Chapter 57.1 Miss

The cool autumn days had arrived, and the leaves of the Chinese parasol tree¹Might look something like this, but it varies according to species: in front of the shop had started to fall.

It was dusk, and Ah Yu was baking sweet potatoes in the courtyard while Yan Mu sorted out the books in the shop. 

Yan Mu brought a few guards from the mansion as shop employees, and right now, the people who were in charge of mopping were mopping, the people who were in charge of wiping the tables were wiping the tables, and everyone was working in full swing.

The scent of the baked sweet potatoes filled the air, and Yan Mu finished sorting out the last book and wiped the sweat off her brow.

Ah Yu thumped over, looking like a little dumpling.

With a face full of expectation, he handed the freshly baked sweet potato to Yan Mu.

“Jiejie, eat.” Ah Yu’s little face was black from smoke, like a little tabby cat.

Yan Mu wiped his face for him and took the sweet potato.

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“Tso xydu eke Gb Zw cyjl, eke usw pyhl psxl qsa Zw Zwyd tltl?” Zyd Yw czlo sd vbl bsv pollv rsvyvs, vbld rllzle sqq vbl czynj swvla pjkd yde ckv kdvs kv.

Mbl pollv, psqv, bsdlu-zkjl pollv rsvyvs iwknjzu xlzvle kd bla xswvb.

Zyd Yw piwkdvle bla lulp byrrkzu.

Gb Zw pnayvnble bkp qynl yde pyke, “Zw Zwyd bypd’v clld blal qsa y zsdt vkxl, ps R fwpv cyjle sdl qsa Zyd fklfkl.”

Jlpkelp, lhld kq Zw Zwyd oyp blal, bl eked’v oydv vs cyjl sdl qsa bkx lkvbla.

Ebld Gb Zw vbswtbv sq Zw Zwyd yzoyup pnyakdt bkx cu eayokdt bkp posae, bl oyp kdoyaezu qwakswp.

Tsolhla, prlyj sq vbl elhkz yde bl yrrlyap²说曹操曹操就到 (pbwō Uás Uās Uás Uās fkù eàs) – zkv. prlyj sq Uys Uys yde Uys Uys yaakhlp; qkt. prlyj sq vbl elhkz yde bl esvb yrrlya.

Gp pssd yp Gb Zw’p osaep zlqv bkp xswvb, Zw Zwyd pvlrrle vbaswtb vbl essa.

Ah Yu inexplicably felt guilty, so he shrunk his neck and hid behind the cabinet.

Who would’ve thought that Yu Yuan didn’t even look at him and went straight to Yan Mu.

“Did Ah Mu miss me?” Those were the first words out of his mouth, and Yan Mu blushed when she heard them.

Yu Yuan went to pull Yan Mu’s hand and led her straight to the courtyard.

His attitude clearly showed that he cared about no one other than Yan Mu.

“W-what the h*ll!” Ah Yu stomped angrily.

“Don’t be angry, Young Lady Yan is Yu Yuan’s younger sister, so naturally, she’s more special to him,” a guard comforted him.

The little eight-year-old child was chubby, like a child that came out of a New Year’s painting, and he looked adorable even when he was angry.

The guards who came to do odd jobs stepped forward one after another.

“Younger sister?” Ah Yu didn’t know about this, so he was immediately stunned.

After holding back for a long time, he said in a muffled voice, “But I don’t think they look alike.”

“Not biological, but adopted.”

“I heard that Yu Yuan was an orphan, and Old Yan took him in because he pitied him.”

“I see.” Ah Yu propped up his chubby little face, lost in thought.

Although he was young, he’d seen many things.

With his intuition, Ah Yu was certain that Yu Yuan’s feelings for Yan Mu weren’t that simple.

Remembering Yu Yuan’s frigid irony and scorching satire³冷嘲热讽 (lěngcháo-rèfěng) – an idiom; to mock and ridicule; with biting sarcasm towards him a few days ago, Ah Yu had a plan in mind.

If I snatch Yan Mu jiejie away, then will Yu Yuan be furious?

Ah Yu felt like it was a good idea and immediately revealed a mischievous smile.

********************

Yu Yuan pulled Yan Mu into the backyard.

The hydrangeas in the courtyard were tinged with autumn colors. The hem of her skirt brushed over the faded flowers and Yu Yuan pinned her entire body against a pine tree.

There was a small mountain rock here which happened to block the pair’s intimacy.

“Ah Mu.” Yu Yuan hugged Yan Mu tightly and gently sniffed the fragrance in her hair.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Mu hesitated for a moment, and reached out her hand to hug Yu Yuan back. “I haven’t seen you for a few days, what have you been busy with?”

“The filthy things in the palace, I’m afraid that I’ll dirty Ah Mu’s ears if I say,” the teenager faintly said.

Chu Cong being chased for his life to Qingshui Village was originally the Eldest Prince’s doing. Now that he had safely returned to the capital, the Eldest Prince and his party  were afraid of Chu Cong taking revenge on them, so they actually decided to make the first move⁴先下手为强 (xiān xiàshǒu wéi qiáng) – strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage..

Fortunately, he found out in advance. Chu Cong’s plan was to bide his time⁵按兵不动 (ànbīng-bùdòng) – lit. to hold back one’s troops without moving (idiom); to bide one’s time and observe in silence.

When the Eldest Prince’s party make their move, he would catch the turtle in the urn⁶瓮中捉鳖 (wèngzhōng-zhuōbiē) – an idiom; to set oneself an easy target; a turkey shot; go after an easy prey and capture them all in one go⁷一网打尽 (yīwǎng-dǎjìn) – lit. to catch everything in the one net (idiom); fig. to scoop up the whole lot; catch the whole lot in a dragnet; round up the whole gang at one fell swoop.

These days, Yu Yuan had been watching the Eldest Prince’s party all day and night. He worked so hard that Chu Cong was worried he’d die from overwork⁸过劳死 (guòláosǐ) – karoshi (loanword from Japanese), so he gave him a mandatory day off.

So, he came to the bookstore. Yu Yuan’s arms around Yan Mu tightened a little.

Seeing that Yu Yuan didn’t want to talk about it, Yan Mu didn’t force him. She gently stroked his back and softly said, “Aren’t you really tired? Go rest for a while.”

After the modifications Yan Mu had made these past few days, the backyard of the bookstore had a dormitory and a side room.

The side room was for her to sleep in, and the dormitory had a wide bed⁹通铺 (tōngpù) – wide bed that can sleep a number of people (as in barracks, hostels, etc.) for the staff and Ah Yu to sleep in.

At her words, Yu Yuan looked up and sadly said, “I want to sleep in Ah Mu’s room, not on the wide bed.”

“Both are fine.” Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Yan Mu’s heart faintly ached.

She was the author, so she knew how hard Yu Yuan had worked.

If he wasn’t tired to the extreme, how could he look so exhausted?

Pulling Yu Yuan, she led him to the side room.

Yan Mu’s room wasn’t very big, and the lighting wasn’t that good either, as it was a converted warehouse. The room was obviously dusky and dim, but in Yu Yuan’s eyes, Yan Mu’s presence brought light to it.

“Get some rest.” Yan Mu pressed Yu Yuan onto the bed.

He lowered his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, then fell backwards when she wasn’t paying attention.

Before Yan Mu’s cry of surprise left her mouth, she and Yu Yuan had landed on the bed together.

“Ah Mu……” Yu Yuan murmured as he hugged her.

Yan Mu reached out and helplessly pushed him, she was about to ask Yu Yuan to keep his distance from her when she was interrupted by his words.

“Ah Mu, when I close my eyes, all I see is a sea of blood,” Yu Yuan’s tone was a little shaky, and his hands around Yan Mu subconsciously tightened.

“I don’t want to sleep alone.” Yu Yuan was aggrieved. “Can’t Ah Mu sleep with me?”

He lifted his head and stared at Yan Mu with his too beautiful eyes, leaving her defenseless.

Yan Mu knew that she should refuse. 

But Yu Yuan’s hands that were holding her were slightly trembling, and fear and helplessness were clearly visible in those charming eyes. 

After all, Yu Yuan was only a sixteen year old teenager.

He should grow up happily, not be stuck in a tedious and bloody fight within the palace everyday, unable to free himself.

All the hardships and setbacks that Yu Yuan had experienced were written by her.

Yan Mu’s heart felt like it was being forcefully squeezed, and in the end, she couldn’t refuse him.

Yan Mu intertwined her fingers with his and meekly rested her head on the teenager’s chest.

“Alright, we’ll sleep together,” Yan Mu softly said.

In a place where Yan Mu couldn’t see, the vulnerability on Yu Yuan’s face completely disappeared, replaced by a triumphant smile.

Ah Mu is so kind. As expected, Ah Mu is the only one who really cares about me.

Yu Yuan’s eyes were filled with satisfaction.

He lowered his head and carefully placed a light kiss on the ends of the young girl’s hair.

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Edited by: Gaze