La lluvia primaveral es como el vino, los sauces son como el humo

Capítulo 46

The man driving the car wore a straw hat and kept his head down. Those familiar with the Yan family knew him to be Yin, the second young master's right-hand man. No one knew his exact name anymore, but everyone called him Uncle Yin, just like the second young master.

Only two people followed beside the car. One was tall and strong, and despite the cold November weather, he was shirtless, his muscles bulging impressively. Upon seeing the giant axe he was carrying, Shu Jun's brows suddenly furrowed—he wondered what methods Yan Yufei had used to recruit the monstrous giant they had encountered at Chuying Garden.

The clatter of hooves mingled with the dragging of chains. The giant's eyes rolled back, drool dripped from his mouth, and his expression was blank. A collar was around his neck, connected to an iron chain. The chain was long, with most of it dragging on the ground, the other end held in a slender, snow-white hand.

She was a slender and delicate young girl with clear and bright eyes. She had a jade hibiscus pinned to her waist, and she was more beautiful than the flower.

As the carriage continued on its way, a young man's voice suddenly rang out from inside: "Ningning, Young Master Yang has woken up. Come and serve him."

The girl agreed, handed the iron chain to Uncle Yin, and respectfully boarded the carriage.

The car door opened for only a moment, but it was enough for Shu Jun to see the person inside. Yan Yufei looked gently at the boy lying half-reclined opposite him—it was Yang Shen. He seemed to be injured, half of his body was covered in blood, and his lips moved as if he were saying something.

The carriage door slammed shut, and the carriage continued on its way, gradually disappearing into the thin mist.

Shu Jun frowned even deeper, turning to look at Yi Chun, who was lying unconscious on his shoulder. What would he say if she woke up and asked him again where Yang Shen was?

After all that trouble, they returned to the dilapidated temple by daylight. Little Pumpkin had somehow found them and was sitting by the door, hugging his knees and waiting anxiously. When he finally saw Shu Jun arrive, he burst into tears and ran over, grabbing Shu Jun's sleeve and refusing to let go.

"Master! Master! I've been waiting for you for so long! I thought you were dead!"

After saying that, she wiped her snot and tears all over her face onto his sleeve.

Shu Jun frowned and said, "You're making me so dirty! Let go! I've already bought everything!"

He picked up two earthenware jars from the ground, his face contorted with grief: "I really can't understand the master's crazy herbal prescription. Even the people at the pharmacy couldn't figure it out, so I had to buy two medicine mortars. Hit me, scold me all you want."

Shu Jun carried Yi Chun into the dilapidated temple and said, "Instead of wasting time on this hypocrisy, you should quickly fetch water to brew the medicine."

Little Pumpkin breathed a sigh of relief when he took out the medicine packet from his pocket: "I knew it, Master is capable after all."

The herbs were thrown into the medicine pot, a fire was lit, and the brewing process began. Little Pumpkin lay sprawled on the ground and sighed, "Master, I was unable to bring Young Master Yang with me."

Shu Jun said calmly, "You haven't found him?"

Little Pumpkin shook his head: "I did see him. He looked to be slightly injured and was talking to a woman. I called out to him several times, but he pretended not to hear me. In the end, he left with that woman. I wanted to chase after him, but I was worried about my master, so I came here first."

"A woman?" Shu Jun asked. "Is she a slender girl with delicate features? And a jade hibiscus flower pinned to her waist?"

Little Pumpkin's eyes lit up: "Master knows him? You really are a charming and romantic man with many romantic encounters. Could it be an old flame you know?"

Shu Jun flicked him on the head and said, "That's right, he's Yan Yufei's man. He did follow Yan Yufei after all."

At this point, he couldn't help but quietly look at Yichun, who had fainted on the ground.

Little Pumpkin looked at him, then at Yichun, and finally realized what was happening. He murmured, "Master, you wouldn't really..."

"Really what?" Shu Jun asked lazily.

He quickly laughed and said, "I mean, now is the time for our master to display his might."

Shu Jun wanted to reply with a half-smile and a "nonsense" as he always did, and the corners of his lips were even curled up, but he just couldn't bring himself to say those two words.

I hate this feeling.

He lay down on the ground, covered his eyes with his hands, and said coldly, "Little Pumpkin, throw that brat out! Don't worry about whether she lives or dies."

Little Pumpkin agreed and actually stood up to lift Yichun. He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he heard his capricious master yell, "Who told you to actually throw it away! Put it back properly!"

"So, following this kind of master is really tiring," Little Pumpkin sighed, shaking his head, and obediently laid Yichun in a comfortable position to continue sleeping.

Shu Jun covered his eyes and lay on the haystack, seemingly asleep as well, and remained silent for a very long time.

****

The carriage bounced gently on the uneven road, and the wound on Yang Shen's back throbbed with pain.

Ningning applied the medicine very gently, but it still inevitably irritated the wound. His arm trembled involuntarily, and Ningning immediately raised her hand and asked softly, "Does it hurt a lot?"

He didn't answer, but stared intently at Yan Yufei opposite him. After a while, he said, "Young Master Yan, you actually use lies to lure people into your trap. Where is my senior sister? Where is she?"

He had rushed out of Xiangxiangzhai, already injured. Although Shu Jun had told him to find Xiaonangua, Suzhou was a vast city with no landmarks, and he didn't know where to begin. Just as he was at a loss, he encountered Ningning.

“If Young Master Yang wishes to see his senior sister alive, then please come with me,” she said.

He had witnessed the methods of the Yan family before. Although he didn't quite believe that Shu Jun would fall into their hands, Yi Chun was poisoned after all, and Shu Jun was cold and strange. Who knew if she would really abandon her and run away? He had no choice but to go with Ning Ning.

Yan Yufei said calmly, "Young Master Yang, there's no need to be suspicious. Although Miss Ge isn't with me, she's been poisoned by a rare toxin, and only I have the antidote. Just come with me to get the antidote."

Yang Shen pursed his lips: "...So you want to use the antidote to force me to do things for you?"

Perhaps not expecting him to ask so directly, Yan Yufei paused for a moment and said in a low voice, "Putting aside the matter of the Yan family, I know that Young Hero Yang is burdened with a blood feud. A man living in this world should stand tall and upright. To be entangled in matters of love and forget the blood feud of one's parents would only invite ridicule."

Yang Shen's face turned pale, and he said in a deep voice, "I don't want to hear your lecture!"

Yan Yufei smiled gently: "I have little knowledge, how could I presume to preach? Young Hero Yang has his own plans, he just can't bear to part with Senior Sister Ling. Besides, it wasn't the Yan Clan that drove you to your deaths, but the rules of Jianlan Manor. Only one of you is destined to survive, but if you can inherit Zhanchun, Senior Sister Ling might still be able to save her life. When you avenge your blood feud in the future, whether you marry her or keep her as a mistress, it will be your own business."

Yang Shen remained silent, the curtains billowing in the wind, mirroring the turbulent emotions churning within him.

Yan Yufei's carriage stopped in front of an inn. As soon as he got out, the innkeeper, sweating profusely, came over and said repeatedly, "Young Master Yan! The guest you invited... has been causing trouble day and night, and today he even injured Xiao Chen, who boils water. Everyone... is almost at their breaking point!"

Yan Yufei remained silent, but Uncle Yin, standing to the side, revealed a look of disgust and whispered, "Young Master, we cannot let him tarnish the reputation of the Yan family."

He simply smiled faintly, without responding, and instead turned to invite Yang Shen to get out of the carriage: "I have booked this inn. Young Master Yang, please go upstairs. The doctor will be here soon."

Yang Shen followed him upstairs with a gloomy expression. Suddenly, he heard footsteps on the stairs, mixed with sobbing. A woman ran down the stairs and almost bumped into Yan Yufei.

He stepped aside, and Uncle Yin, who was behind him, blocked her way, frowning as he asked, "What are you doing now?"