"When returning from the Old Master's place, I ran into Miss Yun's carriage on the road. Miss Yun then alighted from the carriage and spoke a few words to the Young Master..."
Qiu Lu, looking perplexed, relayed the events of the road to Zhan Tianye. After finishing, he furrowed his brow, "The Young Master is so cold to Miss Yun, so unlike himself. It's truly worrying. Perhaps the more he anticipated seeing her before, the more resentment he felt upon meeting? And now he wants Miss Yun to make amends?"
Zhan Tianye, having heard the full story, his cold eyes exuded a faint, chilling light. "She dares to pester Young Master Li?"
"What she said sounded quite touching," Qiu Lu nodded. He found it strange that despite such moving words, the Young Master was not only unmoved but also incredibly cold.
Zhan Tianye's expression grew somber, and he said in a deep voice, "From now on, if you see her approach the Young Master, disregard her status and simply drive her away."
"If the Young Master isn't throwing a tantrum and wants to see Miss Yun again, and upon meeting Miss Yun, the Young Master throws a fit and insists on having Miss Yun, should I still chase Miss Yun away?" Qiu Lu suddenly felt the boundary was difficult to define. Stopping her too cruelly might harm the Young Master's fragile heart. If not firm enough, the Young Master might easily be led astray by Miss Yun.
Zhan Tianye's demeanor today was extremely cold, even tinged with an inexplicable dissatisfaction. He narrowed his eyes and swept a glance at Qiu Lu.
Qiu Lu shivered. He quickly said, "Your subordinate understands! Your subordinate understands!"
"Ah, right. When I returned, the Old Master specifically instructed that Your Highness should go to the Qin manor. He said it was a very important matter and Your Highness must go as soon as possible." He almost forgot a particularly crucial matter! It was specifically instructed by Old Master Qin!
Zhan Tianye frowned, "What is it?" What does my maternal grandfather want now?
"The Old Master didn't say, he was quite mysterious, claiming it could resolve Your Highness's great worry and allow Your Highness to regain his prestige! Those were the Old Master's exact words," Qiu Lu replied.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Tianye knew his maternal grandfather likely had ulterior motives or was up to some new scheme again. He knitted his brows.
Seeing this, Qiu Lu quickly added, "The Old Master said that if Your Highness doesn't go, the consequences will be severe!" The Old Master truly understood His Highness, knowing His Highness would definitely not want to go. That's why he specifically instructed him.
Zhan Tianye knitted his brows. "Have someone prepare the carriage."
"Yes!"
...
Yun Yueyin arrived at the Regent's manor just as Zhan Ming was returning from outside. Before she could speak, Zhan Ming informed Yun Yueyin of what had happened at the military camp.
Yun Yueyin's face immediately changed. "How could this happen?" Her father had told her last night that he would avenge her soon, that they would be able to return to the General's manor soon, and that Yun Changfeng would no longer stand in his way. He had even said that Yun Shu would end up wandering the streets. In just one night, her father was to be escorted to the capital?!
"Your father is too foolish!" Zhan Ming was surrounded by an aura of anger, his malevolent aura intensifying.
Yun Yueyin's body trembled violently, her heart in a panic. "It must be a scheme they set! Father was too eager to do something for Your Highness, and thus fell into their trap!" Damn it! They actually schemed against her father! And angered the Regent, causing her to have to endure the Regent's displeased expression!
Zhan Ming's expression improved somewhat upon hearing Yun Yueyin's words. "When they escort your father to the capital, you and I will go to the palace together."
"Yes, I will listen to Your Highness!" Yun Yueyin immediately displayed her dependence and trust in Zhan Ming. With a hint of shyness, she threw herself into Zhan Ming's arms.
As Zhan Ming embraced Yun Yueyin, a strong scent of powder suddenly wafted to his nose. He frowned, "Why are you wearing so much powder today?"
Yun Yueyin bit her lip, her mind in a turmoil. She forced a smile, "It was Wen Shu who accidentally applied too much powder. Because I was in a hurry to see Your Highness, I didn't wipe it off." If it weren't for the red bumps that suddenly appeared on her face, with her looks, she wouldn't have had to apply thick makeup to cover it. Damn it! Even after applying the ointment, the red bumps hadn't decreased! And they were faintly itchy.
"Are you absolutely sure Yun Shu's face is ruined?" Zhan Ming suddenly asked.
Yun Yueyin's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he had developed some feelings for Yun Shu? Yun Shu's current fake face was a disaster!
"I am absolutely sure, Your Highness. Her face is a fake! I don't know where she got it from, it looks just like a real one. Why don't we ask the Divine Doctor to tell us what substance to splash on her face to make her fake skin fall off?" Yun Yueyin's eyes flickered. If she could expose Yun Shu's true appearance in front of people, then Yun Shu would definitely not dare to appear in public in the future! She knew too well how horrific her face had become!
Zhan Ming narrowed his charming, slender eyes. "Yueyin is truly intelligent."
Yun Yueyin blushed. "I am very stupid, so I desperately need Your Highness to protect me."
"Don't worry, I will always dote on you. As long as you are well-behaved, I will give you whatever you desire." Zhan Ming's mood suddenly improved. Indeed, when one is in a bad mood, having a beauty by one's side can absolutely lift one's spirits.
...
In front of the General's manor.
Yun Shu, after a nap, woke up, changed her clothes, and came out. Just as she was about to get into the carriage after leaving the General's manor. For some reason, she suddenly remembered what Yun Xiao Jing had said. There was a little beggar not far from the General's manor. She looked up. There were only two beggars, no sign of the little beggar. It seemed the little beggar had just passed by the General's manor that day.
"What is Miss looking at?" the gatekeeper asked curiously. He then followed Yun Shu's gaze towards the distance. He saw the two beggars and said to Yun Shu, "Miss, those two beggars have appeared recently and like to beg there. If Miss dislikes beggars near the General's manor, I will go and drive them away."
"No need. Have you seen a little beggar there before?" Yun Shu asked.
The gatekeeper was stunned and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, I have! There was one! He should have arrived yesterday, but he would leave at night and come during the day. Perhaps because the sun is setting now, he has left. That little beggar looked no more than four or five years old, truly pitiable."
Yun Shu's eyes moved, and she smiled, "If you see him again, give him a few taels of silver, and then you can get reimbursed by the steward."
"Yes, Miss!" The gatekeeper was surprised again, not expecting the young lady to be so kind!
Yun Shu then got into the carriage. The carriage kicked up dust as it departed.
A short while later.
Gu Xiao Feng returned to the side of the two beggars. The gatekeeper was stunned when he saw Gu Xiao Feng. He had just mentioned that the little beggar would leave at night, but he didn't expect the little beggar to arrive! Had he not left just now, but only stepped away for a moment? Remembering the young lady's instructions, he took two silver pieces from his embrace.