Счастье совсем рядом, за следующим поворотом

Глава 42

I chuckled and said, "You don't actually think I saved you out of genuine kindness, do you? I just acted impulsively. I would have saved anyone, no matter who it was."

His smile vanished, he lowered his head and pressed it against my face, reaching out to pinch my chin, saying, "I don't like you talking to me like that, it's utterly disgusting..."

I squinted at him and smiled, then clicked my tongue and chuckled, "So you don't like hearing the truth."

His expression darkened, and I pushed his hand away and stood up, saying to Changhuan, "Changhuan, we won't disturb the High Priest any longer."

"Su Xie," Yan Shu called to me, his voice deep, "Did I give you permission to leave?"

"Either kill me or let me go back to sleep." I walked out without turning back, saying, "I think the High Priest will definitely not be willing to kill me. Sweet dreams."

Changhuan bowed and hurriedly followed me out to hold an umbrella for me. As we were leaving, we heard the sound of a table being overturned behind us, loud and lively.

Changhuan looked back and asked me in a low voice, "Does the young lady really want to save Prince Baoze and Princess Jinglian?"

I shrugged and said, "Do you think I have the ability to save them?"

He then fell silent. What he meant by being unable to protect himself was me. He knew very well what I was capable of.

After a moment, she asked in surprise, "Does that girl have a solution? Are you planning to ask the high priest to release them?"

I said with a laugh, "Do you think Yan Shu will listen to me and release them?"

He fell silent again. Would Yan Shu really listen to me and release him? What a joke.

“If Licheng can’t even protect Baoze and Jinglian, then destruction is only a matter of time.” I sighed. “There’s nothing I can do.”

"That girl..." he said, looking puzzled, "...just now she was asking the high priest for..."

I squinted at him and laughed, "You're just being sarcastic, trying to annoy him."

Chang Huan's face darkened, and he remained completely silent as he looked at me. After a long while, he finally managed to utter a sentence: "By the way, I found out the purpose of the High Priest's trip to the young master of Licheng."

Ruan Lianhua? What does he mean by that?

Chang Huan lowered his voice and continued, "The King of Licheng sent people to apologize and bring gifts. The young master specifically summoned the high priest, saying he wanted to consult the priest's opinion."

Was it the old leader who just summoned Yan Shu over? Is Ruan Lianhua about to gradually become involved in the affairs of the sect?

I asked, "Young Master should know Yan Shu's temper... Does calling him over mean that Young Master doesn't want to let this matter go?"

Chang Huan nodded. "I heard that the young master disregarded the left protector's objections and allowed the high priest to personally lead the sect to settle this matter."

What is he planning to do? Why is he suddenly standing with Yan Shu?

I lowered my gaze and thought for a moment before asking, "Didn't Yan Shu say anything?"

Chang Huan shook his head and said, "The high priest returned without saying anything."

I couldn't figure it out, so I didn't say anything more.

===============================================================================

I returned to the garden where Ye Baizhi and I lived, and left Changhuan in the room to keep watch for me while I went to find Ye Baizhi.

After she let me into the room, she adjusted the candle wick and said with a smile, "Sister Su Xie, you came to see me so soon? Have you regretted it or have you already made your move?"

I walked around to her and said, "You should have heard that I'm going to Licheng with Yan Shu tomorrow."

Ye Baizhi nodded and looked at me. "So? What does sister mean?"

"I need time," I said, pulling a small, white jade-like bottle from my sleeve.

"How long?" Ye Baizhi asked me with a smile. "How long does it take, sister? Your beauty leader can't last more than seven days."

I thought for a moment and said, "Seven days. I only need seven days." I looked at her without blinking. "You must save his life for seven days."

Ye Baizhi said with some difficulty, "Sister, you're really putting me in a difficult position. You know these Gu worms are hard to control. If you come in seven days, Alliance Leader Ruan might just be an empty shell."

I looked at her without saying anything, and after a long while she finally spoke first: "Alright, since you've spoken, then it will be seven days."

She turned and took out a small medicine bottle from a hidden compartment in the wardrobe, saying, "One pill a day can trap centipedes in a deep sleep." She poured seven small pills into my palm. "Sister, do you want to give it to him yourself?"

I thought about it and nodded.

She led me down to the secret room, where the Gu siblings lay quietly in a corner, as if they had been drugged.

Ye Baizhi casually laughed and said, "I hate talkative and noisy people. This saves me trouble."

Setting down the lamp, Ye Baizhi lifted the bed curtains and said, "Sister Su Xie, please keep Alliance Leader Ruan company. I won't disturb you any longer."

She left the secret room.

===============================================================================

Ruan Bicheng was still fast asleep on the couch. I poured him a cup of water, fed him a pill, helped him lie down, and sat on the edge of the couch. I stared blankly for a long time before taking out a new and ugly purse from my bosom. It had a butterfly on it, and the name Ruan Bicheng was on it. Red and green were the silliest colors to pair together.

The purse I never had the chance to give away.

I placed it in Ruan Bicheng's palm, then thought for a moment and put it back in his arms, saying, "I haven't dared to give it to you yet... It's a bit ugly, please don't mind..."

The small room was quiet and still; I could hear the crackling sound of the candle flame flickering.

I stared at him blankly for a long time, and finally sighed. So many days and nights I had thought about this scene and these words, ever since I was Lu Ning, ever since I didn't understand love, that young man under the pear tree...

The more humble and pathetic I am, the more I like him.

During my three most ignorant years, apart from admiring him, there was nothing else that made me happy. Before, I didn't dare to say it, and later I was afraid of getting hurt, so I didn't dare to get close to him.

I looked at him and smiled. "Just pretend I didn't say anything..." I reached for my purse and was about to get up and leave when he pulled out the purse. The delicate tassel was grabbed by my hand.

I was startled. Ruan Bicheng opened her eyes and looked at me, her fingers tightly gripping the yellow tassel. She asked in a hoarse voice, "Why did you take it back?"

"You..." I couldn't hide my surprise, "When did you wake up?"

He didn't answer me, but just stared at me intently, and asked again, "Wasn't it a gift for me? Why are you taking it back?"

I was speechless and unable to answer.

"Are you still resentful towards me?" He slowly pulled at the purse, saying, "Lu Ning."

My heart pounded in my chest. He sat up, staring at me intently, and asked, "You've always resented me, haven't you? I wasted the best three years of your life. Lu Ning, you hate me, don't you?"

He always knew the tone of voice and the way of speaking that I couldn't stand the most. I was always the one who couldn't speak in front of him.

"Lu Ning," he asked, tugging at his purse, "how about I make it up to you? How about this time, I like you instead?"

I looked at him, stared at him, and said with a slightly mischievous smile, "Ruan Bicheng, will you marry me? Will you abandon your cousin, your position as the leader of the alliance, to marry me?"

Fifty

The candlelight flickered in the small room, casting long shadows on Ruan Bicheng's brow and the corners of her eyes, which were as deep as the night.

I laughed even more mischievously and asked him, "I am now Su Xie, the demoness of the Demonic Sect. Ruan Bicheng, how much do you like me? Are you willing to defy the world and marry me?"

He stared at me intently. I lowered my gaze and added, "If you can't give me anything, you'd better not make promises to me lightly. I'm stupid; I'll take them seriously."

"Lu Ning." He stared at me intently, paused for a long time before calling my name, and asked, "If I say I do, what will your answer be?"

I raised an eyelash and looked at him, saying, "Ruan Bicheng, as long as you dare to marry me, I dare to marry you. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth, through fire and water." I held the purse between my fingers and smiled, "But do you dare? Your overall situation, your position as the leader of the alliance, your mother, your cousin, and the blood feud of your father... Ruan Bicheng, how much do I mean to you?"

He didn't speak, but suddenly pulled my hand to his chest. It was warm and comforting. My palm, through the thin undershirt, pressed against his chest cavity. I was stunned to feel his heartbeat, thump, thump...

"Lu Ning." He looked at me, his eyes filled with deep emotion. "I love you."

Thump, thump.

His heartbeat in my palm was frantic, like... a thousand butterflies fluttering their wings, just like my heartbeat many, many years ago.

My young love, my secret and unspoken affection, in the quiet garden path, he carried a lamp and escorted me back to my room. The night was full of stars and moon, and the magnolias in the garden were in full bloom, their delicate fragrance making my steps light.

He led the way with a lantern, and I followed behind. I looked at his grayish shadow in the dim lamplight and accidentally bumped into his back. He paused slightly, picked up the lantern, and turned around. The bright white light made his handsome features stand out. He looked at me with slight surprise and asked, "What's wrong?"

My cheeks flushed instantly, and I didn't dare to lift my eyes. I only caught a whiff of his fragrance, and he chuckled softly, "What are you thinking about? You seem so lost in thought."

"No..." I secretly glanced at him and asked softly, "Leader, do you... have someone you like?"

He seemed slightly taken aback, then said, "Do you know what it feels like to like someone?"

The feeling of liking someone...

I shook my head. He put down the lamp and said quietly, "I once heard someone say that when you like someone, you will..." He suddenly reached out and covered my hand, shaking it, "like holding a butterfly in your palm, it will flutter its wings and flutter flutter flutter flutter flutter."

In the quiet of the night, I suddenly dared not look at him. My heart felt as if a thousand butterflies were fluttering in my mind, my heart in turmoil.

===============================================================================

When I came out of Ye Baizhi's room, the rain seemed to have lessened a bit.

Changhuan was waiting for me under the corridor. When she saw me, she came over to greet me. "Miss, the young master was just here."

"Oh?" I responded, and asked, "Did he need something from me?"

Chang Huan shook her head. "The young master didn't say anything, he just said he'd come find you later."

What could he possibly want from me at this hour?

I couldn't figure it out, so I stopped thinking about it. I followed Changhuan back to his room and saw that he had packed quite a few bags of all sizes. I couldn't help but laugh and say, "What are you doing? I'm only going with Yan Shu for a few days. You don't need to pack so much."

"How many days?" Chang Huan asked in surprise, "Has the High Priest confirmed the number of days?"

I was slightly taken aback, sat down, poured myself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "Changhuan, I'm going alone this time. You stay in the sect. If I don't return in seven days, go and beg the young master to let you leave the Salu Sect."

His fingers, which were packing the package, paused. His drooping eyebrows trembled slightly. Without looking at me, he asked, "What do you mean, young lady?"

"Actually, it's nothing." I put down my teacup and explained, "You will leave the Demonic Sect one day and start a new life, won't you? I already had your family released. You can leave the Demonic Sect anytime to go and live a good life with them."

He looked up, his temples slightly disheveled, and asked me, "And you, young lady?"

"Me?" I tilted my head and thought for a moment, then laughed and said, "You don't need to worry about me. Although I'm utterly useless and a complete waste, I'm lucky to have survived until today. Nothing will happen to me."

"I was asking what your plans are, young lady." Changhuan looked at me with bright eyes. "What do you mean by not returning in seven days?"

I looked at the tea leaves floating in the teacup and said, "Changhuan, I want to ask you for a favor."

"Please speak, young lady." Changhuan came to my side.

I asked him to sit down, and after taking a sip of tea, I said, "I would like to ask you to help me rescue Ruan Bicheng after I leave."

His eyebrows twitched. "Alliance Leader Ruan is currently in... Ye Baizhi's hands."

I nodded and whispered in his ear, "There's a secret room under his bed. It's inside. I've already spoken to him. You just need to open the secret room and let him out." I took out the white jade token from my pocket and handed it to him.

He was slightly surprised. "Isn't this the one Gu Shaoting took?"

I nodded and said, "I took it from Yan Shu, it's not important..." I continued, "After you rescue Ruan Bicheng, you will leave the Demonic Sect with him. I will make my own arrangements for him. In the future, the world will be vast, so you will have to be careful."

“Miss.” He pressed the token back into my palm and said, “Chang Huan has never been willing to say a word of dissent for you, but this time, I must say that I cannot obey.”