boyutpedia Chapter 1355 Deadline
Chapter 1355 Deadline
She said, "First, the wedding will be postponed for three months. During these three months, I will send people to thoroughly investigate Rong Zhiyu's background. If she has any problems, this marriage will be called off! Second, after the marriage, she shall not interfere in any affairs of the household, nor shall she have access to any secrets of the Marquis's residence or the court. Third, if she ever does anything to harm the Zhan family or the Sheng Dynasty, you must deal with her personally without any mercy!"
Zhan Mu looked at Lin Yiwan, his eyes filled with gratitude. He kowtowed heavily, his forehead striking the blue bricks again with a crisp sound.
"Son, I will obey your mother's command!"
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on his face, illuminating the tears in his eyes and the smile on his lips.
The wind and snow gradually stopped, and the clouds on the horizon turned as red as fire.
But as Lin Yiwan watched his unsteady steps as he got up, her heart still felt heavy.
Presumably, Rong Zhiyu would not agree to these conditions.
She'll probably make things difficult for Zhan Mu, right?
She raised the corners of her lips in a mocking smile, a chill surging in her eyes.
Zhan Mu had already left the warm pavilion, eager to inform Rong Zhiyu that Lin Yiwan had relented.
Even when Zhan Miao offered to treat the wound on his forehead, he refused without hesitation.
He staggered out, the hem of his dark brocade robe still stained with unmelted snowflakes and congealed blood, but he paid no heed to them.
In the capital city after the snow had cleared, Zhan Mu spurred his horse, its hooves breaking the thin ice on the street and splashing up fine snowflakes. Before long, they arrived at the suburban courtyard where Rong Zhiyu was temporarily staying.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Zhan Mu dismounted and pushed open the wooden door, where he saw Rong Zhiyu standing beside the plum tree in the courtyard. She was wearing a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a few red plum petals falling on her shoulders. In her hand, she held a pair of silver scissors, carefully trimming the remaining snow from the branches.
Hearing the noise, she turned around, her eyebrows curving and a gentle smile playing on her lips, as if she had known he would come all along.
She called softly, her voice as gentle as spring water in Jiangnan, "Brother Mu, the snow has stopped, you've come at just the right time."
Looking at her beautiful face, Zhan Mu felt most of the weariness and pain in his heart instantly dissipate. He quickly stepped forward, reached out and grasped her wrist. His fingertips touched her slightly cool skin, and he couldn't help but frown: "It's cold, why aren't you wearing more clothes?"
Rong Zhiyu smiled faintly, letting him hold her hand, pressing her cheek against his warm palm, and said softly, "I thought you would come today, and I was so happy that I didn't feel cold."
Zhan Mu felt as if something had burned his heart. Looking into her clear eyes, he transformed the bitterness of kneeling in the warm pavilion last night and the conditions his mother had set into a gentle promise: "Zhiyu, Mother... has agreed to our marriage."
Rong Zhiyu's eyes suddenly lit up, as if stars had fallen into them.
Her eyes widened slightly, her voice tinged with disbelief: "Really? Brother Mu, am I dreaming?"
Zhan Mu nodded, gently stroking the back of her hand with his fingertips, his tone tinged with guilt: "However, the wedding will be postponed for three months. During these three months, Mother will send someone to investigate your past. You... don't blame her."
He thought Rong Zhiyu would show a wronged or uneasy expression, but she only nodded slightly, her smile still gentle: "I understand. The Lady of the Marquis is the mistress of the Marquis's mansion. She is concerned about the reputation of the Zhan family and your future. I am an orphan with an unknown background. It is already a great favor that she is willing to agree."
Her understanding words only intensified Zhan Mu's guilt. He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and firm: "Zhiyu, I'm sorry you had to go through this. Don't worry, in three months, I will marry you in grand style and make you my one and only wife."
Rong Zhiyu buried her face in his chest, her shoulders hunched and trembling as if she were crying.
Zhan Mu tightened his arms in distress, but he didn't see that her nails were digging deeply into her palms as she held her hands by her sides, and a barely perceptible cold light flashed in her eyes.
After a long while, she finally raised her head, her eyes slightly red, but she still smiled and said, "I believe you, Brother Mu. No matter how long it takes, I will wait."
Zhan Mu looked at her reddened eyes and assumed she was crying tears of joy. He reached out to wipe away the tears on her cheeks and said softly, "For the next three months, stay in the villa and don't go out. I will take care of things with Mother."
Rong Zhiyu nodded obediently, tiptoed, and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of his lips: "I'll do whatever you say."
Zhan Mu's heart softened completely, like a pool of spring water. He held her in his arms and stood under the plum tree in the courtyard for a long time until the sun gradually rose higher before reluctantly leaving.
Only after Zhan Mu's horse's hooves completely disappeared at the alley entrance did Rong Zhiyu's smile slowly fade. She turned around, looked at a man in black standing under the eaves, and asked in an icy tone, "You heard everything?"
The man in black bowed and said in a low voice, "I heard you. Madam Hou wants to investigate the young lady's background, and she has three months to do so."
Rong Zhiyu tightened his grip on the silver scissors slightly, the tips piercing the skin of his palm and drawing out a drop of bright red blood.
She looked at the brightly blooming red plum tree in the courtyard, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes: "Investigate? I'd like to see what she can find out."
She walked slowly to the corridor, took the handkerchief handed to her by the man in black, and slowly wiped the bloodstains from her palm. Her voice was light, but carried a chill: "Pass down the order, clean up the traces in Jiangnan even more thoroughly."
Three months is too long; she simply can't wait.
She needed to find a way as soon as possible to force Lin Yiwan to make concessions.
The next day, she took the lotus seed soup she had personally cooked to the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence.
The gatekeeper didn't make things difficult for her and led her to Lin Yiwan.
She seemed somewhat at a loss, as if doing this kind of thing wasn't something she was good at.
She said respectfully, "Madam Hou, this is lotus seed soup that Zhiyu personally made for you. I hope you like it!"
Lin Yiwan smiled, and even though she doubted Rong Zhiyu's motives for pursuing Zhan Mu, she didn't show it at all on the surface.
She even spoke with concern: "You haven't fully recovered yet, how could you cook porridge yourself? Don't do that next time!"
Rong Zhiyu placed the bowl of porridge in front of her, but whether it was too hot or something else, she accidentally knocked it over.
The thick lotus seed soup spilled all over her hands, and the pain made her face turn pale.
"Ah!" she screamed.
Lin Yiwan was startled and quickly reached out to support her, asking, "Are you alright?"
Rong Zhiyu was filled with remorse. She said in a panic, "Madam Hou, I didn't mean it. Please don't be angry!"
Lin Yiwan took out a handkerchief to wipe away the stains, and then quickly asked Ling'er to bring cold water to wash it.
After cleaning it up, I applied burn ointment.