The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 42

Wanlan was stunned. "You mean you're going to tell Suxin everything? If she knows, won't she stop going to Junzhou?"

“Of course,” he said, his narrow eyes slightly lowered, a bitter smile playing on his lips. “The reason she insisted on going to Junzhou was because she suspected that the person secretly helping her and Lan Wu was the Prince of Yan. She wanted to confirm everything and then use that to negotiate with the Prince of Jin, hoping that the Prince of Jin would forgive the Prince of Yan.” Little did she know that the Prince of Yan had deliberately stirred up all the trouble. Su Xin’s actions were entirely wishful thinking, and in the end, she only ended up with the consequence of being delusional.

"Young Master Xue, you..."

Suddenly raising his eyes to look at her, Xue Weiji broke into a big smile. "I'm going to tell her everything. Even if I can't love her, I'll at least protect her from getting hurt again. I'm going to completely eradicate the Prince of Yan from her heart!"

He would rather let her die than allow her life to be threatened again.

Chapter 47, Orchids Overflowing with Dew Like a Handkerchief (1)

Xue Weiji didn't even have time to implement his plan.

Things went off track and spiraled out of control overnight.

The next day, Wanlan had just gotten up and hadn't even finished combing her hair when Biyu rushed in in a panic, saying that her young mistress was missing! Wanlan was shocked and followed her to the west wing, where she saw that the brocade quilt inside was slightly lifted, but it was already as cold as water, indicating that the mistress had long since left.

"Have you searched the house? Are there any clues?"

"No," Biyu was on the verge of tears, her face deathly pale, her eyes slightly red, and her anxiety was palpable. "When I got up early this morning, I didn't hear any movement from the inner room. I thought Miss was still sleeping, so I went downstairs to get her some hot water. As it was getting light, I went in to call her, but I didn't expect that Miss wasn't in the room at all! I asked the steward and the others to look for her everywhere, but... Miss isn't here at all!"

Wanlan choked, trying to remain calm as she clenched her fists. "Where is your young master?"

"Young Master just heard that Miss was missing, so he took Fengxing out to look for her, but—there's not a single clue. How are we supposed to find her?" Biyu was so anxious that she paced back and forth.

Wanlan hurried to the bedside and sat down, her fingers slowly stroking the corner of the brocade quilt that had been lifted. Her gaze was fixed on the other side of the quilt, which was perfectly tidy. If someone had sneaked in and taken her away, to avoid waking Biyu who was sleeping on the couch in the outer room, the person would have definitely lifted the quilt completely inward before carrying her away. The quilt wouldn't have been lifted by only such a small corner. So, Suxin must have lifted the quilt herself, meaning she disappeared after getting out of bed.

Last night, she talked with Xue Weiji and the others until late into the night. If Su Xin had gotten up last night, the faint candlelight in the east wing would not have escaped her notice. She began to suspect that Su Xin had overheard their conversation last night. But if that were the case, why didn't she come to ask them, but instead left quietly? And if Su Xin didn't leave on her own, then did the Prince of Yan's men risk infiltrate and take her away?

Regardless of whether Su Xin acted voluntarily or was forced, Zhao Dezhao is absolutely implicated.

Wanlan suddenly stood up and walked out of the inner room. "Which direction did your young master go?" Did he think the same thing as her?

Biyu quickly replied, "Southwest direction."

It was heading south towards Junzhou.

Wanlan nodded and turned to Xuan'er beside her, "Call Lan Wu here."

Before Xuan'er could answer, Lan Wu's steady voice came from outside the door: "Madam, Lan Wu is here. Please give me your instructions if you need anything."

Wanlan hurried out of the west wing and saw Lan Wu standing silently with his head slightly bowed outside the door. She pursed her lips and said firmly, "Lan Wu, you must take Biyu and go to Junzhou immediately. Regardless of whether Young Master Xue thinks the same way I do, Su Xin's disappearance is definitely related to Prince Yan. Go after him. If you encounter Young Master Xue, do your best to help him find Su Xin. Even if you don't encounter Young Master Xue, you must find Su Xin's whereabouts for me, understand?"

Lan Wu remained silent for a while, then looked up slightly at her bright eyes with hesitation. "Madam, since Miss Xue has been in trouble, it means that this place has been discovered. I cannot leave you."

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Wanlan said with a smile, understanding his concern. “Xuan’er and I will follow soon and will not stay here. The reason I asked you and Biyu to go first is that I hope you can catch up with Young Master Xue as soon as possible. Given how much he cares about Suxin, I’m worried that something might happen to him. Suxin’s body can’t take any more stress, so I’ll try my best to bring Biyu to her side to take care of her.”

Lan Wu remained standing still, his bright eyes meeting her smiling gaze. "Madam, I must protect you."

Wanlan frowned, looking at the unusually stubborn man in front of her. She naturally knew what he was thinking. She had left the capital without telling Zehua. Lanwu and Xuan'er would definitely not allow anything to happen to her. If this hadn't happened, she wouldn't have let the two of them leave her.

“Lan Wu, what we need to protect now is Su Xin. Although you risked your life to save her in Junzhou, she also covered for you. Now that she's in danger again, you have a responsibility to save her! Besides, I have Xuan'er by my side, what is there to worry about?”

"lady--"

"Biyu, hurry up and pack your things and leave with Lanwu. Remember to take your young lady's medicine and clothes with you."

Biyu paused for a moment, then quickly nodded, "Yes." She then went back to her room to pack her things.

"lady--"

Waving her hand to interrupt Lan Wu, who was eager to refuse again, Wan Lan's face turned cold as she stared at him intently. "Lan Wu, if you still respect me as your wife, then do as I say and send Bi Yu to Su Xin's side, and do your best to bring her to a safe place to wait for Xuan'er and me to arrive."

Lan Wu's face hardened, and his hand suddenly tightened as he gripped the long sword. Under Wan Lan's cold gaze, he abruptly turned around and strode away. Judging from his tense back, his emotions were probably quite high.

Xuan'er watched Lan Wu's retreating figure thoughtfully, then stood behind Wan Lan, pursing her lips.

Wanlan was somewhat surprised, raising her eyebrows as Lan Wu turned around. She knew that Lan Wen and Lan Wu were biological brothers, and she had heard that Lan Wu, as the younger brother, was more like the older brother, quite calm and reserved, very different from the cheerful and active Lan Wen. However, Wanlan had only met this person for the first time today and found that his personality was indeed quite dull.

Was he angry just now? However, his seemingly honest face was expressionless. If it were Lan Wen, he would probably have already shown his anger.

At 1:15 AM, Lan Wu and Bi Yu rode a fine horse together, heading swiftly southwest, watched by Wan Lan and Xuan Er.

At 3:45 AM, Wanlan and Xuan'er packed their belongings into the carriage and drove out of Luoyang.

Unbeknownst to them, their carriage had been followed ever since they left Luoyang.

Chapter 48, Orchids Overflowing with Dew Like a Handkerchief (2)

Under the scorching sun, traveling on the sweltering road was truly an ordeal. Wanlan even thought she might have heatstroke, as she was sweating profusely and felt extremely dizzy and uncomfortable. Fortunately, she had hired a coachman to help them travel before leaving the city; otherwise, Xuan'er would probably be feeling just as unwell as she was.

"Madam? Madam? Are you alright?"

With difficulty, Wanlan opened her eyes and gave the panicked girl a reassuring smile. She lay weakly on the bumpy carriage bed, her fingers lightly tapping Xuan'er's sleeve, signaling her to help her up. Her sweaty eyelids blurred her vision, preventing her from looking out of the carriage.

Outside the car was a hazy blue expanse, presumably the entire journey had been through these rolling green hills.

Where are we?

Xuan'er carefully supported her, letting her lean against her, and reached for the tea on the table to feed her. Then she replied, "Madam, we have entered Ruzhou territory. Please hold on a little longer. After we enter the city, Xuan'er will find a doctor to take a look at you."

Wanlan rubbed her dizzy forehead, gripping the window sill with one hand and blinking rapidly. The scenery rushing past outside the car made her dizzy and even more disoriented.

"Ruzhou?" Wanlan murmured the place name, trying hard to concentrate on this somewhat unfamiliar place. Where was Ruzhou? They had been away from Luoyang for several days. For the first few days, they were in good spirits, but after missing a town and spending the night at a farmhouse, they probably caught a chill and were then stuffed up by the daytime heat, which caused them to fall ill.

“Yes, once we pass Ruzhou, we’ll reach Nanyang. Nanyang is only a day or two away from Junzhou. Let’s rest in Ruzhou for a few days first. If we continue to travel so hastily, your body won’t be able to handle it. If the Prince finds out, Xuan’er will definitely punish you.”

"Heh..." She chuckled softly, letting go of Xuan'er's supporting arm and leaning against the windowsill. Her misty eyes stared intently at the rolling green hills ahead, as if she were talking to herself, "If Zehua knew I was like this, not to mention you, even I would probably be quite reprimanded..."