Luzhou Moon - Chapter 132
Yue Ruzheng was about to nod when Lian Junchu said, "It's getting late, so we won't disturb Madam Jiang any longer. We'll visit her tomorrow."
Qian'er was taken aback. Lian Junchu smiled faintly again, "Please don't mention meeting Ruzheng when you get back, lest the senior think we are impolite."
"Okay." Although Qian'er didn't know why he didn't take Ruzheng back today, she saw that the two of them were already a couple, so she agreed without hesitation. Because she was in a hurry to get back, she didn't chat with Ruzheng any longer, got off the carriage, and hurriedly headed towards the outskirts of the city.
After Qian'er left, Lian Junchu instructed the driver to find a place to stay. On the way, Yue Ruzheng looked at Lian Junchu and asked, "Why do we have to see my master again tomorrow?"
Lian Junchu lowered her gaze, sat upright opposite her, and said, "I'd like to go during the Yinxi Xiaozhu sacrificial ceremony tomorrow; it would be more solemn that way."
Yue Ruzheng paused for a moment, then said, "Uncle Yu will be there tomorrow too. I think it would be safer to talk to Master today and make things clear. Otherwise, if we suddenly show up tomorrow, people might not believe what we say..."
"Ruzheng, you don't need to worry about these things," Lian Junchu said gently, as if comforting her.
"I'm worried that Master will think we're lying to her." Yue Ruzheng knew that although her master rarely got angry, she was extremely stubborn, especially when it came to things she believed in, she wouldn't allow others to question her.
When Lian Jun first saw her looking so worried, she could only sigh, "Ruzheng, why have you become so timid?"
Provoked by him, Yue Ruzheng glared at him and said, "I'm just afraid that Master will look down on you even more because he's angry!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake and hurriedly tried to explain, but Lian Junchu said, "What does it matter? I know you like me, that's enough."
"Little Tang, how could you be so shameless?" Yue Ruzheng couldn't help but pounce on him. Just then, the carriage suddenly jolted, and she swayed, involuntarily sitting on his lap and hugging him tightly. His eyes held a clear smile, which made Yue Ruzheng's heart flutter.
She leaned against his shoulder, ran her hand along his eyebrows and eyes, and whispered, "I really like you, Tang."
Lian Junchu leaned close to her, their breaths almost mingling.
"Ruzheng..." He seemed to have thought for a long time before finally speaking the words that had been hidden in his heart, "Actually, I've wondered before, what exactly do you like about me..."
Yue Ruzheng opened her eyes wide, turned his face to face her directly, and said seriously, "Don't you think there's anything about you that's worthy of my affection?"
Lian Junchu smiled and said, "No. It's just that I wanted to ask you before, but now I don't have to."
Yue Ruzheng blinked, then smiled, "I'll tell you later."
"Mmm." Lian Junchu's heart was stirred by her bright, star-like eyes. Seeing him lost in thought, Yue Ruzheng couldn't help but kiss his lips. Just then, the coachman outside suddenly called out, "Young master, we've arrived at the inn."
The two people who were already huddled together were startled by the loud voice and quickly separated.
"What bad luck!" Yue Ruzheng muttered indignantly, full of helplessness.
After having dinner in the room, Yue Ruzheng made his bed. Lian Junchu sat to the side and said, "Actually, I can do it myself."
"I know," Yue Ruzheng replied without looking up, "but it's still cold, and I don't want you to work barefoot."
Lian Junchu smiled slightly and walked behind her. "So your hands are sticking out now too? Don't you do anything all day?"
Yue Ruzheng paused, seemingly having never considered this question before, "That does make some sense..."
He sat down sideways, kicked off his boots, and pulled the blanket up with his foot, saying, "So you're overthinking it."
Yue Ruzheng sat on the bed, watching him casually tidy the bedding, as if he were in the mountains. From the first day she met Xiao Tang, she knew he had no hands. She had been surprised and reserved at times, but as time passed, their relationship gradually changed, and she had long since grown accustomed to watching him do things this way. Even so, looking at his young and handsome face, and the incongruous sight of his drooping sleeves, Yue Ruzheng still felt a pang of melancholy.
Lian Junchu smoothed out the bedding, looked up and saw Ruzheng lost in thought, so she sat up straight and asked, "Ruzheng, what are you thinking about again?"
Yue Ruzheng gave an awkward smile and said, "It's nothing, I was just looking at you."
Lian Junchu gently placed his right foot on her lap, and Yue Ruzheng quickly pulled the blanket over him. He said with a hint of helplessness, "You really don't need to treat me like someone who can't endure hardship."
"I just care about you..." Yue Ruzheng felt a little wronged, pressing down hard on his foot, "Are you asking me to ignore you?"
"No." Seeing her sitting listlessly, Lian Jun thought for a moment and could only say, "Then you should keep an eye on me."
Yue Ruzheng smiled and said, "I think you're acting a little strange today..."
He paused for a moment, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
Yue Ruzheng smiled slyly, "You seem to be talking more than usual."
Lian Junchu breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "Then I'll shut up."
"Tell me quickly, why aren't you as cold as before?" Yue Ruzheng put her arm around his waist, moved closer to him, and deliberately pretended to be fierce.
Lian Junchu simply shook his head, and indeed, he said no more. Yue Ruzheng tried everything—biting, pinching—but nothing would get him to answer; she only exhausted herself in the process. Dejected, she lay down on the edge of the bed, weakly saying, "Little Tang, you really are stubborn."
Unable to move, Lian Junchu could only say, "You really want to know?"
"I don't need you to tell me now." Yue Ruzheng rolled over, changed her position, and lay on his lap. "Actually, I know... Are you just teasing me to stop thinking about tomorrow?"
His gaze was gentle, and he smiled faintly, as if in response. Yue Ruzheng felt extremely calm and tender. She casually let her long hair down and rested her head on his lap, taking a quiet nap.
At this moment, a breeze began to pick up outside the window, and it seemed that the weather might change again tomorrow.
The next morning, Yue Ruzheng got up and opened the window. Sure enough, she felt that the wind was quite strong, the clouds were low and the sunlight could not penetrate for a while, and the whole sky looked gray and gloomy.
She was dressed lightly and was about to close the window and put on more clothes when she saw Lian Junchu standing downstairs, seemingly gazing at the distant horizon. In the cold wind, his back looked somewhat lonely. Yue Ruzheng frowned unconsciously. She hadn't felt this way in a long time. For some reason, looking at him today, a slight melancholy welled up in her heart.
Perhaps it was because she was about to return to Yinxi Xiaozhu to visit her master that she was having these wild thoughts... She comforted herself with these thoughts and silently turned away.
After going downstairs, she asked Lian Junchu why he was standing downstairs so early in the morning. He replied casually, "Making some preparations for what's coming up later."
Yue Ruzheng didn't quite understand what he meant, but seeing that he didn't seem inclined to explain in detail, she didn't press him further. After leaving the inn, the two took a carriage directly towards Yinxi Xiaozhu. On the way, Yue Ruzheng hesitated and said, "Xiao Tang, I need to discuss something with you."
"Hmm?" Seeing her hesitant manner, he knew it must be related to Yinxi Xiaozhu.
"If my senior uncle is here later, could you please not confront him on the spot?" Yue Ruzheng knew that once Su Mucheng's words were confirmed, given Lian Junchu's personality, she might not say much and would directly attack Yu Hezhi. Although she wouldn't side with her senior uncle, she was concerned about her master.
"Even if my master is really as Su Muchen said, given my master's temperament, she wouldn't allow anyone to fight within the Yinxi Xiaozhu sect..." Yue Ruzheng was conflicted, so she took this opportunity to tell him.