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Chapter 546 Yunyin Pavilion

The carriage left through the back gate of the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion. It was already quieter outside than during the day, and in the dim light, the carriage prepared by Fuwen Fulu looked even more inconspicuous.

The steward and Zhao Mama were reluctant to part and wanted to see him off all the way to the door, but Zhu Yu naturally refused this idea.

"Take good care of yourselves, everyone. Tomorrow, when people from the palace come, whether they search the place or seal it off, do not argue with anyone or cause any trouble for yourselves. Take good care of yourselves." Zhu Yu stopped them and earnestly reminded them again.

"Mmm." Zhao Mama wiped her eyes and nodded repeatedly, looking at her kind-hearted mistress with reluctance. "Don't worry, Madam. You and the Prince should take good care of yourselves. I'll be waiting for you to come back and continue to serve you!"

Zhu Yu and Zhao Mama bid each other a reluctant farewell. Just as the carriage was about to leave, the cook from the Prince's mansion ran out, his eyes red, and stuffed a food box into the carriage.

"Madam, you've only been married into the family for a short time, and I haven't had a chance to figure out your tastes and preferences yet. I'm so sorry!" The chef's voice was thick with emotion, as if he had just been secretly crying. "I quickly prepared a few of the dishes that the Prince used to like... I don't know when you'll be able to come back again. It's never as good as home outside, and the food and drinks are bound to be a little different..."

These things can't be stored, so I can only bring you and the Prince this little bit for now...

"When you and the Prince return, I'll cook you something different every day, whatever you'd like to eat!"

Zhu Yu had heard Zhao Mama mention that this chef was an unfortunate man. He had accidentally offended a powerful playboy in the capital and almost ended up with his family ruined and his wife and children separated. Lu Qing had kindly saved him and, seeing his excellent cooking skills, kept him in the mansion as a chef, giving him support and thus ensuring the safety of his entire family.

From then on, the chef always felt deeply grateful to Lu Qing.

That's probably why he's feeling even more heartbroken and reluctant than others.

And so, under the reluctant gaze of the servants of the Prince's mansion, the carriage finally exited through the back gate.

"Madam, where are we going now?" Fu Wen lifted the curtain from the front and asked Zhu Yu.

“Yunyin Pavilion,” Zhu Yu said to him.

As dusk settled and the lights began to twinkle, Yunyin Pavilion was already bustling with activity. Every now and then, magnificent carriages would stop at the entrance, from which several well-dressed young men from prominent families would alight, fanning themselves with paper fans as they walked inside.

There were also some scholars dressed in ordinary clothes, who came in twos and threes with their friends, hoping to display their talents at Yunyin Pavilion, have the opportunity to hang their poems in the store, and earn a reputation for their talents.

Outside the gates of Yunyin Pavilion, young waiters came and went, greeting and seeing off guests with smiling faces, their enthusiasm filling the air.

On the other side of the bustling main gate of Yunyin Pavilion, the back gate was quiet and deserted. There was not a single person in the dark alley. It wasn't until the sound of a carriage approached that a gatekeeper-like person heard the noise and came out to check.

"Who goes there?" the doorman asked rather warily, seemingly bothered that someone was approaching their back door for no reason.

There was no reply from the other side. As the carriage drew closer, in the dim light of the lantern in the gatekeeper's hand, he saw the talisman sitting at the front of the carriage.

Upon seeing that it was the two of them, the gatekeeper didn't say another word and quickly turned back to open the door. And so it went, going in and out several times, until the carriage finally came to a complete stop. The man in front jumped down, went around to the back, and lifted the curtain for Zhu Yu: "Madam, you may get down now."

Zhu Yu had often accompanied Lu Qing here before. Sometimes he would disguise himself and listen to music and drink at the front, and other times he would go directly to the back and secretly enter their secret room to meet Lu Chao.

So the moment she got off the carriage, she thought she would be in the familiar courtyard, until she jumped off the carriage and looked around before realizing that she was wrong.

Liu Yueyao was already waiting there. She looked quite calm and showed no surprise at Zhu Yu and the others' arrival.

"Liu Yueyao greets Madam." After Zhu Yu had steadied himself, she stepped forward unhurriedly and greeted him slowly, a calm smile on her beautiful face. "I thought you and Master might not arrive until tomorrow, but I didn't expect you to come tonight."

I have prepared this secluded courtyard for you two, which is more suitable for recuperating and decocting medicine, so you don't have to worry about being disturbed.

"I've prepared some clothes and other necessities. If you need anything else after you've looked through them, please just have the talisman tell me."

Zhu Yu nodded: "Miss Liu, you've gone to a lot of trouble."

"Madam, you flatter me. This is my duty." Liu Yueyao remained composed and gave a slight curtsy. "You two must have suffered a lot these days. I will have people prepare different meals for you three times a day. If you have any other requests, please don't hesitate to ask. I may not be able to say much about other things, but Yunyin Pavilion has all kinds of ingredients."

"You two should rest well here for the next few days. I will come back to report on my situation when I am feeling better."

Zhu Yu nodded in agreement, and Liu Yueyao then had people help with the talismans to lift Lu Qing down from the carriage and carefully carry him into the house, settling him on the bed in the bedroom. After that, they all withdrew.

After these people left, Lu Qing briefly woke up and saw that they had arrived at the side courtyard behind Yunyin Pavilion. A relieved smile appeared on his face.

“Yan Daoxin is right, you are indeed the person in this world who understands my intentions the best,” he said to Zhu Yu.

Hearing Yan Daoxin's name, Zhu Yu felt another pang of heartache, but Lu Qing was still seriously injured at the moment, and the wound on his back was bleeding again after all this ordeal. She didn't want to add to his troubles at this critical juncture.

A short while later, Fu Lu came to knock on the door and said that a servant had brought a bucket of hot water. He and Fu Wen carried it and helped Zhu Yu pour it into the bathtub behind the screen.

Zhu Yu had been wearing dirty and smelly clothes for many days. Earlier, because of what happened in the South Study, her heart had been in high spirits. Then, Lu Qing was beaten and his body was covered in blood and gore. She had no mind to think about anything else.

Seeing a large bucket of warm water and clean clothes on the side, she couldn't resist and, taking advantage of Lu Qing's good condition and the fact that she didn't need any help, quickly washed herself clean from head to toe.

Without the confinement of the cloth binding my chest, even breathing seemed to become easier.

Liu Yueyao was very thoughtful, preparing clothes in advance, including both men's and women's clothing, with sizes suitable for both Lu Qing and Zhu Yu.

Although there were no restrictions here, Zhu Yu still chose to wear men's clothes, since he still needed to take care of the injured Lu Qing, and the short-sleeved style would make it easier to move around.