Chapter 73: Shadows of the Past
Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Shadows of the Past
How could she explain?
’In my past life, I might not have understood. But having lived two lives, how could I fail to see some things so clearly?’
Lu Xiu didn’t seem to expect an answer from her. He just stared at her and smiled. "You seem very protective of Zhou Yun."
Liang Wan was a little surprised. "Your Excellency, why do you say that?"
Lu Xiu lowered his long lashes, hiding the deep pools of his eyes. "Let’s start with the night the seal was stolen. You knew Zhou Yun is the Crown Prince’s Tutor and has close ties to the Cao Family. His introduction and guarantee would have been far better than you approaching them rashly on your own. Yet, regarding the matter of Wang Su, you never said a word to him from beginning to end. It wasn’t because you found him untrustworthy. Quite the opposite—you simply didn’t want him involved."
Liang Wan wanted to deny it, but she felt it was unnecessary.
Seeing her tacit agreement, the corners of Lu Xiu’s lips curled up slightly. "Just now, you suggested the Empress leave the palace. Besides stopping the Crown Prince and improving the Empress’s situation, if you think about it carefully, wasn’t it also another way to keep Zhou Yun out of it?
"You were even willing to draw the fire onto me..."
Liang Wan suddenly understood. When he had said her idea was ’quite good,’ he had already seen right through her.
’Because I know he’s the future Master Lu, I always feel like he can handle anything.’
Liang Wan lowered her head.
Lu Xiu rose from the couch and walked toward her. "You claim time and again to serve me as your master, but when have you ever truly considered me?"
He turned his head, a faint, mocking smile on his face. "In your eyes, the one you call master is less worthy of your devotion than some outsider!"
Liang Wan bit her lip. ’Is this what they mean by an outsider seeing things more clearly?’
Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her neck. His hand was already caressing it.
Liang Wan tilted her head back, her body stiff as stone. She stared at him, all her attention focused on his hand, not daring to relax for even a moment.
"Is Your Excellency going to strangle me?"
Her voice was low and hoarse, the ends of her words trembling. Her eyes were misty, and a thin, dark red line was visible on her slender, pale neck.
Lu Xiu looked down at it.
Yesterday, he had rushed over only to see her calmly administering acupuncture under the threat of a longsword, all while explaining her actions in a measured tone...
He curled his lip, his jet-black eyes so dark they seemed to drip ink. "Any deeper and it would have slit your throat. You would have died by the sword."
Liang Wan’s pupils contracted. ’Does his expression show relief, or regret?’
"Yesterday, you asked me when I would stand by and watch someone die."
He glanced at her, then coolly dropped his hand and turned his back. He stood like a solitary peak amidst a heavy snowstorm—isolated, cold, proud, and unreachable.
"Now, let me ask you: would you lend a hand to someone you hate?"
The wind of the winter night was formless and invisible, yet its chill pierced to the bone, just like his tone at this moment.
Liang Wan felt as if she were in an ice cave, her lips so cold they were stiff. But her attitude was extremely firm.
"I would not!"
’She was reborn for the sole purpose of revenge. Forgiveness is impossible, so how could she ever offer help to her enemies?’
Lu Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded. "Good. You may go."
His voice was as light as falling snow.
He didn’t turn around as he spoke. Liang Wan stared at his back, a little lost in thought. This version of Lu Xiu was not at all unfamiliar to her.
When she awoke after a long sleep, her surroundings slowly came into focus. She was in the villa that was nominally Zhou Yun’s, but in reality, belonged to Lu Xiu.
Liang Wan sat up and looked toward the window. ’I can’t believe I’m staying here again so soon. I wonder what excuse they gave for my disappearance this time.’
Hearing a sound, a maidservant entered with a bow. She told her that the Grand Commandant had ordered her to remain here and recover until her injuries were fully healed.
The next few days seemed just like her previous stay. The only difference was that this time, she wasn’t confined to her room. And since Lu Xiu had left, he had not appeared again.
Zhou Yun, however, did visit, but always to pick up medicine for the Empress.
As for the opportunity for the Empress to leave the palace they had discussed, she was told that Lu Xiu had agreed to help.
Liang Wan was puzzled. ’He was so angry, yet he still agreed. I have to admit, Lu Xiu really does treat Zhou Yun differently.’
"Well now, you’re looking much better!"
Liang Wan looked up to see Zhou Yun standing at the door, fanning himself with a grin.
"I’ve been eating well and sleeping well these past few days, so of course I look better." Liang Wan put down her brush and rose to get the medicinal pills she had prepared for him.
When she came back in, she saw Zhou Yun standing to one side. On a low table nearby sat a painted box with a lotus pattern. It was beautifully decorated, exquisitely crafted, and placed in a conspicuous spot. Liang Wan had noticed it when she was in this study before, but out of courtesy, she hadn’t opened it.
She hadn’t expected Zhou Yun to open it today.
It was hard to say whether this Taoyi Garden truly belonged to Zhou Yun or Lu Xiu, so it wasn’t rude of him to be rummaging through things.
Liang Wan placed the small porcelain bottle on the long table and stood aside to watch him. "Young Master Zhou, what are you looking for?"
"Come take a look! There are a lot of paintings in here that we did in the old days!" he said, eagerly rummaging through the box.
Liang Wan walked over. Indeed, there were many scrolls of calligraphy and paintings stacked inside.
She casually flipped through the ones Zhou Yun had taken out. Most were landscape paintings: an outing in a spring scene, Fragrant Hills in the autumn rain, fishing on a cold river, great mountains covered in snow...
Liang Wan picked up a scroll with soft pinks and greens depicting the Willow Lane and Peach Blossom Path, finding it rather interesting.
Zhou Yun craned his neck to look at the painting and raised an eyebrow at her. "Don’t tell me you only have eyes for his paintings, too?"
"Whose paintings?"
Zhou Yun jutted his chin toward the signature before rearranging the things in his hands.
Liang Wan’s gaze slowly moved down. "Yuan... zhi."
Zhou Yun shot her a strange look. "Are you telling me you’re just now finding out that’s his courtesy name? You two are already so familiar with each other!"
Liang Wan recalled that day at the Master’s Mansion, Lu Xu had indeed called him that. She just never imagined that a man like him would create a painting so full of soft colors and playful charm.
She rolled up the painting. "In the future, Young Master Zhou, you had better not say such things."
’It didn’t matter before, but he’s about to be engaged. They should be more careful to avoid suspicion.’
Liang Wan put down the scroll and picked up another. It was a transcription of Cao Zhi’s *Luoshen Fu*, signed with the name ’Shaoyang’.
She examined it closely and smiled. "Flowing and unrestrained. The calligraphy truly reflects the person."
Zhou Yun paused, then looked over as well, shaking his head with a light laugh. "It’s all just stuff we made while fooling around back in the day."
After speaking, he went back to searching. Liang Wan asked curiously, "What are you looking for?"
Zhou Yun searched through the box two or three times without finding it and finally gave up. "You don’t know, but he once did a painting I wanted to show you. It’s a pity—"
He sounded quite regretful. "It’s been so long, I can’t seem to find it."
Liang Wan couldn’t help but laugh. "Why are you searching so desperately for one painting?"
Zhou Yun glanced toward the door and gave a mysterious smile. "Don’t be fooled by his cold exterior. He’s actually very warm-hearted."
At this, he seemed to recall something and sighed. "But when it comes to marriage, he seems to have always been unlucky."
"Unlucky?" Liang Wan looked skeptical.
Zhou Yun nodded, blinking. "I remember when we were young, he was betrothed once. You should have seen how awkward he was when he told me about it. He was like a shy little girl."
Liang Wan was confused. "Then why do you say he’s been unlucky?"