"Thank you for your concern, Father," Chu Luan replied.
Ever since the inexplicable and severe illness that followed her kneeling in the ancestral hall, Chu Xu had always carefully analyzed the emotions behind everything Chu Luan said. Yet she rarely revealed any emotion, which frustrated him. Seeking to prove his innocence, he said, "Your father truly worries about you."
"I am not pretending," Chu Luan stated.
Seeing that she had no desire to exchange pleasantries, he wondered whom she took after. It choked him with frustration just looking at her. "Enough. Chu Ling came to see me just now."
Chu Luan understood immediately. Chu Ling rarely even stepped outside his bedroom door, so the fact that he had actively sought out Chu Xu could only be about the guard.
Sure enough. "He said that since Zhixia is a woman, lacking the strength and martial arts skills of a man, you still ought to have a male bodyguard."
Chu Luan flatly refused again, "There is no need."
Chapter 28: Returning the Favor
Chu Xu tried to persuade her further, hoping to make her change her mind, but she suddenly stood up. "Father, I am somewhat tired and will return to my chambers first." With that, waiting for neither of them to react, she returned to her own courtyard alone.
***
"My lady..."
She gazed straight ahead. Beneath the osmanthus tree, it was as if that dark figure had never truly faded away.
"My lady, please step back behind your subordinate."
Two trails of clear tears slipped down. She smiled bitterly and turned her head aside, and when she looked back, her cheeks were stained with tears. With a trace of reproach and resentment, she accused, "Wei Wei, oh Wei Wei, just how much longer are you going to haunt me?"
Clearly, it was you who cast me away in the beginning; why won't you let me go? You have taken root in my life like an omnipresent shadow.
Perhaps the one who refused to let go was actually herself.
The next day, as Chu Luan was resting in the manor, Uncle Du delivered an invitation stating it had been sent from the residence of Official Lin.
Chuiju walked in carrying a basin of hot water and saw Chu Luan place the invitation in front of her dressing table, her right index finger tapping against it with deliberate lightness.
Sensing Chu Luan's hesitation, she spoke first: "Is the my lady considering whether or not to attend?"
Chu Luan did not reply, taking it as tacit consent.
Chuiju wrung out a handkerchief and brought it over for Chu Luan to compress her wound before applying ointment later. The medicine Xuan Jun had given her worked remarkably well; within a single day, scabs had already begun to form. "I heard that Official Lin also has a daughter of about your age, my lady. If you go, perhaps you could make a friend. Besides..." She glanced at the oiled paper umbrella resting neatly in Chu Luan's room. "Didn't you say you haven't found the right opportunity to properly repay him for delivering the umbrella that day? Why not take this chance to prepare some gifts to send him as a token of goodwill?"
Goodwill was hardly necessary; she was no precious prize, and tangling herself with others would likely bring no good. As long as she didn't make enemies, that would be enough.
After applying her medicine, Chu Luan instructed Chuiju to fetch some Jiangnan specialty silks, jewelry, and an inkstone from the storehouse and pack them up so she could take them as a gift to the Lin residence later. Chuiju went off to handle it with a cheerful smile. Chu Luan changed into a light blue cloud-brocade dress, called two maidservants to style her hair into a simple and elegant bun, adorned herself with jewelry, and left with the invitation.
The Lin family was primarily hosting a birthday banquet for Lin Zhiyi, and the fabrics she had just chosen were all the latest patterns, suitable for a young lady.
The Lin family traditionally valued frugality; even Lin Bozhou's coming-of-age ceremony had only included a few close ministers and imperial princes. Now that Lin Zhiyi was reaching womanhood, the rules remained the same.
Ordinarily, Official Lin and Chu Xu did not run in the same circles, but he could not resist Madam Lin, who insisted on sending an invitation to Chu Luan.
By the time Chu Luan arrived, the guests had mostly assembled.
Madam Lin was inside greeting distinguished guests and seating them.
Lin Zhiyi, dressed in colorful garments, was chatting and laughing with the Ruan sisters and several other young ladies from Capital noble families.
The daughter of Official Gu asked, "Have all the guests not arrived yet? Why hasn't the banquet started?"
Lin Zhiyi deliberately kept them in suspense. "You wouldn't know—there's still one very important person who hasn't come."
Qin Yuan felt curious. Who could be so important that the Lin family would specifically wait for them? Could it be some royal aristocrat? Yet looking at the princes present—aside from Prince Xiū, the Fourth Prince, and the Fifth Prince—everyone else had already arrived.
"Just who is it that's being so mysterious?" Murong Xiaoge teased.
"You lot wouldn't know. She is, after all, my mother's most favored choice for a daughter-in-law!" Having drunk some wine and possessing an unrestrained personality, Lin Zhiyi blurted it out directly.
This left Lin Bozhou, sitting at the neighboring table, sweating profusely.
The Imperial Academy students, led by Ye Cheng, all began to tease him. "Well, Bozhou, when did this happen? Do I know the lady? Would you like your elder brothers to vet her for you?"
"Indeed, Bozhou, what is the lady like?"
"Bozhou, you sly dog."
Lacking eloquence, Lin Bozhou could only defend himself frantically, "Do not slander the lady's reputation; do not slander the lady's reputation."
"Bozhou, don't be shy. If you aren't proactive in these matters, someone else will claim her."
"Madam—" Huiniang, the capable assistant by Madam Lin's side, ran up with a smile. "Madam, she has arrived."
Madam Lin was overjoyed upon hearing this, hastily calling upon Lin Zhiyi and Official Lin to help host the distinguished guests while she went out to welcome the newcomer herself.
Seeing this, Ye Cheng realized the rumor was likely true and urged the students to go and see who this future sister-in-law really was. "Our teacher has hoped for so many years only that you would soon marry and have children. Now that you've finally found someone your whole family likes, you must seize the chance.Murong Xiaoge's interest was also piqued, and she called upon Wei Li and Murong Jin to go watch the commotion.
Lin Bozhou was still offering clarifications. "Don't frighten the young lady; nothing is settled yet, do not blemish her innocence."
Yet he found himself pushed forward by the crowd, stumbling a step.Murong Jade laughed. "Xiyun, which family's daughter do you suppose Madam Lin has set her sights on? To value her so greatly."
Wei Li merely gave a faint smile and did not reply.
As Madam Lin and Chu Luan walked together, talking, they paid no heed to the commotion ahead; Ye Cheng and his companions were solely focused on rushing to see what the legendary woman looked like and who she might be. In their haste, they accidentally pushed Lin Bozhou forward with too much force.
Seeing someone stumble toward them, Chu Luan hurriedly pulled Madam Lin behind her. Looking closer, she saw the artificial rockery directly in front of the man, its stones hard and jagged. Before he crashed into it, Chu Luan stepped forward, planted one foot against the rockery to brace the impact, and used her uninjured hand to catch Lin Bozhou.
When Lin Bozhou finally regained his senses, he saw the face from their hurried parting last time once again before him. Turning instantly as frightened as a quail, he quickly stood up and expressed his gratitude.
Madam Lin stepped forward, first scolding Lin Bozhou for his clumsiness and then praising Chu Luan's quick reflexes and agile martial arts.
Ye Cheng was dumbfounded. He never imagined that a wooden block like Lin Bozhou would fancy a woman like Chu Luan—could he possibly handle her?
"We truly owe thanks to the Princess for saving this fool." The more Madam Lin looked at Chu Luan, the more pleased she became.
Chu Luan felt somewhat embarrassed under her gaze. She quickly gave a subtle look to Chuiju behind her. "It was merely a trifle. By the way, today is Sister Zhiyi's coming-of-age ceremony, and I have specially prepared a modest gift. Please accept it, Sister, and do not disdain it." With that, she handed the various-sized gift boxes to Lin Zhiyi, who accepted them with a smile. "I had long heard that the Princess is a good person; seeing you today, you truly are a gentle and fine woman. I wonder who will be fortunate enough to take the Princess as his bride in the future." As she spoke, her gaze drifted repeatedly between Chu Luan and Lin Bozhou.
Chu Luan was no fool; the Lin family was treating her unusually well, and she easily guessed their intent. She knew she was hardly a woman of great fortune; in terms of character, she could hardly be considered noble, nor did she possess the talent and beauty of many official daughters in the Capital.Furthermore, she still had many matters unresolved, possessed only fragmented memories of her previous life, and her teacher constantly urged her to build a good relationship with Murong Jin. She truly ought not to delay this young man, and so she had to find a way to make her stance clear.
Taking the packaged inkstone from Chuiju's hands, she handed it to Lin Bozhou. "Speaking of which, Chu Luan has yet to repay Young Master Lin for the umbrella he lent me last time. This is a fine inkstone produced in Jiangnan; please accept it as a return gift."
Just as Lin Bozhou reached to take it, Ye Cheng snatched it away. "Let me see the texture of this Jiangnan inkstone!" Before Lin Bozhou could stop him, he had already opened the box. A faint fragrance of ink wafted out, prompting Ye Cheng to praise, "Truly a fine piece. I doubt one could find many in the Capital to match this."
Lin Bozhou trusted Ye Cheng's eye for such things, and he promptly thanked Chu Luan again. "The Princess is most thoughtful."
Madam Lin echoed the sentiment. "Indeed, Your Ladyship, to be willing to part with such a fine treasure for Bozhou."
"It is merely an object. As a young woman, I have little use for it anyway, so it is better given to Young Master Lin. At least its value is put to proper use." Chu Luan's words were true; she possessed many such fine inkstones, all bought for her by Xuan Jun back in Jiangnan. It was a pity her handwriting only grew more "flowing" over time, without ever settling into serious practice, leaving them to sit unused and wasted.
"I imagine it's not that she has little use for it, but rather that she lacks the literary talent and has no use for it at all," Ruan Yingying sneered.
Chapter 29: Wei Wei
Hearing the voice, Chu Luan looked over, and Ruan Yingying visibly shrank back the moment their eyes met.
What kind of look was that? Did she want to eat her? Ruan Yingying felt a twinge of unease, but comforting herself with the thought that there were too many people here for Chu Luan to do anything to her, she relaxed.
To her surprise, Chu Luan merely glanced at her once, paid her no further mind, and followed Lin Zhiyi to her seat, picking up her cup of tea to sip it slowly.
Finding no sense of superiority in Chu Luan, Ruan Yingying began her snide commentary again. "Though the Princess lacks literary talent, her sharp eyes and self-aware mindset are rather admirable." Putting on airs, she took a sip of tea as if struck by a sudden realization. "By the way, I heard the Princess encountered assassins some days ago. I wonder how the Princess managed to survive the hands of so many killers, or perhaps why those assassins let the Princess go..."
Ruan Qianyan's parents had already separated, and she currently lived with her mother in the Duke's Estate, making her situation somewhat like a dependent. Ruan Yingying was the daughter of her third uncle, and finding it difficult to interfere too much in her behavior, she could only watch helplessly as Ruan Yingying courted trouble.
As the hostess of today's banquet, Lin Zhiyi felt a headache coming on as she surveyed the scene. "Miss Ruan, watch your tongue..."
Unfazed, Ruan Yingying stood up and addressed Murong Yu and the others. "It is no matter. Their Highnesses are perhaps curious as to how the Princess..."
*Clatter!* Chu Luan set her cup down, producing a crisp sound. Her left hand still held the small teacup, and the corners of her lips curved upward into a gentle smile. "This tea is quite pleasant. I wonder what variety of leaves Madam Lin used to brew this?"
Madam Lin had little desire to meddle in the affairs of the younger generation. Furthermore, the matter between Chu Luan and the Duke's Estate was common knowledge in the Capital; how could she not know of it? Seeing that Chu Luan intended to speak and ease the atmosphere, she was naturally glad to provide an answer. "You flatter me, Princess. These are merely wild tea leaves that Bozhou picks on the mountains when he has leisure. Though the tea is not famous, it has the effect of clearing heat and calming the mind, and the fragrance is quite fresh. If Your Ladyship is fond of it, I shall have someone prepare some and send it to the Marquis Manor."
Lin Bozhou's cheeks flushed red, while Ye Cheng wore an expression of disdain.
Chu Luan nodded, accepting the offer.
Ruan Yingying's discontent flared once more. "Hmph, truly someone from a barbaric land, unable even to appreciate tea. Who knows what sordid methods you used to make those assassins spare you—nothing that can bear the light of day..."
"Miss Ruan!" Unable to bear it any longer, Lin Bozhou spoke out in defense. "A lady's reputation is of the utmost importance. How can you casually slander her?"
"If she is truly innocent, why hasn't she explained how she escaped to this day? She has a stubborn life indeed. It's one thing that she cursed her own mother to death, but now my grandmother has fallen ill because of you these past few days. You truly are a jinx."
"Yingying!" Ruan Qianyan hurriedly stopped her, then curtsied in apology to Chu Luan. "My younger sister is young and ignorant; I hope the Princess will not take offense."
Chu Luan finished the last of her tea and stood up. Believing she intended to leave, Madam Lin hurried to stop her. "Princess..."
Chu Luan smiled faintly at her and walked over to Ruan Qianyan. The two women were of similar height, though Chu Luan was slightly taller; standing together, they presented a striking contrast. One was gentle and poised, the other detached and cold, each with their own distinct appeal.
"Is this apology sincere?" Chu Luan teased.
Remembering that she had just asked Chu Luan not to hold Ruan Yingying's actions against her, only for the other to offend her again, Ruan Qianyan was too ashamed to speak, so Chu Luan answered for her. "Apologizing time and again, only to transgress time and again—in your eyes, am I a fool meant to be taken advantage of?"
"What do you mean by that? Have I said anything wrong? Aren't you simply a jinx who brought about her own mother's death?"
"Yingying! Stop talking," Ruan Qianyan scolded. Chu Luan was now a Princess, and following her assassination attempt, the Emperor had showered the Chu family with tokens of consolation. Any fool could see the importance the Emperor placed on her. Ruan Qianyan did not believe that the Duke's Estate, a hollow facade of a household, truly had the capability to pit itself against the Zhenbei Marquis Manor. Though Chu Xu might not act on it, they were father and daughter after all—who could say for certain?
"Actually, it is nothing." The expression on Chu Luan's face remained calm. "I have heard similar words countless times, and some were far more venomous than this. At first, I told myself to be magnanimous and not to bicker with scum who wagged their tongues. But later I realized that dogs can never spit out ivory. Since I dislike what they have to say, I simply have to find a way to make them shut their mouths."
The expressions of those watching Chu Luan turned a kaleidoscope of colors. "When I first arrived in Jiangnan, anyone who looked at me with disdain, held a grudge against my family, or simply sought amusement would come before me to point fingers, humiliate me, and curse me. But ever since..." Chu Luan leaned forward slightly, drawing closer to Ruan Yingying, who was shielded behind Ruan Qianyan. "...I took a man by the throat with my bare hands, pulled out his teeth one by one, and severed the tendons in both his wrists, no one in Jiangnan dared to discuss my affairs to my face anymore. Even if they cursed me behind my back, they had to lock their doors and windows tight. Everyone in Jiangnan knows: 'Chu Luan is a person who repays every grievance.' As a young woman, if you were to lose your teeth, I fear you would not look very pleasing."
Now, not only Ruan Yingying, but even the other official daughters and several civil officials holding wine cups trembled slightly.
Lin Bozhou gazed at Chu Luan with a dull stare. He found it hard to believe that a woman with such a fine appearance, reclusive yet inwardly gentle, possessed such a ruthless side. This inevitably disappointed him; the woman he desired should be gentle, domestic, and talented, someone capable of sharing romantic poetry and moonlight with him, rather than a vicious and merciless character.
"You... you madwoman!" Ruan Yingying's voice trembled.
"I admit my temper is indeed poor, but asking me to act like a Bodhisattva, enduring and forgiving those who bully me a hundred times over, is something I cannot do." With those words, Chu Luan turned, ready to apologize to Madam Lin and depart.
Murong Xiaoge's interest was thoroughly piqued. Even as a princess, she lacked such unbridled freedom, and she was eager to know where the other woman found the audacity to be so willful. "Zhaoyue, have you always been so willful and unrestrained? Is it because you lean on the power of the Zhenbei Marquis and the National Preceptor?"
Hearing a light, melodic laugh, Chu Luan turned back, her brows carrying a faint smile. "I dare not. Chu Luan's arrogance is simply my nature. Besides... life is short, and I have no intention of changing."
Murong Jin watched that retreating figure, as if a ray of slanting sunlight had shone into his heart. Perhaps it was envy and appreciation; though he was an imperial prince, he possessed nowhere near Chu Luan's steadfast spirit. Despite her rugged background, she held an unyielding heart. She might be defeated, but she would forever fight on. A terrifying thought suddenly rose in his mind: *I truly wish to break her proud spine, just to see her yield to me.*
Following the commotion, Chu Luan offered her apologies to Madam Lin and prepared to leave. Madam Lin hastily instructed Lin Bozhou to accompany her out.
Once outside the Lin residence, Chu Luan told Lin Bozhou to turn back and not bother escorting her further.
Gazing at Chu Luan, Lin Bozhou hesitated before finally deciding to voice his thoughts. "Princess, heaven and earth have bounds, and all matters have rules. Going your own way in willful defiance is ultimately not the correct path."
He spoke with complete sincerity, wearing an air of severe earnestness.
Chu Luan smiled politely. "And how does Young Master Lin believe things should be?"
"Remaining true to oneself is naturally good, provided that such authenticity does not run counter to the grand principles of the Dao," Lin Bozhou replied.
Chu Luan remained unimpressed. "Young Master Lin, everyone has their own way of living. If one day the truth you pursue is rejected by everyone else, would you abandon your principles to follow the crowd?"
"I would carefully analyze whether my truths were mistaken..."
"Young Master Lin," Chu Luan interrupted him, "some matters have no right or wrong. Chu Luan knows full well that she is naturally flamboyant and unappealing to others. Yet I care nothing for that. Even if I must live out my days in solitude, I have no desire to become the sort of person you speak of."
"I..." Lin Bozhou wanted to say more.
A figure flashed by. Chu Luan's pupils dilated, her heart fluttering nervously, filled with disbelief yet overflowing with anticipation. "Wei Wei..."
Chu Luan spoke in barely a whisper, so Lin Bozhou did not hear her clearly and thought she was calling him. "What?"
Chuiju, having followed Chu Luan for so many years, heard her distinctly and hurried forward. "My lady, did you see wrong again?"
Chu Luan shook her head. She hurriedly grasped Chuiju's hand. "It's too much alike... it's as though... I must go look. You need not follow." With that, she brushed past Lin Bozhou without a second glance and gave chase.
Left behind, Lin Bozhou stood dazed and utterly bewildered.
Helpless, Chuiju could only offer an apology to Lin Bozhou before hurrying back into the Lin residence to find Qin Yuan to take charge.
Chapter 30: Jinyan Street
Despite hurrying in breathless pursuit, Chu Luan still lost the trace. Glancing around at her surroundings, she recognized the sign of the Yongcui Pavilion ahead and the mingling crowds of men and women pulling and tugging at one another, and realized she had arrived at the Capital's most chaotic and mixed district—Jinyan Street. This place was filled entirely with haunts of sensual pleasure.
Had that person deliberately lured her here? The man's posture was the spitting image of Wei Wei, and her inadvertent, hurried glimpse of his profile made the resemblance even more striking. Was this intentional, or merely a coincidence?
***
Inside the Lin residence, Chuiju whispered an account of what had just transpired to Qin Yuan.
Upon hearing it, Qin Yuan sprang to her feet in shock. "She's hallucinating again?"
Chuiju could not say for sure. When Wei Wei had first passed away, Chu Luan had fallen into a similar state of madness, nearly dying several times over. Yet how much time had passed since then? She had not shown any signs of abnormality recently.
"Did you manage to see that person's appearance?" Qin Yuan asked.
Chuiju thought back carefully. "...No. As Miss Qin knows, there are plenty of people with a similar build to that person; this servant truly couldn't tell."