Waking Up Five Years Later on the Wedding Night - Chapter 3

The sound of bells rang all afternoon.

Yan Zhining listened numbly to the lies being told around her until someone finally arrived at a leisurely pace. It was a young man in a green robe, clean-cut and possessing the vibrant spirit of youth.

At the sight of him, Princess Funing’s eyes lit up, and a faint blush touched her cheeks, “Zhang Jin, why are you so late?”

Zhang Jin was the fifth-ranked scholar in this year’s imperial examinations, and the very man Princess Funing was fighting to win over from the Left Chancellor. Rumor had it that both of them had their eyes set on him.

Yan Zhining blinked curiously. She heard Zhang Jin’s pleasant voice reply, “My carriage broke down on the road, which is why I was delayed.”

Clang, clang, clang. Three times the bells rang. Yan Zhining instinctively covered her ears and blurted out, “That’s a lie, your carriage didn’t break down.”

After she spoke, everyone turned to look at her. The round fan in Princess Funing’s hand froze in mid-air, and for the first time, her eyes, usually filled with pride and amusement, revealed a look of bewilderment. Zhang Jin’s face turned as pale as paper, and his eyes betrayed a rare flash of panic.

He hurriedly tried to explain, “I collided with someone else, so I arranged for them to be sent back to their residence first.”

“Scholar Zhang has a kind heart,” Princess Funing said with a sweet smile, her voice returning to its usual gentleness.

Yan Zhining looked at Zhang Jin. The ringing of the bells was giving her a headache, so she said, “You’re lying again.”

Sweat beaded on Zhang Jin’s forehead, dampening a small patch of his green collar. He then looked at the young man sitting quietly to the side, feeling a sense of dread. Who was this person? Why was he sitting right next to the Left Chancellor?

After a brief glance, Zhang Jin shifted his gaze back to Princess Funing and smiled, “It seems this young gentleman has some misunderstandings about me?”

Yan Zhining froze for a moment, and the Left Chancellor spoke slowly, “He feels that you are deceiving Princess Funing, which is quite unscrupulous.”

Princess Funing held deep sincerity for Zhang Jin, and in the past, she would have believed anything he said.

Yan Zhining nodded nervously. Her words earlier had been a bit impulsive, but the bell sounds were truly giving her a splitting headache.

The atmosphere turned icy, and the surrounding clamor seemed to vanish.

Once the Left Chancellor finished speaking, all the color drained from Zhang Jin’s face. The smile on Princess Funing’s lips also stiffened. She looked at Zhang Jin, then at the silent, composed Left Chancellor, and finally let her gaze rest hesitantly on Yan Zhining.

“The hour is late, I shall take my leave.” The Left Chancellor stood up without so much as glancing at Zhang Jin. Zhang Jin panicked, “Left Chancellor, I was not deceiving the Princess.”

Yan Zhining blinked. The bells rang again, and she instinctively tugged on the Left Chancellor’s sleeve, sighing softly, “He is lying.”

The Left Chancellor lowered his eyes and walked past Zhang Jin, ignoring him entirely. Yan Zhining followed close behind, feeling that she had spoken too much—loose lips lead to mistakes.

“Left Chancellor, Left Chancellor…” Zhang Jin’s voice came from behind, and he moved to catch up, “Left Chancellor, I do not know how I have offended this young gentleman, but why must he slander me so?”

A gentle breeze blew, rippling the air.

Huo Mingshu stood still, his posture upright and dignified. Upon hearing this, he gave a cool smile, “Is that so? You are nothing, so why would anyone bother to slander you?”

Hearing this, Zhang Jin looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He stared blankly at Yan Zhining, perhaps in his panic thinking that this young gentleman before him was actually better looking than himself.

The two boarded the carriage, and Zhang Jin remained where he was. Yan Zhining lifted the curtain and looked at him, then asked instinctively, “Left Chancellor, do you like him?”

“I do not.”

Yan Zhining fell silent. It had already been five years; it would have been natural for the Left Chancellor to develop feelings for a handsome man after being alone for so long. But if the Left Chancellor had met someone unsuitable… After a moment of contemplation, she whispered, “Left Chancellor, if someone dares to lie, it means their heart is not in the right place. This person is not for you.”

Hearing this, Huo Mingshu looked at her indifferently, “Do you have someone you like?”

The subject was a bit strange, and Yan Zhining was momentarily dazed, “Are you asking me a question?”

Huo Mingshu gave a cold laugh, “Am I asking if my wife has someone she likes?”

In an instant, Yan Zhining’s face flushed red, and her ears began to burn, “I asked the wrong question, I meant… in these past five years…”

She wanted to ask if her brother had returned. But looking at the current situation, her brother hadn’t returned in five years. Her parents had said her brother would rush back the day after her wedding. Why hadn’t he returned for five years?

Yan Zhining was filled with questions, and a heavy stone seemed to press upon her chest. She fell silent, but still wanting to please the Left Chancellor, she added, “I like you.”

Huo Mingshu glanced at her without giving an answer, looking indifferent. Yan Zhining lowered her head, thought for a bit, and added, “That Scholar Zhang is not honest, please don’t like him.”

“I know,” Huo Mingshu replied perfunctorily before closing his eyes.

Silence returned to the carriage. Yan Zhining felt at a loss, her hands resting nervously on her knees, her ears and face still burning.

After a long pause, she remembered something important and spoke urgently, “Can I go see the shops?”

Before coming to the capital, her grandmother told her that the Yan family had many shops in the city, which would be her support in the future. Her father and mother did not like her, telling her not to hover around them and to just manage the shops. As long as she had money, she could survive.

“Very well. Tell the driver where you want to go,” Huo Mingshu nodded.

Yan Zhining’s eyes lit up, and she immediately directed the driver toward the main street.

Having finally found a topic, she chattered on, “I’ve been missing for so many years, I don’t know if the shops are still there. They’ve all been managed by stewards all these years. What should I do if they are gone?”

“Left Chancellor, I am good at business. In the future, if you are short on money, you can just tell me.”

Although she lacked the love of her father and mother, her grandmother had taught her many lessons: as long as she had money in her hands, she would not need to live at the mercy of others.

The spring breeze carried a hint of warmth, making her feel flushed. Yan Zhining’s complexion was like rouge, revealing a faint pink hue, and her eyes were especially bright—one could see she was still a person unacquainted with the ways of the world.

Huo Mingshu glanced at her. He knew the situation with the Yan family: there were three children. The eldest, Yan Zhi’an, had studied at Hengshan Academy since childhood and was said to know everything from the heavens above to the earth below. The second daughter, Yan Zhining, was mediocre, and almost no one knew what she looked like, only that she lived in the old Yan ancestral home in Jiangnan. The youngest, Yan Zhihui, was as her name suggested—brilliant and wise.

However, no one knew that Yan Zhining was actually skilled in business, and that all the Yan family’s affairs were under her control. It was clear that the Yan Matriarch had entrusted the lifeline of the family to her.

The carriage stopped in front of a jade shop. Yan Zhining jumped out and turned back to help the Left Chancellor.

She reached out, and the Left Chancellor swept a glance at her hand; the back of her hand was a bit fleshy and looked rather cute.

Huo Mingshu calmly extended his hand. Yan Zhining helped him out, then walked inside, asking, “Where is the shopkeeper?”

The woman behind the counter looked up and, seeing the two of them, immediately smiled, “Distinguished guests, what can I do for you?”

“I am from the Yan family,” Yan Zhining said, her tone serious, “My grandmother sent me. I…” She hesitated, then stepped forward, “Could we speak in private?”

The shopkeeper listened and nodded instinctively, her gaze sweeping over the cold, refined woman in front of her, “Please wait a moment.”

The shopkeeper led them into the back hall, lifted a curtain, and revealed an elegant tea room. She poured tea herself, her eyes resting on Yan Zhining with a hint of appraisal, “I wonder which distinguished member of the Yan family you are, young gentleman?”

“I am Yan Zhining. My grandmother asked me to take over the business in the capital,” Yan Zhining said with a smile, her eyes sharp, “I am a few years late and have delayed things for some time. I wonder how the business has been lately?”

“My dear girl, it really is you.” Hong Yi tapped her forehead, unable to stop herself from looking the girl up and down, “Ever since the heir passed away, you disappeared too.”

Yan Zhining nodded, her expression growing colder. She sat in the main seat and said, “As long as you recognize me, that is enough. Have all the account books sent to the Chancellor’s mansion. I want to take a look.”

To avoid keeping the Left Chancellor waiting for too long, she gave a few instructions and then left.

Huo Mingshu was standing in front of the counter, his gaze fixed on a jade pendant. Seeing Yan Zhining walk out, he leaned in and smiled, “It’s beautiful, it would suit you, Left Chancellor.”

Having said this, she took it out herself, “It’s my own shop, so it’s fine if I like it.”

Hong Yi followed them out and couldn’t help but roll her eyes. This second young lady was such a hopeless romantic. Such a fine piece of jade—valuable and rare—and she just gave it away because she liked it.

Thinking this, Hong Yi had to play along, “Fine jade suits a beautiful person; it is perfect for such a distinguished guest.”

The two sang in harmony, while Huo Mingshu’s expression remained as it was, “Are you done?” This little thing really wasn’t well-behaved.

What a bother!

“All done. Let’s go home,” Yan Zhining nodded. Clutching the jade, she took two steps, then saw some beautiful jewelry on the counter and said, “Shopkeeper Hong, send all these to the Chancellor’s mansion.”

Hong Yi: “…” She hadn’t made a single cent for the shop, but was instead busy trying to please her crush.

“Very well, as you wish, mistress,” Hong Yi replied with a smile, already planning to write a letter to complain later about the spendthrift young lady.

Huo Mingshu took the little nuisance back to the mansion.

On the return trip, the atmosphere in the carriage was slightly different from before.

Yan Zhining was no longer as nervous. Her lips were curled upward, and she held the warm jade pendant in her hand, her fingertips subconsciously tracing the patterns on it.

She stole a glance at Huo Mingshu, who was sitting beside her with his eyes closed to rest. His face was clean-cut, and in the dim carriage, his expression remained cold and distant, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

“Left Chancellor,” she whispered, handing the jade pendant over, “Do you not like this piece of jade?”

Huo Mingshu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon the translucent white jade in her palm. The quality was top-tier, and the cloud patterns were elegant.

He did not take it, only looked at the young woman, “I do not like it.”

After the bells rang three times, Yan Zhining’s brows knitted together. After the ringing faded, she took the initiative to hold his hand and placed the jade pendant into his palm.

Huo Mingshu’s hand was covered by the girl’s warm, soft palm, and the cool jade pendant was forcefully stuffed into his grasp.

His fingertips moved slightly. Yan Zhining raised her eyes; her gaze was clear and bright, like obsidian soaked in a mountain stream. Right now, she was staring at him without blinking, filled with a kind of almost naive stubbornness.

The dim light in the carriage made her skin appear even paler, like the most delicate crabapple flower on a branch in early spring.

Huo Mingshu’s brow lowered slightly, and his tone became much colder, “I just stated clearly that I do not like this piece of jade.”

The bell sounds rang once more. Yan Zhining blinked. Her sister-in-law clearly liked it, so why didn’t he?

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