Chapter 24: Night Talk After the Rain Stops

The frost-colored sleeve was blown up by the wind, and the young man who seemed to have walked out of a painting swayed like a kite with a broken string, about to fall.

Hu Youning was so anxious that his voice almost broke, but the young master couldn’t hear anything. He just rushed headlong into the Long Mountain Gorge.

Under the palm pressed against his chest was that piece of mutton-fat jade.

“Li Fulang!” Hu Sanniang was so shocked that she forgot about Fu Lanxian beside her. She quickly blocked Meng Jun and said hurriedly, “It’s too dangerous for you to go now. Why don’t we wait until the mudslide subsides, then we can go up the mountain together to search.”

Li Ruantang had always been very loving towards her husband, so Hu Sanniang naturally didn’t dare to be rude.

She gestured for Hu Youning, who was standing dazed, to come forward, and urgently advised, “Li Fulang, don’t worry. Li Niang indeed said she had a way to deal with it. Li Fulang only needs to wait for three days. Even if the rain doesn’t stop by then, I won’t refuse or stop Li Fulang from going to Long Mountain Gorge.”

“Did my wife-master really say that?”

Seeing Meng Jun half-believing and half-doubting, slowing down his pace, Hu Sanniang nodded hurriedly, “This lowly one wouldn’t dare deceive Li Fulang, let alone speak rashly about Li Niang’s life.”

She paused, then said in a low voice, “This is also Li Niang’s wish.”

Hu Sanniang’s expression was sincere, and even Fu Lanxian beside her nodded in agreement, “Li Fulang, this lowly one can also testify.”

The young man before them was handsome and graceful. Even with his brows furrowed, he still looked like a beautiful jade tree.

The sky was dark with clouds and the wind was rising, but as he stood there, he looked like an immortal who had descended from the clouds into the mortal world, making everything around him bright.

Fu Lanxian had always had a soft spot for beautiful people. She changed her previous wailing and begging expression, and said flatteringly, “Li Fulang, don’t worry. If Hu Sanniang refuses to search for her at that time, you can find me. I will personally accompany you.”

She was still under the influence of the Li family’s secret drug.

Moreover, when they parted earlier, Li Ruantang had made it clear that her young husband had a prescription that could temporarily suppress this poison.

Fu Lanxian’s eyes turned shrewdly, and she had just moved a step closer to Meng Jun when she was fiercely glared back by Hu Sanniang.

The rain from the sky was like water being poured down, falling mercilessly, making crisp pattering sounds on the straw raincoats.

The young master stared blankly, not understanding why Li Ruantang had set a three-day appointment.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe what Li Ruantang said, but if she had only said such comforting words to avoid burdening others…

The more Meng Jun thought about it, the more unsure he became. He shook his head and stepped aside to avoid Hu Sanniang.

No, no matter what, he had to go and see for himself.

In the time it took to say a few words, this place was filled with the damp earthy smell, making people frown.

“Jiu Jiu, don’t be stubborn.” Hu Youning quickly ran forward and firmly held the young master’s arm, gritting his teeth and saying harshly, “If we continue like this, we’ll only become a burden to Li Niang!”

As soon as these words were said, he felt Jiu Jiu’s body suddenly stiffen.

But Hu Youning had no choice. If he didn’t speak more severely, how would the young master listen to their persuasion?

A burden?

Meng Jun was stunned, feeling a bitterness in his mouth. Ah Ning was right. Originally, Li Ruantang hadn’t allowed him to come along.

Now that she had let Hu Sanniang and others come out first, it was to save their lives as witnesses.

If he delayed any longer, any one of them here might be swallowed by that pitch-black mudflow.

The wind was still howling, but Meng Jun’s heart felt as if it had been heavily struck by a mountain rock. He lowered his eyes, “I’ll go back with you. I…”

His clear voice trembled and scattered. The young master sniffled, “I… I won’t burden my wife-master.”

He tightly clutched the piece of mutton-fat jade, with tears welling up in his reddened eyes.

In his ears, he seemed to still hear her gentle voice, “Silly Jiu Jiu, this case involves palace struggles. If we can’t uncover the truth, I’m afraid it will endanger our great Jin dynasty’s hundred-year foundation. When the country is no longer a country, where can we call home?”

The young master silently pursed his lips. He didn’t understand grand concepts like national righteousness. But the people Li Ruantang wanted to protect absolutely couldn’t lose their lives because of him.

In his ears, the wind was biting. Ding ding

Except for Fu Lanxian who was lost in her own thoughts, the others were silently running. The further they got from Long Mountain Gorge, the weaker the earthy smell became.

By the time they reached Hu Village, the rain had gradually subsided, and even the dark clouds in the sky had dispersed somewhat.

The room was still in the same state as when Li Ruantang had left in the morning.

The young master stood quietly. The tears he had been holding back all the way fell from the corners of his eyes when he saw the flower wreath that was still placed on the kang-side cabinet, just as it had been left.

A night of continuous rain had slowed the withering of the flowers, but even so, they were no longer as vibrant as before. With just a slight touch, many petals fell off.

Meng Jun reached out to wipe away his tears.

Wuu, he couldn’t cry. Since Li Ruantang had said three days later, she would definitely be alright.

Outside the window, Zhou Fulang was very worried, quietly asking the equally anxious Hu Sanniang about the situation.

Hu Sanniang cautiously lowered her voice. Now she wasn’t worried that Fu Lanxian would make any small moves. That scoundrel valued her life too much. At the moment, she was both ingratiating and flattering, all for the pill that could temporarily suppress the poison.

“Let’s wait. Li Niang said three days later, so she must have a clever plan.” As she said this, Hu Sanniang deliberately raised her voice.

The young master heard it clearly.

But he was still worried. In the face of natural disasters, human efforts were insignificant, and she… she was still injured. Just thinking about how Li Ruantang had been enduring pain these past few days made Meng Jun’s heart ache even more.

Yet the young master couldn’t show such worries.

Li Ruantang had written clearly in her letter this morning, telling him not to panic no matter what, and especially not to show sadness or grief in front of the villagers of Hu Village.

At first, Meng Jun didn’t think this would be difficult to do, after all, he wasn’t Li Ruantang’s husband in the true sense. But now…

The young master was so sad that his heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. He wrapped himself tightly in the thin quilt, secretly wiping his tears. But if Li Ruantang were here, how could she bear to let him be stifled under the covers like this?

“Wuu wuu wuu… wife-master.”

The clear voice filled with tears had long since broken. Zhou Fulang stood outside the window listening for a while, then left with a soft sigh.

By the stove sat Ning’er, equally distracted and dispirited. His heart sank, and he gently patted the shoulder of the absent-minded Hu Youning, “What are you thinking about?”

“Father.” Hu Youning pursed his lips and shook his head, “I’m a bit worried about Jiu Jiu.”

He carefully explained the heart-piercing words he had said earlier when trying to persuade Jiu Jiu. Zhou Fulang slightly furrowed his brows, “Ning’er, you should go and apologize properly for this matter. Don’t mention other things for now, to avoid stirring up Li Fulang’s sadness and grief again.”

After all, Ning’er wasn’t worried about Li Niang, whose fate was uncertain. Zhou Fulang breathed a sigh of relief and chanted a few Buddhist prayers to himself.

“Ning’er, later you’ll accompany father to the Mountain Goddess Temple to pray and ask the Mountain Goddess to bless Li Niang’s safety.”

Hu Youning responded softly, raising his eyes to look at the tightly closed door opposite.

Jiu Jiu was so sad, it couldn’t be all because of worrying about her.

It was probably mostly because he was afraid that if Li Niang disappeared, he would never be able to separate from her. After all, when Jiu Jiu spoke of Sister Wei, he was extremely admiring.

But he hadn’t forgotten the scene he had inadvertently witnessed last night. The firewood he held in his hand, soaked by the rain, refused to burn.

The wood splinters hurt his hand, but Hu Youning didn’t feel the pain. He only felt a heartache that made it difficult to breathe.

If possible, he also wanted to go search for her without regard for anything else.

As this day was coming to an end, the sky that seemed to have sprung a leak finally stopped raining, and even the dark, heavy clouds were blown clean by the wind.

The gate of the Hu family courtyard was once again urgently knocked on by Fu Lanxian.

She changed her past arrogant attitude, smiling very flatteringly, “San Niang, please trouble you to ask Li Fulang for me, this medicine…”

“Wait!”

Hu Sanniang interrupted Fu Lanxian impatiently. If it weren’t for Li Ruantang’s instructions, she would rather Fu Lanxian die from the poison right now.

However, now was not the time to act on personal grudges.

Zhou Fulang shook his head slightly at her, then turned to knock on the door that had been tightly closed for most of the day.

“Li Fulang, have you rested?”

Just as the greeting words fell, the thin wooden door creaked open from the inside.

The young man before them was dressed in frost-colored clothes. His beautiful phoenix eyes were still a bit swollen, but he coldly handed over half a red pill.

“Take it at midnight every night to alleviate the burning effect on the internal organs. It can’t be taken early or late.”

Midnight?

Zhou Fulang looked up at the sky. Fu Lanxian, standing at the courtyard gate, had obviously heard Meng Jun’s words. Her face turned pale. She had originally thought of taking it back to have someone analyze it, but now she couldn’t wait any longer. She hurriedly swallowed the pill, not even tasting it before a coolness rose from her stomach, vaguely tending towards her anus.

Before Hu Sanniang could drop the door bolt, Fu Lanxian had already disappeared. She coldly spat a few times, then turned to look at the room where the candle had been extinguished, asking in a low voice, “How did Li Fulang’s mood seem to you just now?”

“He seemed to have calmed down quite a bit.” Zhou Fulang hesitated, following behind Hu Sanniang, “Why don’t we let Ning’er go keep Li Fulang company tonight?”

“That’s a good idea.” Hu Sanniang nodded, then personally called Hu Youning over to give him a few instructions before sending him to knock on the door.

The night after the rain was quiet. Hu Youning softly explained his purpose. Soon, that clear voice responded, seemingly just awakened, saying confusedly, “Ah Ning, I’m a bit tired today. I’ve already gone to bed.”

The person outside the door panicked, obviously not expecting him to be so carefree, but still said gently, “Then Jiu Jiu, you rest well. I’ll make you something delicious in the morning.”

Only when the footsteps in the courtyard gradually faded away…

In the darkness, the young master sitting on the edge of the kang quietly packed a small bundle. First, he put in the steamed buns that hadn’t been finished during the day, then packed a bag of wild astragalus that was left over from the morning. Then, he also put in those two flower wreaths.

The wide-open back window let in a chill.

The young master carrying a lantern moved quickly, running towards Long Mountain Gorge in the night.

After all, she had never included him in her plans for investigating the case, so if only he went to search secretly, it shouldn’t have too much impact. Besides, he had left one and a half red pills on the table.

If Li Ruantang didn’t come back after three days, then Fu Lanxian would certainly have to die with her!

The young master’s face turned cold as he tightly gripped his sleeve.

Not far away, there was still a faint earthy smell lingering. Meng Jun broke off a slightly thicker tree branch, probing the depth of the muddy water puddles while looking around.

According to Hu Sanniang, she and Li Ruantang had parted at the second big bend after entering the mountain gorge.

The young master gritted his teeth and fumbled forward, one foot deep and one foot shallow. Just as he was about to pass the second big bend, suddenly there were many rustling noises from the lush forest.

Meng Jun was stunned. Before he could react, a cold wind rose abruptly, extinguishing his lantern in an instant.

The surroundings immediately became pitch black.

He was both shocked and scared, instinctively running inward. After just a few steps, he stumbled on something unknown and was about to fall when a pair of hands from behind steadied him.

Warm breath lightly brushed Meng Jun’s earlobe.

There couldn’t be anyone else in the valley.

In that moment, the young master felt his heart tremble with panic. He instinctively gripped tightly the pair of hands resting on his waist.