Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 223 Extra Chapter: Rong Junye (6)

"Tell me, I have so many things to do, how can I have time to deal with these two young girls? Besides, Lord Yu is dead, what use are these two young girls?" The Sixth Prince Guo Xijin frowned and sighed repeatedly, waving his hand impatiently at Lan Muhe.

The Sixth Prince paced back and forth in the main hall, making a "click-clack" sound. Behind him stood Lan Muhe, who was bowing and nagging, "Sixth Prince, these two girls are the only two survivors of the Yu family. Treating them well is also to reassure the other officials."

The sixth prince didn't listen to a word, his mind only focused on how troublesome it would be to deal with these two so-called "daughters of old friends." Now that he held great power, he really didn't want to keep up the act.

The servants lifted the beaded curtain of the hall, and Yu Nishang led her younger sister in slowly. The Sixth Prince abruptly stopped, his hand, which had been playing with a jade pendant, unconsciously halting. He stared intently at the familiar yet unfamiliar face, his breathing suddenly quickening, his eyes filled with shock—those eyebrows, those lips, were so similar to the figure deep in his memory!

"Rui'er?" He staggered forward and quickly reached out to grab Yu Nishang's wrist.

However, before her fingertips even touched her sleeve, Yu Nishang had already subtly taken a half step back and curtsied. Yu Nishang's posture was dignified and proper, but her lowered eyes revealed a distance, and her peripheral vision warily swept over the Sixth Prince's hand, which suddenly froze in mid-air.

The Sixth Prince immediately realized that this was not Rui'er. Rui'er would never look at him so coldly. When she looked at him, there was light in her eyes!

Lan Muhe's throat tightened as she looked at the burning passion and loss of composure in the Sixth Prince's eyes. He had been captivated by Yu Nishang's beauty the first time he saw her, and these past few days, her mind had been consumed by thoughts of her. Lan Muhe had long planned to have the Sixth Prince bring Yu Nishang to his residence, and then seize the opportunity to take her as a concubine.

But looking at the Sixth Prince's appearance, Lan Muhe knew that the matter of taking a concubine was definitely hopeless!
Lan Muhe clenched his fists into his flesh to suppress his resentment, but since he couldn't have it, he couldn't let Rong Junye have it for nothing!

Lan Muhe immediately put on a fawning smile, bowed and took half a step back: "Your Highness, this Miss Yu is so beautiful, you must find her a good husband!"

The sixth prince nodded with a smile, feeling quite pleased.

Yu Nishang, however, was filled with rage and wished she could sew Lan Muhe's mouth shut!
“Miss Yu’er, I know you have no one to rely on in the capital, but you still have some relatives in your hometown of Yueyang. How about I send someone to send a message there and ask them to send someone to arrange your marriage? Or, we could have them take you back to your hometown of Yueyang.” The Sixth Prince did not mention who she should marry, but his intention was very clear.

Since the Sixth Prince hadn't pointed it out, Yu Nishang naturally couldn't presume to believe it. Yu Nishang clenched her fists; now, she was caught in a dilemma.

Returning home is impossible. Even if she did, she would be an orphan, no longer the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue. Her powerful relatives would likely not only exploit her family but also marry her off arbitrarily for their own gain. With just a hint from the Sixth Prince, they'd probably be eager to send her into the lion's den!
This sixth prince was not a kind person. The deaths of his family members were the result of his power struggle with the second prince!

General Rong is a true gentleman, but what pretext could I use to stay at General Rong's residence? I'm afraid even if General Rong were here now, he wouldn't have any reason to stop me! It would only make the Sixth Prince suspicious of General Rong, and would bring me no benefit whatsoever.

Even if she refuses, will the Sixth Prince let it go? In the end, he'll probably just laugh at her and say, "You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!"
"Miss Yu, the carriage has been waiting outside for quite some time. Don't keep the Sixth Prince waiting! His arrival is a great honor!" Lan Muhe urged with a smile, but his eyes were full of calculation.

Yu Er Guniang gently shook Yu Ni Chang's hand: "Sister, I want to go back to my hometown of Yueyang!"

Yu Nishang thought to herself, her face expressionless, and nodded slightly.
-
A gust of wind blew by, and the copper bells on the eaves jingled, startling several flocks of birds.

The carriage curtain was lowered, and Yu Nishang sat inside, her heart filled with complex emotions. She held her younger sister in her arms, resting her head on the little girl's head; the fluffy hair tickled her, but her heart remained utterly still.

"Giddy up!" A familiar voice called from outside the carriage, followed by the rapid sound of hooves. "Whoa—" With a shout, the horses stopped; Rong Junye had returned!

Yu Nishang was excited and wanted to pull back the curtains, but her hand stopped abruptly as soon as it touched them, and the smile on her face gradually faded. What should she say when they met?

We can't cause General Rong any more trouble. We can't let the Sixth Prince become suspicious of General Rong because of her.

She has no choice!

Yu Nishang sat upright in the carriage, listening to the sounds outside, but her heart sank to the bottom.

"General Rong, what is this...? Are you here to escort Miss Yu?" The Sixth Prince said to Rong Junye with a smile, but his body intentionally or unintentionally blocked Rong Junye's way.

“Miss Yu…” Rong Junye’s chest heaved, feeling his heart pounding wildly. He thought to himself that he might have been riding too fast just now.

Rong Junye opened his mouth, but then didn't know what to say. She had already boarded the carriage. Was this her choice? If so, what face did he have to stop her?
Rong Junye dismounted, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Miss Yu, take care!"

The curtain in the carriage swayed slightly, but there was no response from inside.

"Let's go!" Lan Muhe ordered the group to set off without any hesitation, riding past Rong Junye without looking to the side.

The wheels made a "clattering" sound as they rolled over the bluestone slabs. "Sister, aren't you going to say goodbye to General Rong?" Yu Er looked up at her sister, puzzled. Weren't they good friends?

The string in Yu Ni Chang's heart finally snapped. She anxiously lifted the carriage curtain and looked back, but General Rong was no longer visible on the bluestone road.

Yu Ni Chang gently lowered the curtain and let her hands hang down.

The carriage moved slowly forward, the dust it kicked up splattering against the windows. Yu Ni Chang gazed at the swaying tassels at the corner of the curtain, a dull ache rising in her heart and a bitter taste in her throat. She didn't shed tears, but buried her face in her sister's neck, letting her heart scream.

This parting may be the last time we meet.

At this moment, Rong Junye was actually standing at the street corner, using the house to conceal his figure. He held the reins at the end of the street, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance. The Sixth Prince's welcoming of his old friend's daughter into his residence as a sign of preferential treatment was impeccable in terms of etiquette. However, even if the Sixth Prince were at fault, so what?
Rong Junye unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins, which chafed against his palms, causing some pain, but he was completely unaware of it. He vaguely knew the emotions in his heart, but many things were unspeakable.

"General?" The attendant's question startled him from his thoughts.

Rong Junye forced a smile, but even he found it laughable: "It's nothing, let's go back to the manor."