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Liu Ruyi laughed in anger, "Shut up! What nonsense is going on in that head of yours?" With that, she threw the scroll of the Spring Palace Picture out the door.
Just at that moment, Yuan Yingwu was about to enter. The scroll landed squarely on his forehead. Yuan Yingwu paused, looking at the Spring Palace Picture on the ground, then at the blushing Liu Ruyi and the stifled laughter of Zhang Yue. The atmosphere in the room became subtly charged.
Yuan Yingwu furrowed his brows and bent down to pick up the dusty silk scroll, brushing off the fine particles. "Liu Ruyi, what do you mean by this?" He teased, lifting a strand of ink-black hair with a tone reminiscent of an elder.
Liu Ruyi felt a bead of sweat form on her back and instinctively pointed at Zhang Yue. "This, this is clearly—" Before she could finish, Zhang Yue had already turned and dashed out the door, her petite figure swaying in the twilight. "Someone's calling for me!" she called out, leaving only a whisper of footsteps behind.
Yuan Yingwu unfurled the painting, the soft sound of silk brushing against silk echoed in the room. His fingers traced along the enchanting scenes depicted in the artwork, a meaningful smile playing at his lips. "This morning, your courage to chop down the door seems quite fitting with this Spring Palace Picture."
Liu Ruyi's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, like the evening glow, and in her flustered state, she knocked over a rosewood armrest. "I—I was just hungry..." she stammered, realizing her slip of tongue and waving her hands in panic.
As Yuan Yingwu stood up, the air in the room felt taut as if pulled by invisible threads. He raised the scroll high, its brass buttons glinting coldly in the evening light. Liu Ruyi stood on her tiptoes, her ankle colliding with the corner of an ornate table, sending a jolt of pain through her. Just as her fingertips were about to touch the gilded frame, their breaths intertwined within inches of each other, filling the air with sandalwood and the fragrance of gardenias from her hair.
In that delicate moment, a hurried knocking sounded from outside, breaking the tension with a clear voice. "Young Lord, someone is looking for you!"
Yuan Yingwu and Liu Ruyi quickly stepped apart, both still flushed with lingering heat.
"What’s going on outside?" Yuan Yingwu's voice rang out in the slightly dim room, shattering any lingering drowsiness.
Niu Peng rushed in from outside to report urgently, "Young Lord, Jiao Jiao Girl is about to throw herself into a well. She insists on seeing you or she'll die." His tone was filled with urgency as if he could sense the tense atmosphere outside.
Liu Ruyi's mind raced as she furrowed her brows thoughtfully. "That girl named Jiao Jiao must be one of those redeemed by Young Master. Someone you care for should not come to harm. You should go check on her!" Her voice was gentle yet firm.
"No way! That would be too unfair to our young lady!" Zhang Yue rushed forward, her eyes filled with anxiety and concern as she tried to intervene.
Liu Ruyi immediately countered Zhang Yue's objection. "No! If that girl makes a scene and damages Young Lord's reputation along with that of the entire Yuan Family, that would be a much bigger issue!" Her tone was resolute and unwavering, her gaze bright like stars—radiating an undeniable stubbornness.
"What about your reputation?" Zhang Yue asked with a quiver in her voice as if she could already foresee the rumors Liu Ruyi might face.
Before Liu Ruyi could respond, Zhang Yue continued, "On your wedding night alone in an empty room? If word gets out, you'll become a laughingstock throughout the capital." Her words grazed Liu Ruyi's heart like a gentle wound—though not deep, it still throbbed painfully.
"I’m not afraid of being laughed at!" Liu Ruyi declared firmly, her voice ringing clear and strong like a mountain spring breaking through surrounding gloom.
"You truly understand what’s at stake!" A flicker of admiration crossed Yuan Yingwu's eyes as he seemed taken aback by Liu Ruyi's composure. He turned and commanded Niu Peng, "Prepare our four-horse carriage at home. Get me one hundred taels of gold and some valuable jewelry; also prepare some generous gifts—I want to send them back with my wife!"
His voice carried an undeniable authority mixed with affection.
Liu Ruyi quickly shook her head. "There’s no need for such extravagance!" Her heart swelled with emotion but also held onto a thread of stubbornness.
Yuan Yingwu replied, "Since you are so considerate of others, I want your return home to be as grand as possible—let's see who dares to mock you!" With that said, he followed Niu Peng out.
As soon as the two men left, Zhang Yue immediately pulled out a basket full of treats from under the table and high-fived Liu Ruyi in celebration. "Yay!" The chicken legs and pig trotters inside glimmered enticingly under the light—like bright spots in the darkness.
"Zhang Yue! You did so well; here’s an extra chicken leg for you!" Liu Ruyi praised with a smile.
"Great!" Zhang Yue replied cheerfully before expertly pulling out chicken legs and pig trotters from the basket one by one—as if performing a grand ritual.
"Everything we wanted has been taken care of, and the man has left just in time! Let's eat!" Liu Ruyi said with a beaming smile, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Zhang Yue unceremoniously grabbed a chicken leg, while Liu Ruyi picked up a large pig's trotter, and they both began to munch away. The sound of their feasting echoed clearly in the somewhat empty room, as if it were a unique melody of joy just for them.
Meanwhile, beside the well in Gongfu, things were quite lively!
"Don't stop me! Let me die!" Fan Jiao Jiao cried out, looking as if she were on the brink of despair. She seemed ready to jump into the well, but her hand was firmly held back by an old woman.
"Jiao Jiao Girl, please don’t jump!" Mei Xin called out from nearby. Spotting Yuan Yingwu approaching, she raised her voice in urgency and panic, as if trying to calm a rising storm.
"Don’t stop me! I would rather die than live with this heartbreak!" Fan Jiao Jiao continued to feign devastation, tears streaming down her lightly made-up cheeks like pearls from a broken string.
As Yuan Yingwu drew closer, Mei Xin became even more animated. "Jiao Jiao Girl, try to think positively!" she urged, turning to the old woman. "Hold on tight! Don’t let Jiao Jiao Girl jump!"
The old woman quickly replied, "Yes!" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her helplessness in the face of fear.
"Don’t stop me!" Fan Jiao Jiao shouted again, her tone resolute.
"Let her go! Let her jump!" Yuan Yingwu commanded as he reached them. His voice was low and cold, like a chilling current from the depths of the sea, instantly silencing the surrounding commotion.
The old woman had no choice but to release her grip.
Seeing this, Fan Jiao Jiao realized the act could not continue and switched to a pitiful tone. "Young Lord, how can you bear to watch me die?" A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes, as if she were performing a carefully orchestrated farce.
"You’re still eight paces away; you wouldn’t dare!" Yuan Yingwu replied coldly, his gaze laced with disdain and mockery.
Fan Jiao Jiao quickly stepped up to him. "Young Lord, are you ashamed of my background?" Her eyes reflected a mix of grievance and defiance.
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