Chapter 74: Chapter 72: Cousin?
Yun Ran thought she had gone to the wrong place, so she looked up at the sign. Yanyu Building and Lu Zhu Pavilion, there’s no mistake!
"Ayue."
A voice as gentle as the wind wafted into her ears. The man was already standing in front of her.
Yun Ran looked up at him, blinking gently, "Cousin...?"
The man in front of her wore a green robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, his eyebrows and eyes were as picturesque as a painting, indescribably elegant and refined.
He exuded a scholarly aura, without giving off a weak impression.
He was Yan Zichu.
Several times he rescued Lin Wanyue from Zhen Fantong’s clutches, and over the years he has been caring for her and attending to her needs.
He was like a beam of light in Lin Wanyue’s dark life, a touch of warm sun that illuminated her and warmed her cold heart.
"Ayue, has King Qin troubled you?"
"It’s all my fault for coming back too late! It’s cousin’s fault!"
"Ayue, what happened after I left the capital? How did things turn out this way?"
While Yun Ran was in a daze, Yan Zichu reached out and grabbed her shoulders, his expression complex.
The man’s eyes, as warm as ink jade, held worry, heartache, anxiety, self-blame, as if countless emotions were flooding his heart.
Yun Ran could see that he was truly nervous and worried about Lin Wanyue.
"Cousin, I..."
"Yue’er, Yan, why are you two standing at the door talking? Come in quickly."
Shen Weixi came over from the corridor holding a jar of Peach Blossom Brew, interrupting the two and immediately freeing a hand to pull Yun Ran.
"Yue’er, I just went to West Street to buy that Peach Blossom Brew you love most. Let’s go in and talk while we drink."
"Alright."
Yun Ran was led inside while taking the opportunity to observe her.
She wasn’t wearing the current women’s clothing, but was dressed in a sleek men’s outfit, with a high ponytail tied with a ribbon.
Her tall and graceful figure walked with a certain flair and ease, full of unrestrained charm.
At first glance, Yun Ran felt a great liking for this heroic-looking woman.
"Yue’er, I went with Mother to Luzhou to visit relatives last month, and as soon as I returned to the capital yesterday, I heard about your marriage. I went to Prince Qin Mansion to find you, only to be told that you had gone to the palace."
"I was originally planning to visit today, but luckily Yan found me, saying he wanted to see you. It wasn’t convenient for him to go to Prince Qin Mansion, so I took it upon myself to arrange for you to come here."
"What’s really going on between you and King Qin? You have no idea how I felt when I first heard the news..."
"I gathered some information, but I don’t believe it. What really happened? Is it that venomous Mrs. Qin forcing you? Tell me!"
Yun Ran looked at Shen Weixi, feeling as if with one word from her, Shen Weixi would next grab a knife and rush to Minister Mansion to chop someone.
Seeing her silent, Shen Weixi assumed she was frightened by Mrs. Qin’s tyranny, so she held her shoulder, "Yue’er, don’t be afraid! Speak out if you’ve been wronged."
"I know, Yan and I, those two idiots, weren’t here when you needed protection the most. We’re really worse than beasts!"
Speaking regretfully, Shen Weixi hammered her chest with her fist.
Yun Ran: "..."
Quietly raising her hand to wipe a drop of cold sweat from the corner of her eye, Yun Ran said softly:
"Weixi, don’t say that. You went with Mother for a visit, and cousin was on duty. Besides, you couldn’t predict the future, so how could it be your fault?"
Though that’s the reasoning, Shen Weixi and Yan Zichu couldn’t get over the hurdle in their hearts, one blaming themselves more than the other.
Especially Shen Weixi, who grabbed Yun Ran’s hand, as if making up her mind, "Yue’er, don’t go back tonight. I’ll take you away! We’ll leave the city overnight!"
Yun Ran: "???"