Perfect Match – CH 093

Chapter 93

For several days in a row, someone seemed sullen. If Deng Ruyun glanced at him a few times, he would quickly turn away, avoiding her gaze, as if looking at him would reveal some secret he dared not let her know.

Deng Ruyun found it strange.

But Yuyun Hall was finally on the right track. Just as everything was emerging from chaos, winter arrived, and the New Year was not far off.

Deng Ruyun was preparing for the New Year’s business and also wanted to open a branch of Yuyun Hall in the west of the city.

Yuyun Hall did not sell expensive over-the-counter medicines; it sold pills, powders, and ointments that ordinary people could afford. She did not need to open a grand, imposing pharmacy like Yanchun Hall, but she could open several smaller pharmacies in the alleys of the west and north of the city or, later, expand them to other prefectures and counties.

However, that was a matter for later. Right now, she was focused on sorting out the chaotic mess of affairs.

That day, she was looking through the account books and unknowingly read until midnight.

Perhaps because she had stayed up so late, she felt unusually awake. Deng Ruyun blew out the lamp and lay in bed, tossing and turning several times, her mind wandering to a jumble of thoughts, unable to fall asleep.

Just then, there was a sudden noise by the door.

Deng Ruyun was not too surprised; after all, someone often could not sleep at his mansion in the middle of the night and insisted on sleeping in her room.

She often went to bed at night in an empty room, only to find someone getting up and dressing the next morning…

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and familiar footsteps reached Deng Ruyun’s ears. She pretended to be asleep, not speaking to him, and he, as usual, first walked to her bedside, stood there for a while, and then went to sleep on the couch.

Deng Ruyun remained silent, and he did not speak either.

Sure enough, after a while, she heard him walk away lightly from her bedside.

She chuckled inwardly, thinking that this person, sometimes, might resemble Dafu.

However, she heard him walk away through the curtains, but his footsteps did not go towards the couch; instead, they stopped by the window.

Deng Ruyun blinked quietly inside the curtains and heard him sit down on the chair by the window.

He sat there for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, without getting up.

Thinking? Troubled?

Deng Ruyun, who already could not sleep, was now even more unable to.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, he was still sitting there lost in thought, and he seemed to sigh a few times. Deng Ruyun could not sleep any longer, so she pretended to wake up groggily to get some water, sitting up in the bed curtains.

Usually, if she got up in the middle of the night, he would definitely say a few words to her. But today, even after she walked to the table and finished her water, he did not say a word.

As if afraid she would discover him sitting by the window, deep in thought, he even softened his breathing.

Deng Ruyun: “…”

It seemed he would not speak unless she did.

Deng Ruyun put down her teacup and walked to the window. At first, he seemed to be invisible, but seeing her getting closer, he had no choice but to speak.

“Yunniang saw me?”

What else could it be?

Deng Ruyun sat down on the chair next to him.

“Why are you not sleeping? Did something serious happen?”

She looked at him. The moonlight outlined the lines of his profile, but the shadows obscured most of his expression.

She only saw him lower his eyes and say nothing was wrong.

“I just had a bowl of strong tea before bed, which kept me awake.”

He did not elaborate.

Deng Ruyun had not seen him like this before. She tilted her head and looked at him several times.

Seeing this, the man seemed somewhat overwhelmed.

He wanted to tell her about the title bestowed upon him—at least it would come from his own mouth, not from someone else telling her.

But he was also afraid that if he told her, her little mind would start conjuring up nonsensical ideas.

Teng Yue was unusually hesitant.

Seeing her watching, he was even more at a loss for words, only saying, “It’s terribly cold at night; you will catch a cold sitting like this. Go to sleep.”

He was not telling her, and he was even telling her to leave?

Deng Ruyun snorted inwardly, then suddenly thought of something and asked.

“Let me guess, could it be an imperial reward?”

As soon as she asked, she saw his tall, imposing figure pause slightly.

She immediately understood and let out a long “Oh.”

“Oh…The General has become a Marquis?”

Upon hearing this, Teng Yue immediately denied it.

“No.”

He looked at her and saw her propping her arm up in deep thought, then immediately stopped her.

“Do not overthink it, go to sleep.”

But she just sat there, propping her head up and asking again.

“Could it be a Duke?”

Teng Yue asked anxiously, “No, it’s not a Duke…”

“Then I know it must be an Earl, is it not?”

She opened her eyes wide and looked at him, her eyes bright as mirrors in the moonlight, and she guessed correctly.

Since she had already guessed this, Teng Yue had no way to refute her. He hesitated for a moment, then simply told her.

“The court has bestowed upon me the title of Earl of Xianning.”

Earl of Xianning.

Deng Ruyun thought the title sounded quite nice. She blinked and looked at him.

“Is this not a joyous occasion?”

But the man looked at her, his gaze settling on her face.

“You really think it’s a joyous occasion?”

He suddenly asked this question. The room was quiet, with only the moonlight dancing on the latticed window.

His gaze, along with the current stillness, made Deng Ruyun feel uneasy. She stood up, not looking at him.

She said it was a happy occasion. “It cannot be a bad thing, right? I am just sleepy now; you should go back to your mansion and sleep too.”

As she spoke, she walked around the moonlight cast on the floor and headed towards the bed curtains.

But before she could take a step, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. He stood up and pulled her into his arms.

She looked up and saw his handsome brows furrowed, staring intently at her.

“Your reasoning is completely untenable. What happens between us in the future has nothing to do with whether I am a marquis or a prince.”

His voice was deep, and his grip on her wrist tightened.

The moonlight flickered between them, from the tip of one’s nose to the other’s ear, finally sliding silently down like a sheer white veil draped over them.

Deng Ruyun blinked silently at him, remaining quiet for a moment.

Her silence made Teng Yue even angrier, but he dared not hurt her, only saying… “Think about it carefully.”

He spoke like a teacher reprimanding a student, first pointing out the flaw in her thinking, then urging her to reflect on it herself.

Deng Ruyun pursed her lips slightly, taking it as tacit agreement.

Then she really would think it over carefully.

But she did not respond immediately, and Teng Yue felt a headache coming on. He had been unable to sleep because of this matter and had come to her out of unease, only to have her guess his suspicions so easily.

But why was she just standing there silently facing him?

Remembering his slightly harsh tone and seeing her expression of being scolded, Teng Yue had no choice but to calm down a bit and change the subject.

“Let’s not talk about that for now, but my brother-in-law’s situation might be turning around.”

He had been having Shen Xiu secretly investigate the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion, especially Zhu Tingguang’s hidden private mansion. A place outside the city caught his eye, but fearing to alert Zhu Tingguang and provoke further action, he had not made a move.

“But things are different now. You’ve abandoned the alias Liang Yun and put your real name out in the open, so Zhu Tingguang will definitely be on his guard. He certainly will not want you to know your brother is in his hands, so he will likely hide him in a more secretive place, or at least increase the number of guards.”

At this, Deng Ruyun stopped joking with him. “Then what should we do?”

Seeing her finally speak, Teng Yue breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’ve already sent others to keep a close eye on Zhu Tingguang’s movements. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for us to find my brother-in-law.”

He whispered, “Perhaps within the next two or three days.”

Hearing that the timeframe was so close, Deng Ruyun’s heart raced, but she also gave Teng Yue some instructions.

“Zhu Tingguang has a grudge against you; you should be careful.”

She was still thinking of him first, and Teng Yue breathed a sigh of relief but dared not mention the matter of being an earl again, speaking softly.

“Then I will go back first,” he said, rubbing her slightly cool arm. “Go back to your bed quickly, do not overthink it… and do not call me ‘Earl.'”

His last sentence was muffled, as if rising from deep water, carrying a hint of grievance.

Deng Ruyun listened, and the corners of her mouth inexplicably wanted to turn upwards.

But he had already pushed her back to the bed curtains and turned to leave.

As he lifted his foot to leave, Deng Ruyun suddenly wanted to call him back, to say something more, but he seemed afraid she would say anything more, striding to the door and closing it for her.

Deng Ruyun: “…”

A very soft laugh came from inside the bed curtains, but it was only one sound, and Teng Yue did not hear it through the door.

He stood under the eaves, gazing at the moon. He thought that in less than half a month, the imperial edict conferring his title would arrive in Xi’an. Looking at the cold, bright moon, he sighed again.

*

The next day, at the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion.

The men Zhu Tingguang had sent out returned with their report. Upon hearing the report, Zhu Tingguang’s face darkened.

“Deng Ruheng, Deng Ruyun… So they really are siblings.”

He had been using the Deng family to blackmail Deng Ruheng into making medicine for him to earn money, but he had only inquired about the Deng family’s true situation once initially and had not asked again.

Unexpectedly, after Deng Ruheng and his party “died” beyond the Great Wall, the Deng family collapsed. His wife and parents all died one after another, leaving only his younger sister, Deng Ruyun, to support the family.

What abilities could a woman like her possess? She had almost had her family’s fortune swallowed up by her uncle and aunt, but this woman refused to give up. Somehow, she had found her way into the Teng family and actually married Teng Yue.

Teng Yue seemed quite fond of his wife from the countryside. When they went to Ningxia, he personally rode her out of the city, and later he used all his family’s wealth to support her Yuyun Hall in its competition with Yanchun Hall.

Teng Yue, Yuyun Hall…

Zhu Tingguang felt a headache coming on.

He already had a grudge against Teng Yue, and now Deng Ruheng, whom he had imprisoned, had become Teng Yue’s brother-in-law.

For a moment, he suddenly thought of simply killing Deng Ruheng; once and for all, no one would know.

But then he thought of Deng Ruheng’s invaluable pharmaceutical skills, and he could not bring himself to do it.

However, he did not dare let Deng Ruheng make medicine again for the time being. After thinking for a while, he summoned someone.

“Send more men to keep an eye on Deng Ruheng. Do not allow him to communicate with anyone outside the city. Keep a close watch on him.”

He ordered his men to go to the secret villa outside the city, but little did he know, Teng Yue’s men, who had been watching him closely, had quietly followed them.

*

In the heavily guarded courtyard.

Two days ago, when Deng Ruheng heard that Yanchun Hall had been shut down while Yuyun Hall had received imperial commendation, he knew this day would come.

But he did not care at all. He could not leave anyway, but his little Yunniang’s little Yuyun Hall had suppressed Yanchun Hall!

These past few days, Deng Ruheng had been overjoyed thinking about this.

He longed to fly out and see what his Yunniang looked like now, what was happening at home, how his parents and wife were doing, and his maternal grandmother and his young daughter.

When he left home that year, his daughter was still an infant.

She could not call him “Papa” yet, but the little one’s babbling laughter was like the clear, melodious clinking of jade stones, so he named her “Linglang”…

Deng Ruheng’s heart longed to escape this small courtyard, but layers of confinement prevented him from taking a single step.

Deng Ruheng read for a while one evening, but after turning the pages, he could not turn any further.

He thought he’d get up and grind some medicine to calm his mind.

However, just as he stepped into the courtyard, he suddenly heard barking coming from outside.

“Woof, woof, woof!”

Deng Ruheng nearly dropped the pestle in his hand.

That was…that was his Dafu?!

Years ago, he had tried to send Dafu out to deliver a message, but after being discovered, Dafu was nearly beaten to death by Zhu Tingguang. He had fiercely protected him, and Zhu Tingguang had simply sold Dafu to settle the matter.

After that, he heard nothing more from Dafu.

But now, the barking could be heard just outside the courtyard walls.

“Woof woof!”

It really was Dafu.

But how could Dafu be here?

It could not be that Dafu had come back to find him, so could it be… Yunniang?!

The barking quickly faded away.

However, the following evening, Dafu’s barking echoed outside the walls again.

Deng Ruheng could not help but tremble.

It really was Yunniang coming to find him!

*

For five consecutive days, Teng Yue had people bring Dafu to the courtyard. For the first two days, there was no response from inside, but for the next three days, whenever Dafu barked, the faint sound of pounding medicine could be heard coming from inside.

When Deng Ruyun heard the sound of pounding medicine, tears streamed down her face.

Teng Yue was no longer willing to wait. Seeing that Zhu Tingguang had been at the mansion for the past few days, caring for the ailing Prince of Yanshan, he decided to act that very night to rescue him.

Deng Ruyun was already impatient and wanted to go with him, but she was afraid of delaying his actions.

“I will keep watch outside for you, alright?”

She pleaded with him to take her along. Tonight, both her brother and he were involved; how could she wait in the city?

Seeing her anxiety, Teng Yue agreed, letting her wait outside while he went inside to rescue his brother-in-law.

Zhu Tingguang’s courtyard was indeed heavily guarded, but Teng Yue had been through the Prince of Yanshan Mansion before, even the Chief Eunuch’s firearms unit. This time, Teng Yue had also enlisted Shen Yanxing’s help.

He found Deng Ruheng’s courtyard with almost no effort.

Hearing the absence of barking dogs outside the courtyard today, Deng Ruheng had a premonition, but fearing Zhu Tingguang’s men had noticed, he remained silent.

He paced back and forth in the courtyard.

Just then, a guard outside the gate suddenly called out, “Who goes there?!”

Before the words were finished, a thud sounded as someone fell to the ground.

The next moment, the courtyard gate, which had been tightly shut for many years, was suddenly kicked open from the outside.

Deng Ruheng’s eyes widened as he looked towards the gate. A draft of wind billowed the robes of the newcomer. He looked at the newcomer and took a step back in surprise.

“General Teng?!”

Teng Yue also saw him and quickly stepped forward. He was about to say that he had come to rescue his brother-in-law on behalf of Yunniang, but this brother-in-law spoke first.

“Did Father and Mother…finally go to your house to propose marriage and give Yunniang to you?”

These words made Teng Yue’s heart skip a beat.

It was not the Deng family proposing marriage, nor was it even him proposing; it was a contract…

He did not know how to explain it to his brother-in-law or whether Yunniang’s brother would still allow her to be with him if he found out.

But there was no time to dwell on these things. He simply said,

“Yunniang is waiting for us outside. Let’s go!”

Deng Ruheng had been imprisoned for a long time, and he did not want to stay here any longer. However, he was thinking of the two young apprentices imprisoned with him. These two were orphans bought by Zhu Tingguang. He called them over, and they left with him.

The two apprentices were of one mind with him, and seeing this, they were both surprised and delighted.

As long as Teng Yue was not caught red-handed by the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion, even if he broke into his private mansion, what did it matter if he burned it down?

He led his men to protect Deng Ruheng and the two apprentices as they left.

At this moment, Deng Ruheng suddenly asked him a question.

“General, do you know that Zhu Tingguang and the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion have been secretly colluding with the Tartars beyond the Great Wall for years, selling military supplies and armor?”

Upon hearing this, Teng Yue raised an eyebrow.

“Does my brother-in-law have evidence?”

This was a capital offense punishable by stripping him of his title and death!

Deng Ruheng slowly nodded.

He pointed to the other side of the courtyard where he was imprisoned.

“All the evidence from all these years is there.”

Zhu Tingguang killed his former colleagues and brothers and imprisoned him here for over four years, not to mention the state of his family was long gone.

This grudge, Deng Ruheng had never forgotten.

He looked at Teng Yue, and Teng Yue looked back at him. Just then, Shen Yanxing arrived with his men.

They could certainly leave, but how could they simply let go of the evidence of the Prince of Yanshan’s collusion with the Tartars?

The three men’s gazes met, and they all looked towards the courtyard where the evidence was hidden.

Can the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion escape the death penalty again by killing someone to cover it up?!

*

Zhu Tingguang, having spent the day as a dutiful son by his father’s bedside, originally intended to return to his own courtyard for a good night’s rest, but his eyelids kept twitching incessantly.

He felt uneasy and could not sleep, so he asked his men if anything had happened that night.

His men received no information.

But his eyelids continued to twitch, and Zhu Tingguang grew impatient, ordering someone to fetch the Taoist priest kept in the mansion to perform a divination.

To his surprise, even the Taoist priest broke out in a sweat after the divination.

“What’s the situation?”

The Taoist priest swallowed hard. “The general has… a sign of bloodshed.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Tingguang nearly had the man dragged out and beaten to death. But this Taoist priest was trusted by his father and possessed some skills, so he could only hurriedly ask, “Where did this happen?!”

The Taoist priest hastily cast another divination, pointing towards the secret mountain villa outside the city where he hid his people and belongings.

Without a word, Zhu Tingguang immediately led his men out of the city.

Just as he reached the slope outside the villa, someone rushed out to report.

The man was covered in blood and exclaimed, “General, someone broke into the villa at night, took Deng Ruheng, and went straight to where you hid your weapons and armor!”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Tingguang knew almost without thinking who it was.

Teng Yue, it must be Teng Yue!

He was seething with hatred, but at this point, he could not act rashly.

He thought for a moment, then ordered his men to retreat towards the villa, and then had the villa surrounded from all sides.

Zhu Tingguang’s eyes narrowed.

“Teng Yue, you brat! Now that you are here, you are not leaving!”

Zhu Tingguang ordered his men to slowly surround and encircle him, but no one noticed that someone had seen his figure sitting on horseback. They recognized him at a glance and immediately sent someone to report the news.

… …

Inside the secret villa.

Following Deng Ruheng’s directions, Teng Yue easily found Zhu Tingguang’s hidden stash of armor and weapons. These military supplies were intended for sale to the Tartars beyond the Great Wall. Years of secret dealings with the Tartars were evident, and there were still unresolved letters in the courtyard.

The evidence was irrefutable; Zhu Tingguang and the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion were definitely not going to escape.

Just then, someone rushed in with news.

Teng Yue inquired and found it was someone sent by Deng Ruyun.

The messenger stepped forward and directly told Teng Yue that Zhu Tingguang had arrived and was encircling the area from the outside.

Upon hearing of Zhu Tingguang’s arrival, Deng Ruheng tensed up, but Teng Yue merely snorted coldly and whispered a few words to Shen Yanxing.

Soon, they withdrew from the area, taking some of their belongings.

… …

Zhu Tingguang and his men moved in a silent encirclement.

Seeing his men, who had been stationed there, all cut down, he was filled with rage. Seeing Deng Ruheng’s courtyard empty, his eyes widened in fury.

He gripped his sword tightly.

He was a member of the imperial family, of royal blood, yet Teng Yue showed him no respect, twice trespassing on his territory. How could he tolerate this any longer? Today, he would send Teng Yue to his doom.

However, as he angrily led his men towards the courtyard where weapons and armor were stored, he found the entire mansion unusually quiet.

He paused, wondering if Teng Yue had left ahead of time.

But before the thought could even form, his eyelids twitched.

Just then, a cold arrow shot towards his back.

He quickly looked back and saw someone step out of the shadows, giving him a slow smile.

The sudden appearance of a torch illuminated his sharp, starlike features.

It was Teng Yue.

… …

Firelight erupted in the mansion, followed by shouts of battle.

Deng Ruyun stood in the woods outside the courtyard wall, knowing that a message had been sent beforehand, yet cold sweat still broke out repeatedly.

Until the sounds of fighting gradually subsided, the outcome was clear.

The guards beside her tried to reassure her, but Deng Ruyun could not relax.

She could only keep her eyes fixed on the gate, watching to see who would emerge first.

Before she could even see anyone, she heard Dafu’s barking.

Deng Ruyun’s eyes widened as she looked towards the doorway. Under the swaying door lamp, Dafu ran out first.

Behind Dafu followed a man, dressed in simple clothes, thin and frail.

The lamplight cast shadows on his robes, swaying and illuminating his face.

Deng Ruyun trembled at the sight.

Her legs trembled as she emerged from the woods, walking incredulously towards the man.

The moment she appeared, Deng Ruheng stared at her.

The moonlight in the woods was dim, with only a few rays falling softly on her hair and ears.

Scattered strands of hair fell from her ears, then rose again in the wind.

The wind blew past her temples, seemingly carrying her unique scent.

Deng Ruheng’s legs went numb, so much so that he could not lift them, but he heard her trembling voice softly call out to him.

“Brother?”

A bitter feeling welled up inside him, rushing to his nose and eyes, and he answered her.

“Yunniang…”

“Brother?!”

“Yunniang!”

The moonlight made her fluttering skirt look like butterfly wings, and the wind made her seem like a celestial maiden descended to earth on a winter night.

She had grown up.

Deng Ruheng stepped forward and opened his arms to her.

How long had it been since Deng Ruyun had felt the embrace of her brother?

At this moment, she ran towards him from the edge of the woods, and from two steps away, she threw herself at him.

And Deng Ruheng reached out and, as if she were a child, caught her steadily, holding her tightly in his arms.

“Yunniang, my Yunniang…”