Tao Yu sat on the bed, looking around the room. Although everything looked simple, all the daily necessities she needed were there, completely different from when she had sneaked in to hide before. After sitting quietly for a while, she finally sighed and lay down to sleep without thinking.Nian Nian directly took her to Yue Linze’s residence. When Tao Yu arrived, the table was already set with food. The dishes from the temple looked light and watery, clearly lacking in appetite.
However, since they were not feeling well, eating something light would be good for digestion. Tao Yu picked up Nian Nian and placed her on the table, starting to serve her food. After scanning the table, Nian Nian said unhappily, “Want meat meat.”
“No meat in the temple. We’ll eat meat when we go back,” Tao Yu softly coaxed.
Nian Nian glanced at her, listlessly picking up her chopsticks to push around the rice, using her entire body language to show she disliked vegetables. Tao Yu was helpless but could only patiently coax her. Yue Linze watched them for a moment, then slowly said, “Eat obediently, I’ll take you down the mountain to eat meat tonight.”
Tao Yu’s fingertips paused, forcing a smile at him. Ever since she realized he had seen through her disguise, listening to him speak always felt intentional. Nian Nian finally cheered up and began to eat cooperatively. The three of them ate very quietly. After finishing, Nian Nian saw a young monk outside and started pestering to go play with him.
Yue Linze agreed, and she ran out with small steps. This time, Tao Yu did not follow but stood in front of Yue Linze.
Yue Linze paused: “Something wrong?”
“Nothing. This servant will take her leave.” Tao Yu lowered her eyes and retreated, walking far before lifting her head and leaving with a cold expression.
Nian Nian went to play with a young monk not much older than herself. Tao Yu searched everywhere but couldn’t find her and had no mood to ask others, so she wandered aimlessly and ended up in the back mountain.
Having been exposed in front of Yue Linze and now inexplicably running to the wilderness, Tao Yu grew increasingly angry, sitting on a stone by the small path, silently fuming.
Thank you.” The scholar took a deep breath and thanked her, then tremblingly took the red flower oil. After bowing, the young monk turned and left, leaving only Tao Yu still in the room.
Tao Yu watched like she was enjoying a show, and when she saw the scholar untying his clothes, she raised an eyebrow: “I’m still here, can’t you be a bit more discreet?”
“Big sister, at your age, you look about the same as my mother. What is there to be discreet about?” The scholar said while groaning and applying medicine to himself.
“Can’t you be more steady? Someone who doesn’t know might think you’re slaughtering a pig,” Tao Yu clicked her tongue.
The scholar was indignant: “You’re still mocking me? If you hadn’t failed to support me, how would I have ended up like this?!”
“That’s because you’re clumsy. What does that have to do with me? I’ve never seen a grown man who can’t even get down from a tree. No wonder they say scholars are useless,” Tao Yu disdained.
The scholar was so angry his face alternated between red and white. After a while, he tried to retort, but was quickly countered by Tao Yu. The two bickered back and forth. After the scholar finished applying medicine, Tao Yu left in a good mood. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Yue Linze standing in the courtyard, and the smile on her face immediately disappeared.
“City Lord,” Tao Yu approached him.
Yue Linze looked at her quietly, and after a long time, he asked: “Why are you here?”
Thinking that he might have truly seen through worldly affairs and no longer had feelings for her, Tao Yu felt annoyed but still patiently answered: “I rescued a scholar on the back mountain and brought him to the temple for treatment.”
After Tao Yu finished speaking, she waited for Yue Linze to respond, but he remained silent for a long time. Tao Yu pursed her lips and lowered her eyes: “I’ll go find the young lady.” She was about to leave.
“Are you familiar with him?” came an abrupt question from behind.
Tao Yu paused, a smile forming at the corner of her mouth: “Not really. I’ve always liked teenage boys, finding them most spirited. But in a few years, they’ll become corrupt and less appealing.”
She finished speaking without waiting for Yue Linze’s reaction and strode towards the door.
Yue Linze stood in place for a long time, until his shoulders were damp, before turning to leave.
Tao Yu’s mouth curved up. She would try one last time, and if she couldn’t tease him this time, she would accept defeat. But if she could… Yue Linze, don’t blame me for seeking revenge. She shared her plan with ill intentions.
The scholar hesitated after hearing her method: “Can this really work?”
“It definitely will. When the time comes, just follow the plan, and I guarantee your parents will be more than willing to let you marry that girl. But let’s be clear, this needs to be kept secret, though not too secret. You can hint a bit to the girl, tell her not to be anxious and wait patiently, to avoid any misunderstandings.” Tao Yu considered every detail.
The scholar nodded, then asked another question: “What about the city lord? How can you ensure he’ll help us?”
“That’s what I was going to tell you. The city lord is most upright and probably unwilling to lie with us, so we’ll keep him in the dark. Leave the rest to me,” Tao Yu said. Seeing his continued doubts, she immediately complained, “Do you want me to give you a definite answer? If not, I’ll just drop it.”
“Yes, yes, of course!” the scholar hurriedly replied.
Tao Yu was satisfied and began discussing details. Not far from this courtyard, Yue Linze stood under a pine tree wearing only a thin garment, his face as pale and cold as the snowy landscape behind him. He seemed lifeless, his soul seemingly gone.
Since that day she spoke those words to him, he wanted to see her but was afraid to. Whenever he mustered the courage to see her, he would recall her disgusted look and retreat. Today, he finally gathered the courage to secretly look, only to find her in another man’s room.
He had seen this scholar before – somewhat timid and talkative, but with clean eyes that were pure inside and out, completely different from his own false and dirty self. Is this the type she likes?
Thinking of her indifferent expression, his heart churned, causing the long-unhealed wound on his chest to ooze pus, making him tremble in pain – the only way he could feel alive.
Tao Yu came out of the scholar’s room and saw him in this miserable state. Yue Linze unexpectedly met her gaze, panicking and stepping back, then suddenly stopping, fighting back tears as he walked forward: “What are you doing here? Where’s Nian Nian?”
“Nian Nian went to set off firecrackers with the little monks, so I didn’t go,” Tao Yu pretended not to notice his strange expression and slightly bowed.
Yue Linze, while she wasn’t looking, stared hungrily at the top of her head: “What are you doing here?”
Tao Yu was stunned, then seemed to think of something, her smile barely concealed: “I, I’m just checking on him…”
“Who is he?” Yue Linze pressed.
Tao Yu carefully glanced at him, her eyes sparkling strangely: “No, no one, just a scholar living here… Um, city lord, could you help me with something?”
“What is it,” Yue Linze felt a bad premonition rising.
Tao Yu laughed shyly, her darkened face twisting slightly, but Yue Linze didn’t find it ugly, instead storing every expression in his heart.
