not here?”

Teng Yue asked, and she actually took another half step back.

Her eyes betrayed barely concealed nervousness, yet she continued to lie, “What I mean is, I am going out now. If I go out, I will not be here, right?”

Her lie sounded convincing, but the more she spoke, the more it felt like a needle was pricking Teng Yue’s heart.

“Then let me ask you, why did you back away when you saw me?”

A flicker of panic crossed her eyes at this question, almost unnoticed if he was not watching closely.

He heard her answer.

“Someone suddenly barged in, so I was startled and backed away.”

That made sense, too; Teng Yue had to admit, she was indeed a master liar.

But why did she use all her lying skills on him?

It seemed that ever since their marriage, she had not really wanted to speak to him properly. He had initially thought she was just used to it and had even joked with her, but it turned out she was genuinely deceiving him.

A needle pierced her heart again, while Teng Yue stepped forward, walking towards her.

He could hear her breathing become heavy, her nervousness overflowing from her bright eyes.

At that moment, Changxing stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “General, please speak calmly.”

Changxing was indeed protective of his master, but in their eyes, was he just a tyrant and a villain? Would he really hurt her?

A draft howled through the doorway, but it could not dispel the extremely tense atmosphere.

Deng Ruyun felt a chill run through her from the wind. Fate was truly playing a cruel joke on her; how could he have overheard her words?

He probably would not believe anything she said now. His eyes held surprise, anger, and a hint of undeniable sadness.

Deng Ruyun felt a pang of sadness for some reason.

She called to Changxing.

“It’s nothing; the general is just joking with me. You can go now.”

Changxing glanced back at the girl, and Deng Ruyun nodded gently.

If she let Changxing block his way now, Teng Yue would only become more suspicious.

Sure enough, after she sent Changxing away, and there was no one else at the door, he did not approach but just watched her from a step away.

She knew he was asking for an answer, an answer to why she was avoiding him.

But how could she give that answer?

Should she say she was just a betrothed wife who took money from his mother to help him through his previous difficulties?

Should she say she was not his wife, just an insignificant person who took money and solved problems for him?

Or should she just tell him he’d made a mistake with his wife, that he’d fallen for the wrong person…?

She could not utter a single word of these true reasons. She had to keep her mouth shut, at least not until he married the real noblewoman.

But what could she say now?

What reason could she give him to believe her?

Deng Ruyun’s nose suddenly stung, and her mind went blank. She truly did not know how to explain. No matter what she said now, he probably would not believe her.

He just stared at her, making her nose sting, the heat welling up in her eyes. She racked her brains but could not find a way to respond.

Just then, Aunt Juan hurried over. “The General has arrived?”

These words seemed to instantly create a sweeping opening in the tense atmosphere at the doorway.

He had always treated Aunt Juan with the utmost respect, as if she were an elder in his family. But now that Aunt Juan had spoken, he had to look away from her gaze for a moment. He only responded to Aunt Juan once, but continued to stare at her.

Aunt Juan, who had clearly been summoned by the savior Changxing for her, noticed the awkwardness between the two and simply said, “We just brewed some fresh tea; General, please have a cup.”

Deng Ruyun dared not move or speak, but he shook his head, saying he would not drink, and suddenly asked Aunt Juan a question.

“Is Grandmother feeling well today?”

Aunt Juan thought cautiously for a moment before replying, “Her grandmother is getting old; she might feel unwell at any time.”

She looked at Teng Yue. “General, do not worry about this. If you have something to do, please go ahead.”

Unexpectedly, after her polite words, Teng Yue spoke directly.

“Aunt Juan, I am not busy, and I do not want to leave on my own,” he turned to look directly at Deng Ruyun. “I want to take Yunniang back with me.”

His words were so clear and straightforward that Aunt Juan could not evade them.

However, glancing at the utterly distressed Yunniang, she also spoke directly.

“Then the general has to see if Yunniang is willing.”

Clearly, she was not so willing, but she could not say no at this moment. She glanced at him.

“I am hungry; let’s eat first.”

Although it was a delaying tactic, the meal was anything but easy.

Throughout the entire dinner, he sat beside her, his gaze barely lingering on the food, only glancing at her sideways. Occasionally, his eyes would sweep over the food, picking up a piece and placing it in her bowl.

He did not speak, not a single word, but the look he gave Deng Ruyun made her heart race.

She felt this meal would have been worse than not eating at all. She could not bear it any longer. She hastily ate a couple of bites of the meat, vegetables, and noodles in her bowl, put down her chopsticks, and turned directly to him, but still dared not look him in the eye.

“I am done eating; let’s go home.”

Before leaving, Aunt Juan secretly asked her, “Are you really going back with the General? He seems quite unwell.”

Deng Ruyun could only smile bitterly, “If we do not go back, he will probably be even more unwell.”

But no matter what, he would not hurt her; Deng Ruyun knew that.

She reassured Aunt Juan, took a deep breath, and followed Teng Yue back to the Mansion.

Teng Xiao was engrossed in researching hidden weapons in his courtyard and naturally would not come to Liumingxuan courtyard.

Perhaps because their master was not home, the lights along the way were dim, with only the cold moonlight casting a faint glow.

Liumingxuan was the same; the night seemed utterly dark, and even the lit candlelight emitted only a weak light.

The man followed silently behind her. She went to the side room to change her clothes while he sat down in the main hall and drank half a cup of cold tea.

After drinking her tea, he continued to watch her. Deng Ruyun did not rush to speak, slowly tidying up things that did not need tidying.

Just as she reached the window, the door fluttered slightly in the breeze.

She inexplicably thought of that evening, when he had playfully teased her and carried her to the couch by the window.

That night, he had suddenly pushed open this window, and the first snow of Xi’an fell into her view…

Deng Ruyun was momentarily dazed. The lamplight crackled, and he appeared behind her, asking, “How long are you going to tidy up, Yunniang?”

The man’s voice was slightly hoarse, suppressing emotions Deng Ruyun did not want to reveal.

She simply moved away from him, saying she’d tidy up a bit more, “I have not been back for several days; it’s a bit messy.”

As she spoke, she tried to move away from the window towards the desk.

But at that moment, he suddenly reached out, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his arms from behind. “If you think it’s messy, have someone come in and clean it up. We will go to the side room.”

“But I do not want anyone to clean it up. I will take my time…”

Before she could finish, he suddenly picked her up and threw her onto the couch, pinning her against the window.

His strength was astonishing; the carved railing of the couch creaked in his grip, almost shattering in his hands.

He held her tightly in his arms, his breathing heavy, his gaze fixed intently on her.

“How long are you going to torment me?”

He spoke slowly, each word deliberate and clear in her ears.

He seemed to be gritting his teeth as he spoke, and for a moment, Deng Ruyun wondered if he wanted to bite her and devour her!

But the pressure emanating from him was too heavy. Holding her tightly in his arms, their breaths mingling, their heartbeats erratic, Deng Ruyun was truly about to break.

But she would not speak.

Her silence seemed to suppress all the man’s anger.

Teng Yue saw that her usually talkative mouth was now like a clam, tightly shut. She would not utter a single word in response to his questions.

She was more difficult than any Tartar he had captured, more stubborn than any bandit leader he had seized.

He had a thousand ways to make those people talk, but with her, he would not even lay a finger on her.

But she just would not speak, as if she had not remembered a single moment of their past blissful days. If he had not insisted on bringing her back, she would not have even considered coming back to him.

Now she was here, but her mouth remained closed, refusing to utter a single word.

Teng Yue’s anger was completely ignited. Looking at her defiant expression, he suddenly picked her up again and carried her straight to the bed.

Deng Ruyun, upon being embraced by him, immediately understood what he intended to do and quickly pushed him away.

“I do not want to!”

Teng Yue, seeing that she had finally spoken, chuckled angrily.

“You can talk now? Too late!”

He tossed her into the brocade quilt on the bed, quickly removed his outer robe, and once inside the tent, he threw his undergarments aside as well.

He grabbed her, ready to bite her a couple of times to vent his anger, no matter what she said, when she suddenly spoke.

“General, did you never consider how frightening you are?!”

She only uttered this one sentence before falling silent again, her small face tense, her eyes reflecting the flickering lamplight outside the tent. She clutched the quilt, half-avoiding, half-fleeing as she looked at him.

Teng Yue froze.

“You…are you afraid of me?”

Teng Yue asked. Seeing Deng Ruyun stop moving, he simply sat down on the edge of the bed in front of her and asked again, his voice lower.

“Yunniang is afraid of me?”

Deng Ruyun did not respond but instead retreated further into the bed, creating more distance between them.

Seeing her retreat, Teng Yue could not help but reach out to pull her back, but as soon as he did, she looked up at him.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her nose and forehead, and her eyes clearly showed a desire to keep him away.

Teng Yue’s outstretched hand paused.

So, her pretense, her lies, and her avoidance of him were all because she was actually afraid of him?

Teng Yue was filled with doubt, yet inexplicably, he recalled their wedding day.

The marriage had been hastily arranged; he had not even seen her face, nor had he spoken a single word to her.

He only remembered that after bowing to heaven and earth, they were escorted to the bridal chamber, the matchmaker reciting a string of auspicious words. He lifted her hastily prepared, rather plain, red veil and saw her face for the first time.

Thick rouge and powder covered her entire face, yet he could still discern her delicate and pretty features. Her nose was small and delicate, her lips exquisite when pursed, but her eyes were much larger, bright and clear without the makeup.

But for some reason, instead of shyly lowering her head like other brides after looking at him, she did not even glance at him after he lifted her veil.

It was as if she already knew exactly what he looked like, or perhaps, it was as if she had no intention of even looking at him.

But her hands were secretly clenched, tightly gripping her dress.

Teng Yue had never seen her before, so it was not for the former reason. As for the latter, he had actually considered it at the time; she was probably afraid of him, this unfamiliar man who fought on the battlefield.

So, from the day they married, she had been afraid of him?

Teng Yue remembered the time she encountered bandits at the farm; she did not call out to him when he passed by; he had told her several times to contact him if she needed anything, yet she returned to Jinzhou alone; she was not used to being held in his arms to sleep, even tying ropes to her feet to prevent him from doing so…yet he had been harsh with her, even half-jokingly, half-heartedly using force…

Teng Yue looked at the person retreating to the innermost part of the tent, at her hand tightly clutching the quilt, and for a moment, he seemed to see again the day they first met, that little girl who did not even want to look at him.

At this moment, he dared not forcefully pull her any further; he could only lower his voice.

“I am sorry; it was all my fault before. If you are afraid of me, I promise you, I will not do it again, alright?”

He lowered his voice and, faced with the fabricated accusation Deng Ruyun had leveled against him, he humbled himself and admitted guilt.

Deng Ruyun had initially just wanted to find a believable excuse to cover up what had happened that day. Unable to find a good excuse, she could only prey on him, shifting the blame onto him.

She did not know about others, but she knew Teng Yue best.

He was better at self-reflection than at looking for problems in others.

She had made up her mind about this ever since she returned, expecting it to work, to fool him.

But now, she had said it, and he actually believed her, even bowing his head to apologize.

Deng Ruyun felt her eyes suddenly well up with tears, a sour feeling rising in her nose and eyes, her eyes burning so hot she could not hold them back.

How could he admit it so easily? She was throwing mud at him!

But seeing her reddened eyes, he frantically grabbed an embroidered handkerchief from the bedside. He wanted to hold her in his arms and wipe her tears as before, but remembering her fear, he carefully placed the handkerchief beside her.

“Yunniang, do not cry, do not cry. I will get dressed right away. Let’s be well, alright?”

He said and hurriedly put on his clothes.

Deng Ruyun’s tears flowed uncontrollably.

See? This was the price of lying; conscience would torment you.

But why was the torment of conscience so fierce, causing her to shed so many nameless tears?

… …

As night deepened, he did not force her to do anything more and did not even dare to speak to her much.

He wanted to hold her and put her to sleep, but she pushed him away, so he did not go any further.

In the quiet canopy bed, she and he lay on opposite sides, the cool moonlight casting shadows on the curtains hanging at the corners of the bed.

Everything seemed to have returned to six months ago, to those unfamiliar days when she had just married him.

Deng Ruyun shed nameless tears, exhausted from a day filled with lies and deception. She pulled the covers tighter and fell into the darkness.

But Teng Yue could not sleep. He listened to the person beside him gradually breathing heavily, then turned to her, reaching his hand to her face. He did not dare touch her, only tucking the blankets around her before slowly getting out of bed and leaving.

A few drops of rain fell, but the cold wind blew them away. Teng Yue put on his robe and went to the outer courtyard, summoning Shen Xiu.

“Go and inquire whether Madam has encountered anyone or anything recently.”

Shen Xiu obeyed and went to do so.

Teng Yue sat in the study in the outer courtyard for a while.

She might indeed be a little afraid of him, but perhaps that was not the only reason.

There might be other reasons he did not yet know.

After all, she had never wanted to tell him everything about herself, at least not everything.

*

The next day, as dawn broke, Liumingxuan seemed to have returned to its previous life.

When Deng Ruyun woke up, she saw that Teng Yue had already washed up and was squatting in the courtyard talking to Linglang.

Xiuniang had brought Linglang over early in the morning, also to check on her young mistress. Seeing that things were well at Liumingxuan and the couple had not caused any major disturbances, she felt relieved.

Just then, as Deng Ruyun stepped out of her room, Xiuniang approached and examined her. Noticing her slightly swollen eyes, she was surprised. “Would you like me to boil a couple of eggs for you to put on your eyes?”

Her words drew the attention of Teng Yue and Linglang.

He led Linglang over, approaching her. He seemed less anxious than before, speaking to her in a low voice.

“Are your eyes sore?”

Deng Ruyun shook her head. Seeing that although he still paid attention to her, he was not acting like before, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At least this distance would prevent Old Madam Lin from immediately noticing anything amiss when she returned.

As for truly distancing himself from her, that would probably take some more time.

Slightly relieved, she called Linglang over and had a meal prepared.

After the meal, Linglang went to school to study. Seeing someone watching her again, Deng Ruyun thought for a moment and then said decisively,

“I am going out to buy medicinal herbs. I will be out all day.”

She made it clear beforehand to avoid him overthinking.

Sure enough, Teng Yue simply nodded. “Then go ahead.”

He added, “Come home early.”

These three words carried a hint of grievance, as if she were the man working outside, while he was a sheltered woman waiting at home.

Deng Ruyun pretended not to understand the implication, simply hummed in agreement, changed her clothes, and went out.

She did indeed go to the market to buy medicinal herbs early in the morning and then stopped by Cixin Hall on the way.

Before she even reached the entrance of Cixin Hall, she saw a scene of chaos. She hurried forward, intending to call out to Zhu Huang to ask what had happened, when Bai Chunfu strode out.

The man, his hands still smeared with soot, told her the story.

“The shop caught fire before dawn. Luckily, the gatekeeper was alert, and the fire did not spread, but it did burn down the back storeroom where the medicines were stored. Fortunately, the fire was extinguished quickly, but some medicinal herbs were inevitably lost.”

Fires were not uncommon in the dry winter, but this one attracted even Inspector Sun, who happened to be in Xi’an Prefecture.

He stood at the entrance, looking at the charred medicinal herbs cleared from Cixin Hall, and sighed heavily.

“Could it be that I really have to sell this pharmacy?”

After he said this, Shopkeeper Qin sighed beside him, “If you had sold it to Yanchun Hall earlier, we could have gotten a higher price. Now that we’ve lost quite a bit, Yanchun Hall probably will not be able to offer that much.”

He calculated, “It will probably have to be five hundred taels less than their original price.”

Inspector Sun shook his head.

“Five hundred taels less it is then. It seems this shop cannot be kept. If they are willing, let them take it!”

But Deng Ruyun, standing nearby, was instantly tempted.

Her money was just enough for the market price, but if it were five hundred taels less, she would still be three hundred taels short.

She could not help but step forward and call out to Inspector Sun, “If I offer your price, Inspector, could you transfer the shop to me directly?”

Inspector Sun had not recognized her at first, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was Madam Teng.

He nodded hastily. “If you want it, I naturally will not give it to anyone else. But my shop has burned down this time. Madam, do you really want it?”

Deng Ruyun was short three hundred taels, but she immediately nodded.

“I want it! I will pay you in a few days!”

Inspector Sun was naturally overjoyed, adding that he had a batch of newly arrived medicine at home and would give it to her later.

Deng Ruyun was also extremely grateful and thanked him repeatedly.

However, she really could not come up with three hundred taels right now, but when she turned her head, she saw the physician who had vouched for her looking at her.

Deng Ruyun walked towards him.

“I will borrow three hundred taels from Physician Fu and repay you with interest in three months; is that alright?”

Bai Chunfu smiled; before he could agree, Zhu Huang had already agreed for him.

“Alright, alright! Master Liang, just wait, I will get the money for you right away!”

He said this and actually ran off to the money exchange on the main street, without even needing his Sixth Master’s permission.

Deng Ruyun was taken aback, but Bai Chunfu shook his head helplessly, then smiled at her.

“Although I only have three hundred taels left, if Master Liang wants it, I will gladly offer it to you.”

Deng Ruyun suspected that even if she asked for five hundred taels today, this man could produce it.

But she did not dare ask too many questions, only saying…

“Thank you; let me treat you to a meal.”

Upon hearing this, the man’s gentle eyes softened even more.

“Alright, then I will wait.”

As they talked, someone at the alley entrance blinked, glancing at the two of them, especially at Bai Chunfu, several times.

Unfortunately, this man was none other than Shen Xiu, the secret guard who had received orders, inquired about Cixin Hall, and was preparing to come and question them.