The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 92

Zhao Defang was slightly startled.

He was terrified that Wanlan would press him for details, but he didn't expect her to give in so easily and not ask him anything at all. While he breathed a sigh of relief, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache for her.

He knew that Wanlan was enduring it all for his sake, but he couldn't share the burden with her at this time...

"Zhao Dezhao will be here too, right?"

After a long silence, Wanlan, who was carrying him, asked in a low, hoarse voice.

Zhao Defang was taking off her outer garment and sitting on the bed. Before she could even lift the covers, she was startled by the sudden question and replied, "Yes, my brother said he wants to stay here for another month before leaving."

The woman, with her back to him, stood straight and motionless. After a long while, just when he thought she wouldn't speak again, she suddenly spoke once more:

"So you're also coming back in a month?"

He unconsciously tightened his grip on the blanket, pursed his lips, and replied, "Yes."

This time, her body seemed to tremble slightly: "...Really? A month...I'll wait for you."

Unable to hold back any longer, he reached out and forcefully turned her stiff body around. But when his eyes fell on her tear-streaked face, he shuddered violently, his heart breaking as he bent down and pulled her into a tight embrace. A lump formed in his throat, and he almost couldn't speak—

"Wan...Wanlan, don't cry..." How could he bear to leave her like this?

"I'm fine."

She clutched his collar, buried her face in his chest, and trembled with suppressed emotions. "Zehua, I'm fine... don't worry." She was just... a little sad.

Zhao Defang pulled the blanket over her exposed body and said in a hoarse voice, "Wanlan, I will come back for you. You...you make me feel like a heartless person who is abandoning and betraying love. I—"

"I know!"

She bit her lip hard, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "I know you're worried about too much. You care about far more than I do. Don't worry, I'll always wait for you to come and pick me up. I'm just sad that we're always parting ways..." Also, I can't accept your easy request to leave me alone to spend all my time with your older brother.

He shouldn't have ignored her sensitivity.

If he really had business in the capital and couldn't take her with him, he could have easily settled her in Xingyang; there was no need for her to stay with Zhao Dezhao.

She understood his concerns, knew his worries, and even vaguely knew his motives. But in matters like this… simply understanding couldn't alleviate her panic and heartbreak. Faced with his insistence on leaving, besides feeling lost and tearful, could she selfishly ask him to stay for her?

No way!

"This is the last time! Wanlan, I promise you, this is the last time we will part!"

She simply closed her eyes and remained silent in his arms for a long, long time before finally responding softly:

"……Um."

Is this the last time?

Hopefully so.

Volume 5, Chapter 89, Misty Mist and Rain (1)

She and Zehua separated several times?

The first time was when she was tricked out of the capital, and Zehua accompanied the emperor to Xijing. The two were separated without knowing the truth. The second time was when she accompanied Suxin to Luoyang, and was later imprisoned in the Luoyang Palace by Emperor Taizu. Their separation was also caused by external factors. The third time was when she returned from Luoyang and was taken into the palace by Prime Minister Xue. He almost tried to intercept her on the way.

All three separations were not voluntary, but rather forced by circumstances or necessity.

This time, it was he who let go, and it was also she who... willingly let go in accordance with his wishes.

Yesterday's torrential rain turned into a light drizzle. It's almost mid-June, but the morning chill was refreshing because of the rain.

Wanlan, draped in a soft fur coat and holding a paper umbrella, leaned against the gate of the courtyard house. Her clear eyes quietly watched the gray carriage gradually disappear into the distance. Her face was calm, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

A month?

If Zehua knew what would happen in the next month, would he still be able to leave her so resolutely?

"Lan'er, come inside, it's cold outside."

Watching the carriage turn the corner and disappear from sight, Wanlan lowered her eyes to look at her hand tightly gripping the umbrella handle. Whether it was frozen stiff or something was wrong with her senses, she couldn't feel anything in her hand. (Wen-Ren-Shu-Wu-WR-SH-U)

Turning around to face the man behind her, who was also holding an umbrella, she smiled faintly, "Zhao Dezhao, I'm going back to Rongyang." She didn't want to know what Zehua and Zhao Dezhao had talked about last night, nor did she want to know whether his departure today was really to return to the capital or if he was lying to her. Sometimes, the more you think, the more tired you become, and your feelings will be worn away by your own thoughts. She didn't want to become like that.

Zhao Dezhao stepped closer to her. "Isn't this place nice? I heard from Defang that the houses in Rongyang are similar to this one."

almost?

The structures are indeed similar, but they feel very different, and the people who own them are also different.

Was Zhao Dezhao genuinely clueless, or was he feigning ignorance?

She tilted her head and glanced at him casually, asking directly, "Why did you keep me here?"

Zhao Dezhao remained silent for a long time, staring at her with his deep eyes, and slowly opened his lips, "Be my husband for a month."

Wanlan stared in astonishment, speechless.

To be his wife for a month?! Has Zhao Dezhao gone mad?!

"impossible!"

What exactly did he talk about with Zehua last night? Shouldn't he already know she's not his Lan'er? What does it mean to make this request today?

Zhao Dezhao smiled faintly, seemingly amused by her reaction. "It's not that I want you to be my husband in the true sense of the word. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do. I just hope... for the next month, you can let me act as your husband and pamper you as I please. Is that alright?"

"Can't!"