Смертная любовь в эпоху Северной Сун

Глава 22

On that day, when Rongyue jumped off the platform, intending to leave gracefully, Master Murong surrounded her with hundreds of servants.

"Good son-in-law, where are you going? Hurry up and come back to the house with me. Yu Yan is still waiting for you inside!" As he parted the crowd and walked to Rong Yue, Master Murong's eyes gleamed, and his wrinkled old face was full of loving smiles.

"Good son-in-law? Master Murong, are you perhaps a theater enthusiast? The play is already over, why are you still so engrossed in your role? If you feel you haven't had enough, you can always find someone else to continue the performance! But I have important matters to attend to, so please excuse me!" Rongyue clasped her hands in a fist salute, then raised an eyebrow at Master Murong, who still wore a smile, her meaning clear—get out of the way!

"What do you mean by 'playing a joke'? You silly boy, A'Luo, you're teasing your uncle again! Alright, look how late it is, A'Luo, you..."

"Old Master Murong, have you looked carefully? I am not your son-in-law!" This old man is simply obsessed with having a son-in-law! I really don't know what's wrong with him, why is he so insistent on making her his son-in-law?

Upon hearing Rongyue's words, Master Murong deliberately put on a stern face and acted coy: "A'Luo, do you intend to break off the engagement? Just now, you personally admitted on stage that you are my son-in-law, and everyone present is a witness! You have ruined my daughter's reputation, yet you think you can just walk away. A'Luo, do you know that you have violated the criminal law of my Eastern Dynasty! If you insist on not marrying my daughter, then don't blame your uncle for showing no mercy and sending you to the authorities for punishment!"

"Send her to the authorities?" Rongyue's face immediately turned ashen. If she were handed over, she would truly be finished! That damned emperor, Dongfang Lie, had issued a worldwide warrant for her arrest; he was probably worried about not being able to catch her right now. If she went to the authorities now, wouldn't she be walking into a trap, doomed? Here, abandoning one's husband was a serious crime, especially since she had abandoned the noble young prince! What would become of the royal family's reputation? What would become of the Dongfang Dynasty's reputation? She couldn't imagine how miserable her fate would be if she fell into Dongfang Lie's hands…

A chill ran down his spine. Seeing the official = seeing Dongfang Lie = his life was over = a fate worse than death! He mustn't see the official! Absolutely mustn't see the official!

With a complete 180-degree change in attitude, Rongyue smiled brightly and said, "Dad, let's go back inside! Don't keep Yuyan waiting."

Seeing that Rongyue was so quick to "get to the point," Master Murong smiled even more brightly than she did: "Good, good! What a good son-in-law..."

That night, Rongyue, carrying her heavy bundle, attempted to escape by jumping out of the window. But as soon as she opened the window, she was astonished to find that, without her noticing, torches had been lit and crowds of people had gathered outside.

"Trying to escape? A'Luo, you'd better give up on that idea and obediently become my son-in-law!" Just then, Master Murong pushed open the door and entered. He saw Rongyue standing by the window holding a long rope and frowned unhappily.

"Master Murong, how could you do this! You're forcibly taking a man from the people, do you know that?! You're immoral, do you know that?! You're..."

"Madam Qin, please take the measurements for your son-in-law. Make sure you take them carefully!" Ignoring Rongyue's accusations, Master Murong beckoned to Madam Qin, who was waiting at the door, and gave her the order in a leisurely manner.

Madam Qin bowed slightly to Master Murong and replied respectfully, "Yes, Master." After saying that, she took the measuring ruler and pointed it at Rongyue, who was still questioning her.

"W-What are you doing! Why are you taking measurements?"

"Of course, it's for making wedding robes!" Master Murong answered matter-of-factly, but Rongyue was furious.

"A wedding robe?" Rongyue exclaimed angrily, "What kind of international joke is this!"

"I'm not joking! Not long ago, I sent people to deliver wedding invitations to all the major families in the city. You and Yuyan will be married in three days!"

"Marriage!" Upon hearing these two words, Rongyue immediately flew into a rage, blurting out, "Marriage my ass! I'm a woman! A woman! If you don't believe me, let her touch me and see, isn't that right, isn't that right! Tell me, can women marry women?! Absurd! A joke! The most ridiculous thing in the world!!"

He turned his questioning gaze to Madam Qin. Madam Qin nodded slightly, confirming that Rongyue was indeed a woman. Stunned, Master Murong remained speechless for a long time.

A woman?! How could this be! How could this happen! Such a favored son-in-law, such a favored heir, and in the end it all came to nothing?

After traveling all over the country for so many years, this young man was the first person he truly loved from the bottom of his heart! His magnanimity, his courage, his wisdom—tell me, how many people in this world could rival him? Alas, fate is blind; such an outstanding person was born as a woman… What a pity! Was it destined that he would ultimately miss out on such a wonderful young man?

Missed out? I'm not willing to accept that! Now that we've met, why should I let it slip away? I don't care if she's a man or a woman, as long as she's my son-in-law!

The frustration and depression from before vanished instantly, and Master Murong's expression became resolute and decisive: "So what if you're a woman! Whether you're a man or a woman, you're destined to be my son-in-law!"

Shocking, utterly shocking! This old man is not normal! Rong Yue was speechless, utterly astonished: "You...you're insane! Aren't you afraid of the gossip outside? Aren't you afraid of being drowned in people's spittle?"

With a nonchalant chuckle, Master Murong asked Madam Qin, who was standing to the side, "Madam Qin, tell me, is the son-in-law in front of you a man or a woman?"

Madam Qin smiled knowingly: "Sir, you are joking. Of course, the son-in-law is a man."

"Aro, can you hear me clearly?"

Damn it, calling a deer a horse! Lying through their teeth! Like master, like servant!

"Give up, I'm not getting married!"

"If they don't get married, they'll be handed over to the authorities!"

Because she didn't want to see the officials, Rongyue eventually compromised with the evil forces and began her second marriage.

On her second marriage, she didn't wear the fiery red phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, but rather a wedding robe with a large, bright red flower hanging on her chest. I still remember on the day of the wedding ceremony, the bride and 'groom' each had someone supporting them until the ceremony was completed and they were led to the bridal chamber. The bride needed support because she was in poor health; she was already slightly out of breath after walking just a few steps, and if she were to go through the ceremony again, she feared her body wouldn't be able to handle it, so someone had to support and care for her. The 'groom' also needed support because he was 'mischievous,' and we were afraid he might cause some 'trouble' during the ceremony and disrupt the wedding. Therefore, Master Murong specially invited a skilled person from outside to supervise the 'groom'.

On their wedding night, as Rongyue reluctantly and unwillingly lifted the bride's veil with her wedding stick, her eyes widened in disbelief. She thought she was in the moon palace, seeing the fairy Chang'e. Her beauty was ethereal, her face delicate and graceful, like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without artifice. Her beauty was not delicate, not alluring, not seductive, not flamboyant, but a truly transcendent and unparalleled grace! Her face was like jade, her breath like orchids, her skin like snow and her features like flowers—a breathtakingly beautiful and ethereal sight, even the fairy Lingbo could not surpass her!

Rongyue's fiery gaze filled Yuyan with both joy and shyness. Fate is truly a wondrous thing; at first glance, Yuyan fell irrevocably in love with Rongyue, this fake man.

Which young girl doesn't yearn for love? Which young girl doesn't dream? When she learned that her father was arranging a marriage for her, her heart was filled with shyness, embarrassment, and a touch of anticipation. Beautiful women love heroes—an age-old truth. On the day of the martial arts competition, she secretly searched for her hero in a corner on the second floor of the Northwest Pavilion, hiding it from her father. When she saw Shangguan Hong defeat all the other participants and become the champion of the competition, the disappointment in her heart was indescribable. Shangguan Hong was not her hero. Her hero should be brave, wise, possess exceptional martial arts skills, and also be dashing and romantic—clearly, Shangguan Hong was not.

Later, the Blood Demon appeared, and then Rongyue was 'framed' by her father. At first glance, she inexplicably believed that 'he' was the man she considered worthy of her!

Yes, she wasn't mistaken; 'he' truly didn't disappoint her. Having defeated that ruthless and cruel demon, 'he' became a hero revered by millions overnight…

A few days ago, her father told her that he was actually her. It would be a lie to say she wasn't sad. But after the initial sadness, she came to terms with it. What did it matter if she was a woman? As long as he was by her side, she would be content and happy…

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Twenty-Nine: Acupuncture

If you were to ask what the most talked-about story in the town these days is, every local would tell you it's the perfect couple from the Murong family! From their wedding day until now, this young couple has truly lived in perfect harmony, deeply in love, a match made in heaven, inseparable, the envy of all! If you were to ask who the dream lover of every young woman in the town is, every unmarried girl would shyly whisper that it's Murong Luo, the son-in-law of the Murong family! Murong Luo is always there for his wife, showering her with love and affection, completely obedient to her every whim, truly spoiling his wife, Murong Yuyan, to the heavens. He is a rare gem of a man in this world! If they could marry such a man, even as a concubine, their lives would be complete!

"My husband, you are so good to me! In the next life, Yu Yan will still marry you..." Yu Yan leaned comfortably in the flower-filled bathtub and said to Rong Yue, who was arranging her long black hair behind her, with deep emotion.

Letting her jet-black hair flow freely from her fingertips, Rongyue chuckled and teased, "Alright, my wife! Let's make a pact for our next life. In the next life, I'll be a man, and you'll still be a woman, and we'll be a real husband and wife!"

Rongyue emphasized the word "truly," and Yuyan understood her teasing, blushing slightly: "You're never serious!"

Yu Yan, that little girl, blushes so easily, she's so innocent! Unlike her, whose skin is as thick as a copper wall, there are very few things that can make her blush! Thinking of this, she couldn't help but chuckle.

After washing Yu Yan's long hair, Rong Yue picked up a towel hanging on the screen and gently dried Yu Yan's hair. Yu Yan was one of the few people who touched her without making her feel disgusted. Rong Yue sometimes thought that relationships between people depended on a subtle kind of fate. Some people, even if they knew each other for a lifetime, might only be slightly better than strangers. But some people, from the first glance, could feel an instant connection, could confide in each other, and become bosom friends! She and Yu Yan belonged to the latter. Sometimes she even wondered if she and Yu Yan had been husband and wife in a past life; otherwise, why were they always so in sync, so compatible, so telepathically connected?

After drying her hair, Rongyue tested the water temperature in the bathtub. It felt a little cool, and fearing that soaking any longer would be bad for Yuyan's health, she helped her out of the tub. After wrapping Yuyan in a long towel, Rongyue was overwhelmed with emotion—beauty! Truly a rare beauty! Her skin was delicate, her figure perfectly proportioned, with curves in all the right places—truly a beauty that would make any man's nose bleed! Looking down at herself, she saw a flat-chested figure. Even Princess Taiping would probably laugh at her. Aside from her smooth, baby-like skin, what else was there to see? She looked like an underdeveloped child! She seriously wondered if Dongfang Yao felt any shame at having violated the young seedlings of the nation when they made love.

Yu Yan's health has been deteriorating lately. Leaning weakly against the pillows, Yu Yan looked at the doctor taking her pulse and shook her head with pity and helplessness, a bitter smile appearing on her pale face.

"Father, there's no need to find a doctor... I've seen... I know my own body... cough cough cough cough..." Before she could finish speaking, Yu Yan couldn't help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief and cough violently.