Chapter 88: Hurtful Words

Su Qingwan let out a shallow sigh of relief, taking advantage of Lu Yuner’s inattention to secretly hide the book behind himself.

Lu Yuner noticed his small movement and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly, pretending not to have seen it. She spoke: “Wan’er, you’ll be finishing your courses at the end of this month, and we’ll be getting married soon. You know my parents have passed away, and the closest family I have is Aunt Mu’s family. Aunt Mu has always treated me like her own daughter and cares for me deeply.”

“It happens to be her birthday at the end of this month. I want to take you to meet her, wish her a happy birthday, and give her our wedding invitation at the same time. Wan’er, are you willing to accompany me?”

Aunt Mu was Sister Yuner’s only elder relative. Wouldn’t going to see her be equivalent to meeting his future mother-in-law?!

Su Qingwan raised his eyelashes, his dark eyes sparkling with nervousness and excitement. Suppressing the joy in his heart, he replied, “Mm, I’ll go with you.”

Having made arrangements with the young master Su, she needed to quickly implement another matter to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

For some unknown reason, the tail following her these past few days had been constant, making it too risky to take major risks.

Returning to Qu Le Fang, Su Qingwan accompanied Lu Yuner for a meal. At the same time, Lu Yuner entered a secret chamber to speak privately with Xie Nanxi, instructing him to relay everything that had happened today and the upcoming plans, word for word, to Liu Lan and Han Ranzhi.

To be honest, with her current abilities and position, all her actions relied on those two.

When she had previously served as the Minister of Revenue, she had at least held some real power thanks to the Emperor’s grace. But it had also made her realize how difficult it was to be an official, just as the saying goes: Serving the monarch is like accompanying a tiger. One cannot touch the bottom line when facing the Emperor, lest one’s head falls at the slightest misstep.

Now, as a mere professor at the Imperial College, teaching classes and grading assignments, she didn’t have to expend energy dealing with people. Life was simpler this way. However, when faced with trouble or powerful forces, there was still a sense of powerlessness to some extent.

As night fell, Lu Yuner and Su Qingwan, as previously agreed, came to the bustling market street to enjoy the sights.

“Hey! Huaying Guard, how can you be so inconsiderate? We shouldn’t follow the young master so closely. Can’t you see the young master and Professor Lu are having a good time?” To give the two of them some privacy, Xiao Yuan quickly pulled on Huaying’s sleeve and said, “We should just watch from a distance. We mustn’t disturb the young master’s enjoyment.”

Hearing Xiao Yuan’s words, Huaying looked thoughtfully at the figures ahead and slowly slowed her pace. However, her silent gaze remained firmly locked on the young master, while constantly being vigilant of the surrounding crowds, eliminating any hidden dangers.

She couldn’t let the young master be in danger again like last time.

Today, the market street was especially lively. Many small merchants and peddlers were calling out their wares, and the men, women, old and young passing by all had happy expressions on their faces, each carrying plenty of purchases.

Lu Yuner lowered her eyebrows and eyes, looking at Su Qingwan’s empty hands, and asked softly, “Is there really nothing you want?”

Su Qingwan raised his pretty little face slightly, his eyes docile and peaceful. Under the soft lamplight around them, a faint luster rippled across his features.

“Mm, I don’t want anything else. I only want Sister Yuner by my side accompanying me.”

Lu Yuner felt a silent wave in her heart. She held his hand tightly, the corners of her mouth curling into a gentle smile. “In that case, let’s go for a walk by the quiet riverbank.”

“Mm.” Su Qingwan’s brilliant smile carried a touch of shyness.

Lu Yuner led Su Qingwan, not walking far before arriving at the place where they first met. She looked around thoughtfully, finally resting her gentle gaze on the rippling Liusu River. “Do you remember this place?”

“I remember.” Su Qingwan turned his head to gaze deeply at her beautiful profile, his bright eyes filled with intense tenderness.

How could he not remember? This was where he first encountered her. Although there were some twists and turns before they got to know each other, and then later when their hearts connected, for him, the process may have been bumpy, but the result was worth it.

It was enough that Sister Yuner had him in her heart.

Su Qingwan voluntarily buried himself in her embrace, resting his head on the side of her shoulder, his arms tightly hugging her. This was the person he had pursued with great difficulty!

Lu Yuner also put her arms around him, lowering her gaze to look at the young man in her arms. She admitted that compared to the young master Su’s liking for her, her liking for him came a bit later, but it didn’t hinder her love for him.

The young man’s innocence, adorable purity, and willingness to sacrifice his life for the one he loved were the reasons why she was touched by the young master Su’s sincerity.

But… what was the origin of the young master Su’s liking for her? Although she said she didn’t mind, it was actually something she had always wanted to know, and this thought would occasionally surface in her mind.

The conversation with Prince Yun last time still lingered. In other words, if it had been another woman who saved the young master Su at that time, he would have liked that woman just the same, and she would have just remained a stranger after all.

Thinking back to when she first met the young master Su at the Imperial College, she was actually no different from others in his eyes, and nothing special would have happened between them afterwards.

Lu Yuner spoke softly, “Wan’er, what do you like about me?”

Hearing this familiar question again, Su Qingwan didn’t think much of it and still answered shyly as usual, “Sister Yuner is so good, I like everything about you, and I like you very, very much.”

Lu Yuner’s eyelashes trembled slightly, a fleeting trace of loneliness passing through her eyes. She raised her hand to stroke his smooth black hair, following up on his words, “Then what do you like the most?”

“What I like the most…” Su Qingwan lifted his body slightly, shyly looking at her, his gaze lingering on her lips, “I like this the most.”

With that, he brought his blushing little face closer and kissed her lightly, like a dragonfly touching water, before burying his face in her embrace again. Even though it was a misty night, they were still in public after all, with people following them, so he didn’t dare to be too uninhibited or bold.

Lu Yuner’s eyes moved, and the young man’s playfulness made her smile helplessly, “We still have some time. Let me take you for a walk along the riverbank.”

Su Qingwan left her embrace and glanced at the figures following not far behind. Having someone always beside them when these two were together was somewhat uncomfortable. “Why don’t we let Xiao Yuan and Huaying return to the mansion first?”

Looking at the two maintaining their distance from them, she happened to catch their gaze. Xiao Yuan tactfully looked away, but Huaying continued to watch them without changing her expression, her aura steady as she seriously carried out her duty.

It seemed that after last time, Prince Yun was even more concerned about the young master Su’s personal safety. Although she had never fought with Huaying, it was clear that she was a highly skilled martial artist.

Lu Yuner withdrew her gaze and smiled, “It’s alright. You see, they’re not disturbing our time together. Moreover, it’s their duty to follow us, so let them be!”

After about half an hour of walking, Lu Yuner sent Su Qingwan back to the mansion, taking the opportunity to discuss today’s events with Prince Yun.

After returning to Qinghua courtyard, Su Qingwan thought about what Sister Yuner had told him in the carriage. He had clearly taken it seriously. After giving some instructions to Xiao Yuan, he stayed alone in his room and took out the “Art of the Bedchamber” to continue reading.

In the study of the North Courtyard, the two were playing chess. According to their previous rules, they sat opposite each other with the chessboard as a boundary. Su Bai played with the white pieces, while Lu Yuner played with the black pieces.

Prince Yun’s expression was calm as she took out a white piece from the chess box and placed it on the board. Her tone was cool as she said, “Qingwan will soon finish his courses. I’ve already had someone calculate an auspicious date, which is set for the ninth day of next month. Chen Steward should have informed you in advance. I have only one requirement, and that is to be wholeheartedly good to Qingwan. After marrying him, you must not let him suffer any grievances.”

Lu Yuner replied while playing chess, “Rest assured! I will not let Wan’er down. If I am unfaithful to Wan’er, you may deal with me as you see fit.”

When a son is about to be married off, parents are naturally worried. She understood Prince Yun’s intentions. After marrying the young master Su, the thought of having three husbands or four attendants was out of the question. For her, this was precisely her intention as well.

Here, women could have multiple husbands and male attendants, but she still held modern thoughts. Monogamy was her first choice.

Lu Yuner continued, “At the end of this month, after Wan’er finishes his courses, I want to take him on a trip to Jiangnan. You know my parents have passed away, and Aunt Mu, my only elder relative, treats me like her own. It’s her birthday at the end of the month, and I want to take Wan’er to wish her a happy birthday and give her our wedding invitation at the same time.”

Su Bai continued playing chess without stopping, “This is a matter between you two. You can discuss it yourselves.”

“Yes.” Lu Yuner picked up a chess piece and paused slightly, saying seriously, “Someone has asked me to pass on a message. She wants to see you.”

Su Bai frowned slightly, showing displeasure, “This king does not involve herself in court affairs.”

Lu Yuner said, “I know, but I think you should see her.”

Su Bai stopped her movements and fixed her cold gaze like an arrow directly at her. “Reason.”

Lu Yuner met her gaze, feeling as if she had thorns at her back. “It’s about Lord Su.”

Su Bai’s eyes gradually narrowed dangerously, her brows and eyes carrying a chilling and serious sense of intimidation.

Lu Yuner told Prince Yun everything about the matter. When it came to Lord Su and the young master Su, Prince Yun would surely agree. At the same time, they decided on the time and place for the meeting.

Later, when the chess game was over, the conversation ended, with Lu Yuner emerging victorious.

As the servant was escorting Lu Yuner out of the mansion, they happened to run into Wan Ling, who had come to see Prince Yun. Due to their respective positions, there was bound to be some tension between these two when they met.

In the back garden, Wan Ling raised her eyebrows coldly, a fire burning in her heart. She curled her lips and said, “Congratulations, Professor Lu! You’ve managed to marry Qingwan so easily. Your skills in pleasing men are truly remarkable!”

Her words were full of ill intentions, and Lu Yuner could hear it clearly. This Wan Ling and the young master Su were childhood friends, but it seemed that she, a newcomer, had disrupted things. It appeared that even a general, when faced with unrequited love, could become small-minded.

Lu Yuner’s eyes darkened slightly, maintaining a hint of politeness as she said, “General Wan should understand what kind of person Wan’er is. In matters of the heart, no one can force anything. I have simply exchanged sincerity for sincerity.”

The fire in Wan Ling’s heart burned even more fiercely. She looked at her with aggressive eyes and laughed coldly, “Is that so? You really think you’re so special in Qingwan’s heart! As far as I know, before he knew you were his savior, you had already met. At that time, Qingwan didn’t even notice you.”

Lu Yuner paused, her furrowed brows covered with a hint of frost, waves of emotion surging in her eyes.

Seeing that Lu Yuner didn’t refute, Wan Ling became even more smug. She curled her lips into a faint smile, speaking in a mocking tone: “You just happened to pick up a cheap opportunity to save Qingwan’s life, that’s all. In other words, if someone else had saved Qingwan, huh! What would it have to do with you, Lu Yuner!”

“These days, there’s been a lot of talk outside, calling you a ‘pretty boy’! Saying you’re ‘climbing the social ladder’! I’m sure you’ve heard plenty of it, and I think every word is true. In terms of status and position, how could you, Lu Yuner, be worthy of Qingwan? For him to like you, it’s simply a fool’s dream!”

Lu Yuner pressed her lips into a straight line, remaining silent.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came.

“Elder Sister Ling! Don’t talk nonsense!” Having just heard the news that Sister Yuner was about to leave, he had rushed over to see her off. Who knew he would overhear their conversation, the content of which made his scalp tingle and his heart overflow with pain.

Su Qingwan furrowed his brows tightly and hurried to Lu Yuner’s side. Their eyes met, and seeing her indiscernible emotion and faint expression that revealed nothing, his body immediately tensed up. It felt as if a stone was pressing on his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe.