The sun was shining on the ground, and the light and shadow inside the carriage were dim, with only mottled sunlight falling on Shen Yan's eyebrows. His dark eyes were deep and calm, with a faint smile that did not reach his eyes.
Song Lingzhi stared at the person in a daze. As her thoughts drifted away, she finally remembered when she had seen Shen Yan with such a look.
In the sparrow garden, under the ebony corridor, in front of the obedient oriole.
The light and shadows are graceful and swaying. Furong Courtyard is the main courtyard and has always been a place where only the ladies of the mansion can live. Shen Yan's words are self-evident.
For Shen Yan, changing the courtyard for Song Lingzhi was no different from finding a bigger cage for the oriole.
Things that entertain people and please the master will naturally be rewarded.
His fingertips were cold, and the hand warmer was burning with hot golden charcoal, but Song Lingzhi could not feel any warmth at all.
The cold air spreads throughout the limbs, penetrating into the muscles and bones.
It's panic and also worry.
Shen Yan's words seemed to be a test. The pair of dark eyes were so close, so deep that they were unfathomable.
He has always been moody, if he doesn't respond well...
Song Lingzhi's mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. After a moment, she lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes fluttered like smoke.
"No."
Only ladies can live in Furong Courtyard, and she is... not qualified.
There was a long silence.
There was still a hustle and bustle outside the carriage, and the hawkers' cries continued, making the inside of the carriage even more quiet and deserted.
Shen Yan's dark eyes were fixed, as if he was sizing up Song Lingzhi. The green bamboo folding fan was still against Song Lingzhi's chin, and the protruding wrist bones on his hand were white.
After a long time, a soft laugh was heard in the carriage, and the green bamboo folding fan was put away.
Shen Yan leaned on the green satin backrest, his slender figure like a green pine or cypress: "He still has some self-awareness."
The bet was right.
Song Lingzhi relaxed his tense shoulders and neck, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, he heard Shen Yan say, "Did you go to Baicao Pavilion today?"
…
The long street was bustling with people. Hongyu, with her hair combed into two spiral buns, walked on the bluestone road with her head lowered, her body pressed against the wall, staying away from passers-by.
The ridicule and stones that fell on her since she was a child were like a haze hanging over her head, lingering. She was afraid of others' mocking and sarcastic eyes, and afraid of others talking to her.
There were constant whispers in her ears, and Hongyu could only vaguely hear "Third Prince" and "Yun Mansion".
… …
The affairs of high-ranking officials have never concerned her. Hongyu quickened her pace, wanting only to return to Lanxiangfang.
Unintentionally bumping into a passerby, Hongyu folded her arms, bowed repeatedly, and ran away, fearing that if she stopped, someone would grab her by the scruff of the neck and hit her.
Walking in a hurry, Hongyu stumbled and was tripped by the broken stones on the ground. She was caught off guard and fell forward.
After all, he was just a child of about ten years old. Tears fell down and he climbed up from the ground with red eyes.
His knees were hurt from the fall, and the things in his arms were scattered all over the floor. They were the baits that Madam Xiang had asked him to catch.
Fearing that the medicine would be stained with dust, Hongyu half-knelt on the ground and swiftly picked up the scattered medicine bags. The hemp rope was tied into two knots, and as soon as she raised her eyes, she suddenly ran into a pair of amber eyes.
Hongyu stood there in a daze. That was... the young man she met on a rainy day before.
A gentle breeze blew by, and soon, Hongyu was the only one left in the bluestone alley.
.
As the sun sets in the west and it is almost time to light the lamps, a group of servants stand under the eaves with their hands hanging down, holding lanterns.