Chapter 92: Preparing to Go South

Su Qingwan had kept those words from the back garden in his heart. With displeasure hidden in his eyes, his voice was like a sharp sword from a cold pond, icy and cutting: “Tell me all the rumors circulating outside.”

“This…” Xiao Yuan’s face showed surprise as he hesitated.

Most of the unpleasant rumors circulating outside were directed at Doctor Lu. Without deep investigation, it was clear they stemmed from jealousy and envy.

After all, given the Young Master’s status, if anyone spoke disrespectfully, it would surely lead to imprisonment. Later, perhaps considering that Doctor Lu was ultimately the daughter-in-law of Yun Qinwang, people didn’t speak openly but whispered in private.

The Young Master treated Doctor Lu differently from others, and naturally wouldn’t let her suffer grievances. He would surely punish those spreading rumors recklessly.

Su Qingwan lay lazily, lips slightly pursed, as if anticipating anger. He said carelessly, “Go ahead, I won’t get angry.”

Though the Young Master appeared calm on the surface, displeasure brewed between his brows. Xiao Yuan steeled himself and said: “Ever since the news of your engagement to Doctor Lu spread, the whole capital has been abuzz with gossip. They all say… say that Doctor Lu is a pretty boy.”

“They say she’s deeply scheming, trying to climb the social ladder and rely on power. At the Imperial College, she deliberately approached you in the position of a teacher, using her good looks to serve you with her beauty…”

“Enough! No need to say more.” Su Qingwan’s brows furrowed tightly as he lowered his face and interrupted, a wave of uncontrollable anger burning in his heart.

Seeing the Young Master’s sudden change in expression, Xiao Yuan began to explain: “Young Master, you said you wouldn’t get angry. Moreover, it was Doctor Lu who specifically instructed us not to let you know about these rumors. The Young Master should know the reason for Doctor Lu’s actions.”

Su Qingwan fell silent for a moment, thinking of what Elder Sister Yuner had said in the back garden. He slowly spoke: “Xiao Yuan, you may go now. I want to rest.”

“Yes.” Having conveyed Doctor Lu’s intentions, Xiao Yuan was no longer worried about the Young Master overthinking things. He didn’t say anything more, just got up to extinguish the lights in the room, then closed the door and left.

At this moment, Su Qingwan’s eyes, brimming with flowing light, grew deeper and deeper.

The next morning, after breakfast, Lu Yuner returned to the Imperial College to teach, as usual meeting Liu Bing who had arrived early at the Doctors’ Hall. She took the opportunity to inform her of the meeting time and place.

At noon after finishing class, Lu Yuner went to Jingyi Pavilion to find Han Ranzhi, to ask for a few days off in advance because she needed to go congratulate Aunt Mu on her birthday at the end of the month. Regarding other matters, Han Ranzhi was already informed.

Outside Jingyi Pavilion, Liu Lan leaned against the wall with folded arms, a change from her usual unrestrained demeanor, gazing at the sky with a bland expression.

Inside the room, Han Ranzhi placed a cup of hot tea in front of Lu Yuner, then sat down beside her and looked her in the eye. “I’ve received Nanxi’s message and know what to do. However… Sister Yuner, you should stay a few extra days in Jiangnan and spend more time with Aunt Mu.”

Catching the implication in her words, Lu Yuner’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Sister Ranzhi, what do you mean?”

Han Ranzhi said seriously: “You shouldn’t get involved in this matter.”

Lu Yuner’s expression turned serious: “Why not?”

Han Ranzhi’s eyes shifted. As for the reason… Sister Yuner was the daughter of her benefactor. When the Lu couple was alive, they had shown her great kindness. Now that her benefactors were no longer in this world, Yuner was the only remaining seedling of the Lu family.

In earlier years, her benefactors had intended for Sister Yuner not to pursue an official career. Who knew the Emperor would issue an edict for her to enter the court as an official. After all, imperial orders couldn’t be defied, so they just let things take their natural course, with her helping from the side.

But court affairs weren’t so simple, with unfathomable undercurrents that could drown a person at any time.

This time, requesting an edict for Sister Yuner to come teach at the Imperial College was mainly to let her gradually withdraw, knowing she wasn’t someone who sought fame and fortune. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have declined the rewards for the account book matter.

Moreover, after experiencing the account book incident, she had thought she could protect her completely, but unexpectedly still miscalculated and almost lost her life. This time the involvement was even more complex than before. She couldn’t let Sister Yuner take risks.

Han Ranzhi said with a solemn expression: “Since this matter involves Yun Qinwang, if she takes action, with her methods and status, naturally it won’t be our business. Moreover… the account book matter is already being jointly investigated by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. We’d better not interfere too much to avoid complications.”

“Besides, you’re now engaged to Young Master Su. For Young Master Su’s sake, Yun Qinwang won’t let you get involved in this matter. Sister Yuner, you should focus on living your life with Young Master Su!”

After class, Su Qingwan came to the Jixian Gate, carrying the lunch that Xiao Yuan had brought for him. After briefly instructing a few words, he hurriedly left.

Last time Sister Yuner had promised him he could come here, so they naturally had lunch together.

These past few days, Su Qingwan had eaten the meals from the dining hall, and the taste and presentation were indeed good. But Sister Yuner taught classes so diligently every day, it was a bit lacking for nourishing her body.

Su Qingwan pushed open the door and entered the small courtyard, finding that she hadn’t returned yet. He placed the food on the small dining table in the kitchen and laid everything out.

After a while.

Suddenly hearing the door open, Su Qingwan quickly came out of the kitchen. Seeing the person entering the courtyard, he called out happily: “Sister Yuner, you’re back. The food is ready.”

Lu Yuner walked towards the kitchen, smiling: “Did you wait long?”

“No, I just arrived.” Su Qingwan returned to the kitchen and came out carrying a basin of water. “Come, let me wash your hands, then we’ll eat.”

Su Qingwan came forward to roll up her sleeves. Lu Yuner smiled slightly and said, “It’s fine, I can do this small thing myself.”

“No, I want to wash them for you.” Su Qingwan lowered his eyes and held her hand, placing it in the clear water. Thinking of yesterday’s discussion about rumors, a trace of tenderness flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, the sunlight was just right, warm sunshine spilling onto his body. The bright light illuminated his fair profile, his eyelashes black and long.

Lu Yuner’s lips curved upwards, allowing him to attend to her.

After washing, Su Qingwan took a clean handkerchief to dry her hands. Suddenly he paused, carefully examining these fair, slender fingers. The next second, thinking of how these hands had roamed over his body last night… he couldn’t help but lower his small face even more.

Lu Yuner lowered her gaze and caught sight of the young man before her, his earlobes flushed red, his skin seeming to burn with transparency. Recalling the ambiguous events in the carriage last night, she increasingly felt that Young Master Su was full of vigor, as if he had discovered a new continent, harboring intense desire and endless yearning for her.

If she hadn’t called a stop to it, it was just a kiss, yet it left her feeling physically and mentally exhausted. She hadn’t expected Young Master Su to be so interested in her.

The young man’s face was flushed red, his eyes lowered, like a gorgeous flower dripping with dew, making one want to pluck it.

Lu Yuner reached out to lift his small face, saying gently: “Isn’t it a bit late to be shy now? Last night, Ah Wan wasn’t like this at all.”

Hearing this, Su Qingwan’s eyes flickered shyly, feeling the blood flowing through his body start to boil. He put down the handkerchief in his hand and pulled Lu Yuner’s hand towards the kitchen. “Sister Yuner, it’s time to eat. Otherwise, the food will get cold and won’t taste good.”

Lu Yuner’s eyes curved, and she drawled in a lazy voice, “Alright—”

After finishing the meal and tidying up the kitchen, the two returned to the room.

Lu Yuner made the bed and said, “Ah Wan, you sleep. I’ll go read for a while.”

Su Qingwan’s brow furrowed, and he hurriedly pulled her hand, saying, “Sister Yuner, there’s still some time before afternoon classes. Won’t you lie down for a bit?”

Lu Yuner’s eyelashes fluttered as she patted his hand: “I’m not sleepy now. You go to sleep.”

Moisture welled up in Su Qingwan’s eyes, making him look pitiful: “I remember Sister Yuner always had the habit of taking an afternoon nap. Why today… Is it because I’m here disturbing Sister Yuner?”

“Well…” Lu Yuner paused briefly. She knew Young Master Su’s thoughts. Although they had been intimate, they hadn’t shared a bed before.

“Then I won’t disturb Sister Yuner. I’ll leave.” Seeing her still hesitating, Su Qingwan let go of her hand with tears in his eyes and turned to leave.

“Ah Wan, wait!” Lu Yuner grabbed him and pulled him into her arms. “I haven’t finished speaking!”

The moment he was held in her arms, a flash of light passed through Su Qingwan’s lowered eyes. He raised his handsome face, which looked utterly wronged yet obedient, and said softly to her: “What else does Sister Yuner want to say to me?”

The young man’s soft demeanor made Lu Yuner’s heart tremble. “Don’t go. Stay and keep me company.”

Lu Yuner led Su Qingwan to the bed, took off both their shoes, lay down and pulled the quilt over them. She closed her eyes and said softly: “Sleep now. There’s still class later.”

“Mm.” Su Qingwan’s hand resting on her waist tightened slightly as he moved closer, nestling into her embrace and deeply inhaling her cool fragrance.

At this moment, they were both fully clothed and unharmed. He understood her intention.

Su Qingwan raised his eyes to look closely at the woman before him. Finally taking a step closer to Sister Yuner, his long, narrow eyes squinted slightly, his smile revealing pleasure.

Lu Yuner’s closed eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, not necessarily stopping him.

Seeing a few strands of black hair falling across her face, Su Qingwan reached out to tidy the stray locks, his fingertips inadvertently touching her fair, delicate skin.

His face suddenly flushed red, and the next second, his hand in mid-air was enveloped by a warm grasp. He met those bright, smiling eyes, which for some reason made him flustered.

Lu Yuner turned to lie on her side facing him and said in a gentle voice: “If Ah Wan isn’t sleepy at all, then let’s…”

“I want… want to sleep.” Su Qingwan’s expression changed slightly as he quickly interrupted her. “Just now I saw Sister Yuner had a few loose strands of hair, I just wanted to help tidy them up.”

“After we wake up, you can help me tidy it again.” Lu Yuner lowered her head and gently kissed his forehead. “Now sleep well! Otherwise, there won’t be enough time.”

Su Qingwan buried his face in her embrace, his sweet smile tinged with shyness. “Okay.”

After a while, seeing the person in her arms breathing evenly, his complexion like the rosy glow of dawn on snow, his long eyelashes very still, looking as if he was sleeping sweetly.

Lu Yuner gently removed the hand resting on her waist and slowly got up. She looked at him deeply for a moment, then went to the desk and picked up a book to read.

After the afternoon nap, they both went about their own business until school let out in the afternoon. Lu Yuner was invited into Yun Qinwang’s mansion by Chen Si. As Sister Ranzhi had predicted, Yun Qinwang indeed spoke with her, with the intention of telling her not to get involved in this matter.

She knew Sister Ranzhi had her best interests at heart. Wanting to help others should be done within one’s capabilities. As for Yun Qinwang’s intentions, they were nothing more than concern for Young Master Su. If anything untoward were to happen to her, it would certainly affect Young Master Su’s emotions.

She was also clear about her own abilities. Fighting against those in power would be nothing more than an ant trying to shake a big tree. She was just a doctor now, and certainly couldn’t win against them. Otherwise, she would have brought them to justice before.

Moreover… she herself wasn’t someone who pursued fame and fortune, nor did she want to remain long in the court. Now that she could avoid everything, it was actually quite leisurely.

Dating Young Master Su, taking a trip to Jiangnan to enjoy the scenery and relax wasn’t bad either.