After Rescuing The Sickly White Moonlight - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Liang Yi’an lowered his gaze, masking the emotions in his eyes. Now of age, his stature was nearly identical to Liang Jin’s. By intentionally keeping his head bowed, he ensured Liang Jin could not read his expression.

Thinking of how his son had fallen in love for the first time—only for that budding romance to end in the separation of life and death—Liang Jin couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for him. He spoke tentatively, knowing Liang Yi’an would understand his meaning.

With a desolate expression and a bitter smile, Liang Yi’an bowed deeply to Liang Jin and said, “Father… it is truly difficult for me to forget… the Gu girl. May I ask for your permission to delay consideration of marriage for a few more years?”

Liang Yi’an was determined to win through “procrastination.” There would always be a way when the time came; for now, he just needed to stall.

Looking at the love-stricken Liang Yi’an, Liang Jin sighed inwardly. Fine, fine—hadn’t he known all along that his son was a person of deep sentiment?

Liang Jin said helplessly, “Taking a Crown Princess won’t stop you from cherishing the memory of the Gu girl. I will begin looking for candidates for you. I think the fourth daughter of the Wang family is quite good; once she is a bit older, I shall decree your marriage.”

Liang Yi’an was startled. The fourth daughter of the Wang family was barely fifteen. Based on Liang Jin’s tone, the marriage decree would likely arrive within two years at most. He had never met the Wang girl and didn’t know where her heart lay; if…

As a thousand thoughts raced through Liang Yi’an’s mind, Liang Jin waved him off, signaling him to leave. Before he departed, the Emperor added, “Look at Nan’er, even he is about to marry. You, as the eldest brother, must set an example.”

Liang Yi’an replied, “Yes. It is my fault for causing Father such worry.”

Liang Jin smiled, satisfied.

The Zheng Ancestral Manor

Zheng Qingyun and Lin Yu were practicing horse stances not far apart, with a martial arts master nearby correcting their posture.

Hard work pays off; though Zheng Qingyun’s constitution still couldn’t compare to Zheng Zhili’s, he had reached the health standard of a normal thirteen-year-old boy. At the very least, he no longer required constant medication.

Zheng Qingyun gritted his teeth, his arms trembling slightly. His legs felt as if they could no longer support him, frequently threatening to straighten, only to be forced back down by sheer willpower.

Lin Yu had his sleeves rolled up and his collar half-undone, revealing a pendant around his neck—a delicate little fish hanging from a cord. This was a gift from Zheng Qingyun.

“Alright, time is up. Young Masters, take a break,” the master said, glancing at the burnt-out incense and finally calling a halt.

The moment the master stopped, Zheng Qingyun nearly collapsed to the ground, saved only by Lin Yu catching him. The two slumped onto the grass together.

Hearing the sound, the master looked back, unsure of what to say. He pulled them both up and said, “That’s all for today. Tomorrow remains the same—half an hour in the morning…”

Lin Yu beat him to the punch: “Followed by sword practice and running! Master, we know!”

The master glared, huffing, “Think I’m too wordy? You brat, practice well!”

After the master left, Zheng Qingyun and Lin Yu stretched their muscles to prevent waking up in pain the next day. The stretching methods were something Lin Yu had taught him.

It was currently mid-morning, and the sun was at its peak. Usually, they would have classes in the afternoon, but Fang Wenqiu had seen the lovely weather two days ago and gone lily-picking alone at the lake. He had accidentally capsized his boat and fallen into the water. By the time he returned to the manor, it was late; the cold wind had caused the normally healthy teacher to catch a rare cold.

Physician Chen prescribed several doses of medicine and warned him to stay out of the wind. Fang Wenqiu decided to give the three students a holiday. Zheng Mingtang had gone out with her friends and was not in the manor today.

Hearing that Master Fang had gone lily-picking, Zheng Qingyun felt an itch to join the fun. Seeing they were free for the afternoon, Lin Yu woke from his nap, informed the Old Lady, and took Guanyi and A’chengyu out with them.

Before leaving, Zheng Zhili had entrusted A’chengyu to Lin Yu, asking him to keep an eye out for any anomalies. A’chengyu, having been passed between three different handlers, didn’t mind; as long as his life wasn’t in immediate danger, being around Lin Yu was quite pleasant.

At Yunshui Bay on the outskirts of the city, the pond was filled with blooming lotuses. Many tourists were enjoying boat rides on the lake, making for a lively scene. The four of them shared a boat filled with pink and white lotuses and several lotus seed pods.

Lin Yu skillfully peeled a pod, revealing the thumb-sized seeds within. The scattered pod looked like a lotus flower itself. Zheng Qingyun took the seeds from Lin Yu’s hand, eating them one by one with a happy smile.

A’chengyu was also peeling seeds, but he lacked finesse; the seeds kept flying out of his hands, even bouncing off Guanyi’s head, earning him several sharp glares.

Lin Yu teased him: “Your hands are too big; you can’t handle delicate work.”

Annoyed, A’chengyu splashed some lake water at Lin Yu.

There were fish in the lake as well. Zheng Qingyun watched as Lin Yu took out some fish food and scattered it on the surface, drawing the fish into a frantic scramble. The sun was quite strong, and Zheng Qingyun’s face began to flush, so Lin Yu picked a few large lotus leaves to provide him with shade.

By the time they returned to the shore, the crowds had thinned. They didn’t linger and soon returned to the manor.

Uncle Zhang greeted them as they entered: “We made lotus leaf rice today for a fresh taste. The Old Lady is still chanting her sutras, and Miss Mingtang won’t be back today.”

Delighted, Zheng Qingyun called out, “And a few glasses of sour plum soup!”

Uncle Zhang agreed with a chuckle.

The lotus leaf rice carried the fragrance of the leaves. Two types were served: a light, sweet version favored by the Old Lady, and a savory version loved by the youth. The rice was sweet and chewy, with each flavor having its own merits.

The Old Lady took two bites before setting down her chopsticks, murmuring, “You all should eat less as well. Glutinous rice is hard to digest; you’ll feel uncomfortable if you overeat.” As she spoke, she sipped her sour plum soup, her eyes narrowing comfortably.

Midsummer passed amid the sweet and sour drinks and the slightly bitter fragrance of lotus seeds.

The autumn light settles in the clouds; the sound of autumn stirs among the leaves. [1]

The fallen leaves in the courtyard could never be swept clean, a fact A’chengyu complained about many times. Zheng Qingyun stared out the window at the wind-tossed branches, lost in thought.

A letter arrived from Zheng Heng, suggesting they return to the capital around the Mid-Autumn Festival to prepare for next year’s provincial examinations. After some discussion, Zheng Qingyun and Lin Yu decided to stay through the festival with the Old Lady before departing.

The moon was as round as a plate. They enjoyed fat crabs, osmanthus wine, and autumn duck. Amid the scent of osmanthus, they departed by carriage. Zheng Mingtang bid farewell to Yuan Xiu and the Old Lady, joining them on the journey back to the capital.

Lin Yu recalled when they were preparing to leave; Zheng Mingtang had come to find them alone. Her voice trembled slightly, but her tone was firm as she said she wanted to go to Pingjing with them.

Lin Yu was surprised. In his first life, he hadn’t had much contact with Zheng Mingtang, only knowing that she was skilled at business and helped her mother run a thriving shop. After the Zheng family was imprisoned, Yuan Xiu and Zheng Mingtang had even risked their lives to collect their bodies, happening upon Lin Yu while he was digging the graves. Before they left, they had given Lin Yu a significant amount of silver.

At that time, Zheng Mingtang had asked Lin Yu what he would do. Covered in dirt and with the taste of blood in his mouth, Lin Yu had gritted his teeth and forced out two words: “Seek revenge!”

Zheng Mingtang had sighed and asked, “Is your mind made up?”

Lin Yu hadn’t looked at her, his gaze drifting past the gravestones toward the hazy silhouettes of the Prince’s secret guards in the distance. Zheng Mingtang was silent for a moment before saying, “If you ever have need of anything, come find me.”

The business run by Yuan Xiu and Zheng Mingtang grew larger and larger. By the time Lin Yu was sharpening his blade against Suo Lou, their shops covered nearly the entire southern region.

Thinking of this, Lin Yu asked her just as she had once asked him: “Is your mind made up?”

Zheng Qingyun also looked at her with concern. Zheng Mingtang clenched her hands so tightly that red marks appeared on her palms. She was certain: “I want to go.”

Lin Yu nodded. “As long as Madam Yuan agrees, we can make it happen.”

Yuan Xiu felt a deep reluctance to part, repeatedly confirming her daughter’s choice until Zheng Mingtang embraced her. Yuan Xiu sobbed silently, but ultimately decided to let her daughter head north. She even had the audacity to write to Zheng Heng, hoping he would look after his niece.

The journey passed without incident, and they arrived in Pingjing at the end of the eighth month. They entered the city just before the gates closed. Zheng Heng and Zheng Yanzhang had just finished their official duties and returned home.

The martial examinations hadn’t lasted long and had concluded that spring. Zheng Zhili had placed second and was currently assigned to a military camp in the west for training.

Deng Yuan had long ago prepared a courtyard for Zheng Mingtang, ensuring it was thoroughly cleaned. Zheng Zelan had even prepared many gifts for her. The family sat together for a small welcoming feast. After dinner, the exhaustion of the journey set in, and Zheng Heng sent them to their rooms to rest, saying they would talk more tomorrow.

Lin Yu and Zheng Qingyun used to sleep together, but now that they had both grown up, doing so risked one of them being pushed off the bed in the middle of the night. Lin Yu moved back to the room Deng Yuan had previously prepared for him, which wasn’t far from Zheng Qingyun’s.

Perhaps because he was suddenly alone, Lin Yu’s sleep was fitful. He drifted in and out of dreams, unable to distinguish reality. In the middle of the night, the sound of cicadas echoed in the courtyard. Lin Yu felt a bit short of breath, thinking the quilt was too heavy. He tried to push it off, but it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds and carried a strange warmth.

Lin Yu thought groggily… Wait.

His mind instantly cleared, and various conspiracy theories raced through his heart. But upon hearing a familiar breathing sound, he looked beside him.

Zheng Qingyun was sound asleep, using Lin Yu’s arm as a pillow. Perhaps his body was stiff from the carriage ride, as he had thrown his leg over Lin Yu. Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief, pulled the discarded quilt over the boy, and settled back in. A good night’s sleep—well, half a night’s sleep—followed.

Zheng Heng left for court early. By the time Lin Yu and Zheng Qingyun got up for breakfast, Zheng Mingtang was playing with Zheng Zelan. Zheng Yanzhang’s rank wasn’t yet high enough for the morning court; he only needed to report for duty before the official start of the day.

Lin Yu knew this routine well: arriving exactly on time.

After breakfast, Deng Yuan took Zheng Zelan to visit a friend who had recently given birth. Zheng Mingtang went to find Fang Wenqiu, who had assigned her work with a deadline of today. Lin Yu and Zheng Qingyun were back to training with their master.

During a break, Zheng Qingyun asked, “Eldest Brother said Red Ying is coming to offer tribute?”

Lin Yu nodded. Zheng Yanzhang had mentioned it at the table. Next spring, the ruler of Red Ying would send the Crown Prince and envoys to offer tribute and discuss the relationship between the two nations—likely regarding future peaceful coexistence.

Lin Yu casually added, “After Red Ying’s major defeat in the Northern Border war last year, their Prince is likely coming for that reason.”

He kept a subtle eye on A’chengyu, noting how the boy’s body stiffened at the mention of the Red Ying Prince. Lin Yu’s hand, which had been fanning Zheng Qingyun, momentarily paused.