Chapter 14
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Chu Mingyi’s actions today were truly baffling. Wu Ciyun decided to keep the events that unfolded in the study to herself for the time being, only telling Su Wuke that Chu Mingyi had come to discuss matters concerning grain supplies in Wuzhou.
At first, Wu Mingzhu and Wu Liangyu, the brother and sister, felt somewhat distant toward this suddenly appearing uncle. However, although Su Wuke looked rough, he was very considerate and attentive in his dealings, and soon the two children clung to him like little shadows.
Rong Tan, upon hearing the news from his attendants, felt a pang of melancholy. That evening, when Wu Ciyun came to visit him, he seized the opportunity to ask about the two siblings.
“Ah Yun, are Mingzhu and Liangyu not coming back tonight?”
“General Su took them to the Prince of Pingnan’s residence to see the tiger. It’s cold at night, and making another trip would be inconvenient.”
Wu Ciyun leaned against the couch, turning a page in her book casually. “The affairs in Ningzhou have basically concluded. I’ve already instructed the servants to pack up. We’ll set off for the capital in a couple of days.”
The system had been urging her to return to the capital promptly to continue the storyline. Wu Ciyun, worried that any delay might give Rui Wang the upper hand, advanced the departure date by a few days.
Rong Tan had no objections to this. He responded softly, smiling as he asked, “I’ve never been to the capital. Is it an interesting place?”
Wu Ciyun showed little reaction and replied perfunctorily, “It should be interesting enough. As long as one’s power is great, any place can be enjoyable.”
Take the Prince of Pingnan, for example—he disliked going to the capital. Beneath the emperor’s gaze, he was just an ordinary vassal prince, nowhere near as commanding as he was in Ningzhou, where he was the de facto ruler, able to command the wind and rain at will.
Rong Tan noticed Wu Ciyun’s attitude was softer than usual. He rested his chin gently on her shoulder, his fingers idly twirling a strand of her hair, and the subtle fragrance of soap pods lingered in his breath.
He whispered, “Ah Yun, the wound on my collarbone has healed.”
The last time, just as Wu Ciyun’s interest had been piqued, she saw the scar left by Xiao Boming’s whip on his collarbone and immediately lost enthusiasm. The wound was never severe, and Rong Tan had spared no expense applying expensive ointments for several days; now, not a trace remained.
Though Wu Ciyun was reading, her mind remained preoccupied with Chu Mingyi’s strange behavior today. She did not reply to Rong Tan.
Seeing her disregard, Rong Tan moved closer, determined that tonight he would succeed.
His fingertips traced up from the back of Wu Ciyun’s hand, and when they reached her empty wrist, he seemed to recall something, probing eagerly, “By the way, I asked Mingzhu to deliver the bracelet I gave you today. Do you like it?”
“A bracelet...” Wu Ciyun paused at the word, turning slightly to look at Rong Tan, her voice gentle. “It’s indeed a fine item. Today when Chu Mingyi came to discuss business, he liked it so much that I didn’t want to disappoint our guest, so I passed it on to him.”
“Chu Mingyi... you gave my gift to Chu Mingyi?”
Rong Tan sat up abruptly, staring at Wu Ciyun in disbelief, his eyes reddening. “That was my mother’s heirloom...”
He had only been away from Wu Ciyun for a day, yet the child he had cared for two or three years had gone back with someone else, and the gift he gave to Wu Ciyun was snatched away by Chu Mingyi.
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“What?” Wu Ciyun was taken aback by his words. Inwardly, she cursed Rong Tan for not clarifying before giving the gift, but outwardly she wore an expression of concern and guilt.
“Sorry, I didn’t know.”
She closed her book casually, ready to get dressed and leave the couch, anxious. “I’ll go find Chu Mingyi and ask for it back right now...”
“No, it’s late and cold tonight, better not.”
Rong Tan felt both wronged and frustrated but still tugged on Wu Ciyun’s sleeve to pull her back. She complied immediately but still looked troubled.
“That won’t do. After all, it’s your mother’s heirloom. We can’t just let Chu Mingyi take it. We must get it back.”
Although Wu Ciyun had yet to fully understand Rong Tan’s identity, she reasoned that it was safer to retrieve the item first before feeling at ease.
The system had said Rong Tan was from the Liang dynasty’s imperial family, so his mother was likely a palace consort or princess. While she couldn’t discern the true significance of the jade bead bracelet, it might very well be a royal token.
Chu Mingyi’s strange behavior had already made Wu Ciyun wary, and now she was even more reluctant to leave any leverage in his hands.
“Ah Ming,” Wu Ciyun called to the attendant on night watch in the corridor.
“Yes, madam. What are your orders?”
Wu Ciyun thought for a moment, then said gently, “Go to the governor’s mansion and say that the jade bead bracelet I gave General Chu today is a memento from an old friend. Ask him to return it for now. If I have another suitable gift in the future, I will present it to General Chu.”
“Well...” Ah Ming hesitated, cautious. “Madam, it’s already late. I’m afraid General Chu has already gone to bed...”
“Go and check first. If he has rested, come back and we’ll try again tomorrow. If he’s still awake, follow my instructions.”
“Yes, understood.”
After giving the orders, Wu Ciyun wanted to say something to soothe Rong Tan, but he turned his head slightly, appearing somewhat dejected.
He resented Chu Mingyi for so easily snatching his belongings, resented Wu Ciyun for treating him so lightly, and most of all, despised his own lowly state.
Before, Wu Ciyun had casually given away the dagger he had gifted her to Xiao Boming; now she had transferred the jade beads to Chu Mingyi. The attendants were right—Wu Ciyun simply did not care for him, so she could casually give his gifts to others.
Rong Tan felt he should harden his heart, but as Wu Ciyun sent someone to retrieve the bracelet, he instinctively wanted to forgive and comfort himself that she still cared for him.
He hated his current self—so insecure and merciless that even a little disturbance could shatter him completely.
Wu Ciyun, on the other hand, felt no guilt. A gift given to her was hers to do with as she pleased. Did one really need the original owner’s permission before giving a present?
Still, considering Rong Tan’s identity, she feigned some remorse. “Don’t worry, I promise to get it back...”
Midway through her sentence, she suddenly realized something—the jade bracelet was missing a few beads. She swallowed the rest of her words.
All because of Rong Tan, who idly gave away his mother’s heirloom to whomever he pleased.
And Chu Mingyi, whose visit had stirred up so much trouble.
Wu Ciyun felt quite irritated. Seeing Rong Tan remain silent, she asked, “Are you angry?”
“...No.”
“Don’t say no—you are angry.”
Wu Ciyun pressed close and bit his cheek to vent, though her tone was unusually gentle. “If we can’t get it back, once we return to the capital I’ll have a royal craftsman make you an exact replica, no different from your original.”
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Rong Tan said nothing. He captured Wu Ciyun’s lips, intending to bite her as hard as she had bitten him, but in the end, he lacked the heart and even let the sting of his earlier grievance and anger fade away.
He deepened the kiss with mock ferocity and let it trail downward. Wu Ciyun did not resist, tacitly allowing him to do more.
The fabric of Wu Ciyun’s nightgown, carefully chosen by Rong Tan, was the finest silk, flowing like water. She lay immersed in the soft brocade quilt, a gentle tide of passion sweeping over her. Her breath faltered, and after a while, she couldn’t help but emit a muffled moan.
“Are you a dog? Why are you still biting me?”
Wu Ciyun opened her eyes slightly, attempting to kick Rong Tan, but she was too weak. Instead, he grasped her ankle.
Rong Tan looked at her with his seductive eyes, licking the moisture from his lips, and said innocently, “Isn’t biting allowed? I thought you’d like it.”
...
Ah Ming, always swift and efficient, hurried back from the governor’s mansion, clutching a wooden box, arriving sooner than expected.
Rong Tan heard the noise, opened the door, and saw Ah Ming standing outside. His expression softened somewhat as he asked gently, “Did you get the item back?”
Ah Ming looked troubled and embarrassed. “General Chu said the bracelet has already been given to someone else. He fears it can’t be returned and asked me to bring these items for you to choose from.”
Rong Tan opened the box and glanced inside. It was filled with all manner of gold, silver, and jewels, but his jade bead bracelet was nowhere to be seen.
His face immediately darkened. Coldly, he said, “Who would want that junk from Chu Mingyi?”
“I want it. Put it in the storage room.”
Wu Ciyun, resting with her eyes closed, called out softly to the servants. Rong Tan was taken aback by her tone. He snapped the box shut and handed it to Ah Ming, ordering coldly, “Make sure it’s logged.”
“Yes, sir,” Ah Ming replied, hurrying away with the box.
Rong Tan returned slowly to the inner chamber. He saw Wu Ciyun lying on the couch with her eyes gently closed, turned on her side. He lay beside her and held her close.
“Ah Yun, tomorrow you should bring Mingzhu and Liangyu back.”
His voice muffled in the hollow of her neck, tinged with a slight sorrow, “Those are our children. How can they just go with someone else...”
“They’re not someone else—they’re their own uncle,” Wu Ciyun replied casually. “When they’re not at home, you can rest a few more days and take care of your health.”
Hearing this, Rong Tan felt somewhat comforted. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Will General Su accompany us to the capital?”
“Not for now. The servants who take care of Mingzhu and Liangyu, and a few attendants who serve me, will come along. You can manage the rest as you see fit.”
Wu Ciyun paused, then suddenly opened her eyes and added, “There will be new arrivals at the mansion tomorrow. He will come with us to the capital as well. Remember to look after him carefully.”