Gallinas y perros vuelan en el caos y el renacimiento

Capítulo 178

It's even more dangerous.

I just don't want her to experience the earth-shattering pain that Chu Zhen went through back then.

In no mood.

Leyan, you deserve a better path, better people, and better experiences in the prime of your life.

"If I have ever done anything wrong in the past that caused you to misunderstand," Chu Zhen heard a slight tremor in his voice, but as Shun's Grand Councilor, he would never fall easily, "I apologize."

He said.

He finally turned back and looked at her.

Tang Leyan looked at him and said, "What's there to apologize for? I don't want it."

Chu Zhen smiled slightly: "Le Yan, I am older than you and should know how to behave appropriately. If my actions have caused you to have inappropriate thoughts, it is naturally my fault. I apologize, but Le Yan, your feelings for me are just a temporary illusion. I... am your Uncle Zhen, and I am absolutely... never a suitable match for you in this lifetime. Do you understand?"

He smiled gently, and for a moment Tang Leyan felt that they had returned to how they used to be. Except, for the cold words he spoke…

“If you’re willing, I’ll still be your Uncle Zhen. We’ll just stay like this, peaceful and happy, just like before…” Chu Zhen reached out and touched her head. “You’re a smart and lovely child, just like… Ge Xing Ge Xun, in my eyes, Le Yan.”

"I'm not." Tang Leyan looked into his calm eyes. His words were gentle, like the warm winter sun. If he had used a few different words, they would have been so pleasant to hear, and she would have loved to hear them. But now, her heart felt as cold as if it were immersed in ice water.

The winter sun is bright and gentle, its light so captivating that it draws you in. Yet, it is winter after all, and beneath the sunlight flows a chilling, bone-deep cold.

This chapter brought me to tears.

As my votes climb slowly, my motivation to write more also dwindles. I'm reflecting on this.

You Were Born Before I Was Born Chapter 233 Wrong Wrong Wrong

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Everything is wrong now.

Chu Zhen's fingers touched Tang Leyan's hair. The smooth hair felt like brocade. His fingers slid down her hair and stopped on her shoulder.

Dejected, Tang Leyan left the Military Affairs Office and slowly walked forward along the street corner.

Feeling down and listless, I wish I could shrink into a tiny seed, hiding in a corner where no one could see me.

A feeling of "I have been abandoned" spread throughout my body, lingering and refusing to go away, causing me to sigh deeply.

She's so well-behaved and wonderful, why can't he love her even a little?

Forget about elders' feelings.

She didn't want to hear it either.

So what if she only had romantic feelings for him?

She tried to cheer herself up, but no matter how eloquently she spoke, Chu Zhen was determined not to give her another glance. What could she do?

Zhenzhen called to her, and the all-powerful woman secretly grieved and shed tears.

Such a dejected woman is a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

Unfortunately, someone else saw it.

"Hey, isn't that Guard Yue?" someone exclaimed.

Tang Leyan didn't hear it, or perhaps she didn't even realize it was a call for her, and continued walking forward in a sullen manner.

"Hey! Guard Yue!" someone shouted again.

Tang Leyan then noticed something, slowly stopped, and looked back. Several soldiers dressed in the colors of the Imperial Guard were walking in small groups along the street towards her. When they saw her, they all smiled and greeted her incessantly.

Tang Leyan was stunned for a moment before recognizing them. She had known these people since she worked in the palace; back then, she was bored there and spent a lot of time with them. She never expected that after so much time, they would still recognize her.

She stopped and called out, "Brother Zhang, Brother Chang, Brother Wu!"

The three men exchanged glances, secretly praising her good memory; at least she hadn't forgotten them. According to rumors, since leaving the palace, she had been working in the Grand Council and later appointed as the imperial envoy to bestow a marriage upon Danning, enjoying considerable success. Although they were very familiar with each other in the palace, in the treacherous world of officialdom, turning one's back on someone is commonplace.

Just now, seeing that person in red, I called out with a glimmer of hope, but I never expected that this person would actually remember them.

The three guards were overjoyed and quickened their pace to her side. The first one patted her on the shoulder: "Brother Le is truly a man of honor. You haven't forgotten about your brothers after all."

Tang Leyan gripped her fan, temporarily banishing her worries, and said with a smile, "Brother Zhang, what are you saying? May I ask where you gentlemen are headed?"

The man surnamed Chang said from the side, "We brothers aren't on duty today. We're resting. It's so boring in the palace, let's come out for a drink to relieve the boredom." Tang Leyan frowned as soon as she heard the word "boredom".

The guard surnamed Wu was quite quick-witted. Seeing her slightly furrowed brows, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Le looked so melancholy just now. Perhaps you also have something troubling you that you can't shake off?"

Tang Leyan agreed with what he said, and besides, there was no need to hide anything in front of these guards. She sighed deeply and said, "To be honest, my three brothers, I do have a difficult matter to deal with right now..."

Upon hearing this, the guards hurriedly asked what had happened. But she remained silent.

The four of them walked and talked until they reached the restaurant where the guards usually gathered. The three of them were also clever. Seeing that Tang Leyan remained silent, they knew that the matter might be difficult to handle, so they stopped asking. They called the waiter to bring a pot of wine and ordered some snacks to go with it. While drinking, they slowly talked about some anecdotes and interesting things that had happened to Shun recently, and occasionally they discussed some martial arts skills.

Before long, they suddenly heard a commotion at the stairwell. When they turned around, they saw several soldiers under the command of the Nine Gates Admiral, shouting as they came upstairs.

It turned out that it was time for them to change shifts, and a few of the brothers joined in the fun and came to the restaurant as well.

Tang Leyan and Chu Gexing had a "good" relationship. On a rainy night, several people saw Guard Le holding an umbrella for Lord Chu as he returned from outside the city, looking so affectionate. Therefore, those people were not unfamiliar with Tang Leyan. When they saw her sitting down in her striking red dress, they discussed it briefly and then came over to greet her.

Seeing their respectful attitude, Tang Leyan didn't want to go against their wishes, so she just gave them a perfunctory response.

The three Imperial Guards, however, were quite enthusiastic. The Imperial Guards and the troops of the Nine Gates had always kept to themselves, one responsible for the security of the palace, the other for patrolling the imperial city. Their interactions were minimal, and though unspoken, there was a mutual dislike between them. But now, with the soldiers of the Nine Gates showing goodwill to Tang Leyan first, the three Imperial Guards, who were with her, naturally felt their prestige greatly increased, and unconsciously became exceptionally polite in their speech.

The men from the Nine Gates only came to pay their respects out of respect for Tang Leyan. Seeing that the Imperial Guards were also quite warm, they also wanted to give Tang Leyan some face. After a while, since they were all rough and tough soldiers, those petty differences quickly disappeared. They called over a waiter, put two tables together, and ordered more wine and dishes. Everyone then chatted together in a lively atmosphere.

Before long, more Imperial Guards and generals from the Nine Gates came up. Seeing the two sides talking so enthusiastically, they joined in one after another. In no time, the table was pushed up to be bigger and bigger, the voices grew louder and louder, and the scene was harmonious and lively.

As the matchmaker between the two factions, Tang Leyan sat in the chief seat, slowly sipping her wine and watching the excitement. She listened to the loud shouts of everyone competing to see who could shout the loudest, and for a moment, she did not feel lonely.

Because apart from her, everyone around her was a grown man. After the group of men finished talking about interesting things in the city and sparring with each other, the rest of the conversation naturally turned to women.

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation turned a bit inappropriate for children. People from different places started exchanging information, such as which brothel in Shundu had the prettiest and most charming girls, which girls loved money and which were more gentle and considerate, which establishment had both beauty and talent, and which was more expensive. Tang Leyan couldn't help but laugh and shook her head vigorously.

Sitting next to her was Guard Wu, a quick-witted man who had noticed Tang Leyan's melancholy from the beginning. He also observed that no matter what anyone said, she seemed listless. He had been secretly observing her, and only now, when she suddenly smiled, though the smile still carried a hint of bitterness, did it seem as if the storm had passed. After thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Le, do you have a sweetheart in the city?"

Tang Leyan was raising her glass to drink when she heard his words and almost spat out her drink.

As they remained locked in a stalemate, they suddenly noticed that the Imperial Guards and the Nine Gates Generals around them had also stopped drinking and were staring at her with wide eyes.

She was momentarily embarrassed. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she couldn't do anything, so she could only pretend to be calm and put down the cup. Then, in a moment of mischief, she sighed and shook her head in a pretentious manner.

The group exchanged bewildered glances. After a moment's thought, Guard Wu cautiously asked, "Could it be... that Guard Yue's worries are about this matter?"

Tang Leyan covered her forehead with her hand, shielding her eyes. Peeking through her fingers, she saw everyone's gaze still fixed on her face and inwardly groaned. Hearing what the guard said, she had no choice but to agree, "Yes...yes..."

"Brother Yue is an exceptional man; all the girls would flock to him. Is there any girl you'd like to bother you?"

Someone joked from the side.

Seeing that she was in a difficult situation, Tang Leyan simply acquiesced, slowly lowered her hand, and revealed a worried expression.

Seeing that she was really troubled, Guard Zhang comforted her, saying, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, why be hung up on just one? Brother Le, think positively. If that girl really doesn't appreciate your kindness, you can always find someone else."

These words stirred something within Tang Leyan. She thought of the saying "There are plenty of fish in the sea," and then she remembered Chu Zhen's advice to her, "I'm not a good match for you, you should find someone else..." Suddenly, she felt a surge of anger, slammed her hand on the table, and shouted, "I don't like anyone else, I only like him!"

In an instant, all four seats fell silent.

You Were Born Before I Was Born Chapter 234 Giving Advice

"I don't like anyone else, but I've taken a liking to him!" Tang Leyan slammed her hand on the table and shouted.

Suddenly, all around fell silent. The Imperial Guards and the Nine Gates generals stared at each other, wide-eyed, at her.

A moment later, a shout of "Bravo!" rang out from the side. It turned out that Brother Chang was drunk and couldn't tell what was happening around him. He only heard someone shout a loud and clear voice, so he also cheered.

It was fortunate that he made that sound. Everyone cheered, "Great! Great!" or "Brother Le has ambition!"

Everyone started talking at once, and things became chaotic again.

Tang Leyan slumped listlessly on the table, wishing she could find a hole to hide in. But then someone next to her called out, "Brother Le, don't be discouraged. As the saying goes, even a strong woman can be won over by persistent suitors. Which girl have you taken a fancy to, Brother Le? Why don't you tell us so we can all give you some advice? Many hands make light work!"

Tang Leyan shuddered, thinking to herself, "I've set my sights on the Grand Councilor of the current dynasty, a first-rank minister. Do you all dare to give me advice?" She was afraid that if she said that, they would all run away without a trace.

Thinking of this, she could only give a bitter smile and say, half-jokingly, "The person I've taken a liking to... is so arrogant, he won't even glance at me. I'm such a failure as a person..."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt sorry for her. Seeing her dejected appearance, and how the handsome young man, usually so dashing and spirited, had suddenly been subdued by a young woman, they were immediately filled with sympathy and offered various suggestions. Many others wondered who this "young lady," who had caught her eye but refused to reciprocate, was, to be so arrogant.

Tang Leyan listened to their chatter and couldn't help but smile wryly. Someone said, "Don't be discouraged, brother. You're in such good shape... You're probably just young and inexperienced. Come over here and let your older brother teach you a thing or two."

Someone else said, "Don't teach those underhanded tricks. The key now is to get this sorted out first."

The man snorted, "I think, dealing with a girl like this, there's no need to waste words. How about... hehe, just force yourself on her..."

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of laughter engulfed his voice.

Hearing such shocking words, Tang Leyan frowned and thought for a while, then smiled bitterly and shook her head repeatedly. But then another person had a sudden inspiration: "That's right, we can't force it. How about we drug them? There's a kind of drug that will make the girls unconscious."

"The kind you're talking about is the kind of drug used in brothels, right? It's used to manipulate disobedient young girls in many brothels."

Tang Leyan listened to their increasingly absurd remarks. She couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, remaining noncommittal but merely smiling with a furrowed brow.

Seeing that she was frowning and looking sullen, even her smiles were forced, the guard couldn't help but ask, "Brother, which girl have you taken a fancy to?"

Tang Leyan stared at the glass of wine in front of her and said, "It's useless. So what if the Chinese website knows... They don't even want me..."

The guard was enraged. He roared, "Brother, you are a young and talented man. What minister's daughter would be so arrogant?"

Tang Leyan sighed, "...There's nothing we can do, everyone has their own preferences." She couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat as she said the last sentence.

Looking at her troubled expression, the guard found her rather pitiful. Normally, this type of woman, unlike his rough and timid brothers, was handsome and refined; she would attract girls' admiration anywhere. How could she not be popular? That girl must be blind. The guard was wholeheartedly concerned for Tang Leyan, never imagining that the one she loved was a man.

These imperial guards, who frequented the palace and were associated with many military personnel, were in charge of the safety of the capital. Patrolling daily, they had seen and heard everything. Seeing Tang Leyan's pitiful, worried expression, they rolled their eyes, lowered their voices, and leaned close to her, saying, "This little girl is so clueless and doesn't know what's good for her. Otherwise… Brother Le, you might as well just force yourself on her…"

Tang Leyan was taken aback, resisting the urge to spit out her wine, and shook her head with a half-smile.

Seeing that she disagreed, the guard exchanged a wink with the man surnamed Zhang opposite him.

Seeing this, the guard Zhang understood and whispered, "Brother, don't be afraid. This little girl who's giving me such a headache deserves to be taught a lesson. If you don't want to force me, I can get you some soft bone powder or aphrodisiacs. I guarantee you'll have her in no time."

Tang Leyan was startled by these words and wanted to decline, so she slowly said, "This isn't a good idea... How will this be handled later?"

“Brother, have you forgotten what it means to make something out of nothing? Once this is done, everything will be easy,” Zhang said, patting his chest. “Listen to your elder brother, you won’t go wrong.”

"Trying to make it a done deal?" Tang Leyan grinned bitterly.

A junior officer from the Nine Gates, who had been listening for a long time, leaned over and asked, "Brother Le, it's your good fortune to have taken a fancy to any girl. How can you be so ungrateful? If you don't want to step in, it would be good if your older brothers could help you out."

They were all Chu Gexing's subordinates and had always respected and loved him. Knowing that Chu Gexing had always been on good terms with Le Yan, they immediately took her affairs as their own, patted their chests and took full responsibility, vying to ask her who she had fallen for.

Tang Leyan glanced at this person and then at that person, thinking that if this continued, it would never end. Besides, she had been trying to drown her sorrows in alcohol, and with no one around to supervise her, she had unknowingly drunk about 70% of her fill. If this continued, who knew what might happen? She coughed lightly, raised her half-full glass of wine, and said in a conciliatory tone, "Alright, alright, I've remembered all your advice, brothers. For now, I won't trouble you all… Let me… cough cough, let me offer my toast first…"

Before she could finish speaking, a sudden silence fell over the surroundings, leaving only her voice, which remained unfinished, stuck in the middle.