Rêve de Jiangshan

Chapitre 174

Mu Wenchen turned around and looked at him, saying calmly, "It's Yuxuan. He's already gone back."

The emperor didn't seem to mind his attitude, as if he was used to it. He simply smiled and sat down, looking at Mu Wenchen's back as he said, "Chen'er, come sit next to me." Where was the dignity and seriousness he displayed in court?

Helpless, Mu Wenzuo walked over and sat opposite him, saying earnestly, "Brother, you should still call me little brother. I'm old enough." If Ru Feng heard him calling me Chen'er all the time, that little guy would definitely make fun of him.

The emperor merely raised an eyebrow, not agreeing. His sharp eyes swept over Mu Wenchen for a long while before he finally said, "Chen'er, you seem quite different this time you've returned. Did... something happen to you? Or was it someone?" He hesitated for a long time before saying the last sentence.

Mu Wenchen lowered his head and thought for a while before smiling and saying, "Brother, I met someone. I've wanted to tell you about it for a long time. In fact, I already have."

"Oh, who is it?" The emperor shook his head slightly, placed his hands together on the stone table, seemingly pondering, but a chilling glint flashed in his eyes.

Mu Wenchen remained silent for a moment, then said, "It's a girl. I like her, no, I should say I love her!" When he said this, his face was full of a happy smile. Ru Feng must have seen the flowers he gave her, right? Although he didn't understand what "romance" meant, he was still unhappy about being called a "blockhead" all the time.

With a "crack," the stone table in front of them shattered into pieces, the fragments flying everywhere, but none of them struck the two of them.

Mu Wenchen sat like a statue, seemingly oblivious to everything before him, his eyes fixed on the emperor without blinking.

"Girl, girl, do you know what a girl is? Could you be mistaken?" The voice sounded as if it were being squeezed out between clenched teeth.

Mu Wenchen looked at his hands, a smile on his face, his voice clear and melodious like the clinking of jade stones: "Of course I know what a girl is? Her body is different from mine, and I have never liked anyone so much."

It's as if everything has changed...

For a long time, neither of them spoke, and not even the chirping of birds or insects could be heard. It seemed that the world had become completely silent at that moment, devoid of any noise.

"Brother, aren't you happy for me?" Mu Wenchen finally spoke, tilting his head to look at him, his eyes filled with doubt.

The emperor then asked, "Chen'er, I remember telling you before that when I turned forty-five, I would abdicate and travel with you to enjoy the mountains and rivers, or find a place to live in seclusion. The two of us brothers could then enjoy ourselves, just like when we were children, as if there were only the two of us in this world." His eyes were filled with longing.

Mu Wenchen shook his head and said, "Brother, I don't remember making that promise. If I had made that promise, I would definitely remember it."

The emperor's eyes were fixed on the poems carved on the corridor wall, his own masterpiece, carved by his own hands... Could it be that their intimate life together was gone forever? Why had Chen'er changed so much in just over two years?

"Yes, you didn't say anything, but you didn't object either, so I took it as a yes. Alas, I was too confident!" The emperor sighed heavily. "Your Majesty, I'm tired of this. This isn't the life I want. If it weren't for... alas!"

"Tell me, who is that girl?" the emperor finally asked.

Mu Wenchen glanced at the emperor and said in a low voice, "Brother, I don't want to say it yet."

"Could it be related to Yuchi Rufeng? I remember this was the first time you suggested to me that you wanted to keep Yuchi Rufeng in the capital because he is your student and is intelligent and eager to learn." The emperor guessed, his eyes unfathomable, as deep and unfathomable as a deep pool, without showing any emotion.

Mu Wenchen neither nodded nor shook his head, but simply said, "I will tell my brother later."

The emperor snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and said, "Enough, enough. You've found someone else and you're already looking down on me, your brother. You don't even tell me about this anymore. It seems you don't trust me. What am I doing here? Just adding to your sadness!" With that, he strode out of the pavilion.

"Brother!" Mu Wenchen called out.

The emperor stopped abruptly, a look of delight on his face, but he didn't turn around. He simply asked in a low voice, "What?"

"Brother, don't make things difficult for them!" Mu Wenchen added.

The emperor's back stiffened for a moment. As he walked past the pond, he casually brushed the surface of the water. After the emperor left, the koi carp that had been swimming freely in the artificial pond suddenly turned belly up...

Mu Wenchen's eyes flickered, but he still picked up the white jade zither from the ground, stared at it carefully for a while, sighed softly, and looked in the direction where the emperor had disappeared.

After finishing breakfast, Ru Feng chatted with Zui Yue and the others for a while before changing his clothes and preparing to go to his appointment.

Wearing a carefree headscarf and a blue robe made of hemp, with a white jade flute tied at his waist and a white jade fan in his hand, Ru Feng was in high spirits, naturally delighted to see the long-lost Yu Jue. Passing by the crowd, he noticed several people sitting in the main hall. Before he could speak, he saw them all staring at him with wide eyes, so he laughed, "How about it? Isn't this young master handsome? Even Pan An and Song Yu are no match for him! Hehe..."

A woman in her fifties stared wide-eyed, mouth agape. This was an exceptionally handsome young man; to call him beautiful was no exaggeration. Though dressed in simple linen clothes, he possessed an innate elegance. His blue robe and white belt accentuated his fair skin, his beauty mark captivating, his demeanor graceful and ethereal. Most striking were his large, watery eyes, seemingly filled with starlight, capable of stealing one's heart with a single glance! The young man held a white jade fan, which, when he smiled, obscured half his face. His hands, holding the fan, were delicate and smooth, their whiteness surpassing even the fan itself!

The middle-aged woman exclaimed in shock, "This is...this is Yuchi Rufeng, the legendary little marshal, the grandson of General Yuchi?" After all, she was the most knowledgeable and shrewd matchmaker under the emperor's nose, so she quickly came to her senses and asked.

Ru Feng smiled and nodded, then asked with a hint of doubt, "And you are?" The person was dressed in red, adorned with jewels and flowers, and had a face covered in makeup. He was somewhat plump, but his features were fairly regular, suggesting he had been quite attractive in his youth. Although his expression was exaggerated at the moment, his demeanor was still quite good; he seemed to be a clever person, and not at all vulgar.

Could it be a relative? Ru Feng wondered, unable to understand when such a person had come to his house, as he hadn't seen him just now.

The middle-aged woman immediately stood up and bowed before saying, "Greetings, young master. I am Song, a matchmaker from a family of matchmakers in the capital."

Upon hearing this, Ru Feng's smile vanished, and he said, "Excuse me, please continue your conversation. I have to go now." With that, he lifted his robe and strode out of the main hall, ignoring the calls from behind. Ru Xue gritted her teeth and followed him out.

The remaining people exchanged bewildered glances. Lin Yilan was the first to recover, quickly trying to smooth things over, saying, "I'm sorry, Rufeng was too willful." Inwardly, however, she grumbled, "How could Rufeng be so rude? Even if she didn't like it, she shouldn't have made it so obvious, like she was running away." Luckily, the old man wasn't there, otherwise he would have scolded her again.

The matchmaker, Song, seemed not to hear Lin Yilan's words. She picked up the portrait in her hand and muttered to herself, "How can these women be worthy of the young master? Forget it, I'm not going to do this matchmaking anymore. I won't take any more business related to Young Master Rufeng." With that, she walked out absentmindedly, not even taking the portrait with her. Her servant quickly followed her.

Lin Yilan, Yuchi Song, and the butler looked at each other, unsure whether to be happy or worried.

They walked quickly and soon arrived at the gate. Ru Feng almost wanted to use his lightness skill, but he didn't dare for fear of aggravating his injuries.

"Little brother, wait for me!" Ru Xue's voice suddenly came from behind Ru Feng, which surprised Ru Feng.

Ru Feng paused, then turned to see that only Ru Xue and Xiang Ling were there, and breathed a sigh of relief. He then asked, "Sister, is something the matter?"

Ru Xue also walked up quickly, and by the time she reached Ru Feng, she was already slightly sweaty and panting.

Ru Feng shook her head and handed over a handkerchief: "Sister, you should exercise. You're so tired after just walking such a short distance. This isn't good. Your health is too poor, and you'll easily get sick."

Ru Xue playfully scolded her, "Do you think everyone is as restless as you? All you ever think about is running around. You just got back."

Ru Feng smiled and said, "Sister, is there something you need?" She then checked the time and thankfully, there was still plenty of time left.

Upon hearing this, Ru Xue's cheeks, already flushed from exercise, turned even redder. She glanced at Zhou Qian beside Ru Feng, who immediately and obediently went outside. For a moment, only Ru Feng and Ru Xue remained in the courtyard.

"Little brother, are you going to the Second Prince's place now?" Ru Xue asked softly, lowering her head.

Ru Feng suddenly realized and laughed, "Oh right, I forgot about that. Sister, is there anything you'd like me to tell him?"

Ru Xue rolled her eyes at her and said, "You're just making fun of me. Sigh, he's probably already forgotten about me. What's the point of me still thinking about him? And what can I say to him?" As she spoke, sadness appeared on her face.