NOVPUB
Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Vermilion Bird: Make Full Use of the Dog!
Mu Yan lowered his gaze towards the cup in his hand, pondering why Zhan Lan wanted to stop Wang Qingchen from becoming the Prince Consort?
Could it be that Zhan Lan had feelings for Wang Qingchen?
Mu Yan’s hands, distinct in every joint, unconsciously exerted force until, with a ’pop’ sound, he crushed the white jade porcelain cup.
The cut wound started to bleed, with bright red blood flowing down his fingers and dripping onto the table.
Upon hearing the noise, Vermilion Bird rushed in and hastily brought out a brocaded handkerchief, saying, "Master, your hand..."
Mu Yan took the handkerchief, wrapped it around his fingers, stood up, and said, "Let’s go, to Wang Qingchen’s home."
Vermilion Bird sensed the chill emanating from his master and followed him immediately.
Mu Yan sat silently in the carriage, and upon arriving at Wang Qingchen’s residence, the Wang Family received him with courtesy.
Mu Yan saw Wang Qingchen being wheeled in by a servant.
He still had that delicate and handsome appearance, untainted by the world.
Upon seeing Mu Yan, Wang Qingchen nodded without being subservient or arrogant, "Lord Mu, I am ill and unable to offer the proper respects."
Mu Yan looked at him; Wang Qingchen was indeed good-looking.
Moreover, his eyes revealed a gleam of intelligence that was hard to decipher at a glance.
Mu Yan had reviewed his imperial exam papers; with such talent, in a few years, he would unquestionably be Grand Secretary material.
Could it be that Zhan Lan liked this type of man?
Mu Yan’s expression was indifferent as he leaned over to look at Wang Qingchen, who felt an overwhelming pressure steaming toward him. His eyelashes trembled slightly, but his emotions did not fluctuate too much.
Mu Yan’s hands were braced on his wheelchair, and then, with the hand that wasn’t injured, he suddenly knocked on Wang Qingchen’s knee.
However, there was no reflexive bounce in his knee.
Mu Yan’s eyes turned colder; could it be that Wang Qingchen had intentionally crippled his legs to avoid becoming the Prince Consort.
Wang Qingchen froze and looked at Mu Yan, "Lord Mu, do you not believe me?"
Mu Yan looked at him coldly, "Mr. Wang, take care of yourself."
After saying that, he left.
Wang Qingchen only breathed a sigh of relief when he could no longer see Mu Yan’s figure.
At this moment, he felt sweat all over his body, realizing that the presence of Seal Keeper Mu was too suffocating. Even on the day he was presented to the emperor, he was not as tense.
Fortunately, on the day his leg was injured, Zhan Lan had Pharmacist Qi Lin perform acupuncture on his joint, sealing the acupoint.
This way, he could hide his disability, deceiving everyone.
It seemed that indeed Mu Yan was arranging the marriage with the Princess.
After leaving the Wang Family, Vermilion Bird caught up with Mu Yan’s carriage on horseback halfway through the journey. Mu Yan lifted the carriage curtain.
Vermilion Bird reported softly, "Master, I saw Wang Qingchen continue to let the young servant push his wheelchair back into the house after you left, but his expression seemed to have relaxed."
Mu Yan’s observation of Wang Qingchen confirmed his suspicions that Zhan Lan was helping him hide something.
Mu Yan let the curtain fall; the wound on his hand was no longer painful, but the pain in his heart was severe, as if the most tender part of him had been violently carved away, a feeling of suffocation enveloping him.
Mu Yan closed his eyes and returned to his mansion.
Shortly after arriving back, Zhan Lan saw him return and lightly leaped to his window.
"Lord Mu, I’ve come for the imperial decree!" Zhan Lan knocked on the window, whispering.
Mu Yan opened the window and saw Zhan Lan rubbing her hands, looking expectantly at him.
Without a word, he fetched the imperial decree and when handing it to Zhan Lan, his hand was grasped.
Zhan Lan looked at the wound on Mu Yan’s hand and asked, "Your hand is injured..."
Mu Yan shook off Zhan Lan’s hand and closed the window.
He turned his back to her, not looking at Zhan Lan who was holding the imperial decree, feeling that Mu Yan had gone mad again.
Before, how he cherished her, the injury on his waist, the frostbite on his hands, all were tended to by her.
What’s wrong now?
Feeling bad mood, things not going smoothly in the court, dumped by a woman?
Zhan Lan was speechless and let out a cold sneer before returning to her own room.
Inside the room, Mu Yan turned to look back as Zhan Lan closed the door opposite him.
He felt gloomy, not understanding why he was so angry, so distressed.
Was it all because of Zhan Lan?
Because of her attitude, because Mu Yan had felt that Zhan Lan was about to open her heart to him, he could see the embarrassed and evasive look in her eyes sometimes.
But now, her thoughts were with someone else, Mu Yan mocked himself for wishful thinking.
Little White looked at its Master’s sorrowful demeanor, standing like a statue by the window, then scampered over to Mu Yan, nuzzling his clothes gently.
Mu Yan’s eyes reddened at the corners as he looked down at Little White, mockingly saying, "Only you won’t leave me, will you..."
Little White lay at Mu Yan’s feet, curling up, gazing at its Master with big eyes.
"Vermilion Bird, bring the wine," Mu Yan called out to Vermilion Bird outside the door.
"Yes, Master." Vermilion Bird could sense Mu Yan’s low spirits; he was sure that this matter had something to do with Miss Zhan.
Mu Yan drank glass after glass into the night, and Vermilion Bird couldn’t persuade him to stop; Vermilion Bird frowned worriedly outside the door.
If he keeps drinking like this, it will be terrible!
Little White ran out of the room, looking at Vermilion Bird with pleading eyes, and Vermilion Bird whispered, "Little White, think of something, will you?"
"Arwoo..." Little White’s eyes whirl round and round, tail tucked between its legs, standing beside Vermilion Bird.
Vermilion Bird shook his head, "At a crucial moment, it still depends on me!"
Vermilion Bird glanced at Zhan Lan’s room, which was still lit, and he stealthily tucked Little White under his arm, using his Qinggong to float in mid-air, scaring Little White, who enlarged its doggy eyes, and placed it on the balcony opposite.
Little White’s legs went weak with fright; it had just been flying! After a long moment, it finally barked out loud, "Woof woof woof!"
Zhan Lan heard the noise and opened the door, not knowing what Little White had been through, but seeing it shaking all over.
Little White wobbled over to Zhan Lan’s side.
Vermilion Bird stealthily saw Zhan Lan pick up Little White, murmuring to himself, "The dog serves its purpose; Master’s silver wasn’t spent in vain."
Not long after, Zhan Lan entered Mu Yan’s home through the secret door.
Seeing her, Vermilion Bird immediately went to greet, "Ah, Miss Zhan, Little White has caused you trouble."
While saying it’s trouble, Vermilion Bird didn’t take Little White back, letting Zhan Lan hold it.
Zhan Lan sniffed, asking, "Such a strong smell of alcohol, has your Master been drinking?"
"Indeed, Miss Zhan, my Master has been in a bad mood today, drinking all day. I’m worried he’s harming his health, and no one can persuade him!" Vermilion Bird said with a headache.
Zhan Lan furrowed her brow, Mu Yan’s hand was wounded, not lightly; drinking so much, when would it heal?
But what did it have to do with her? She put Little White down and said, "Apply this ointment to your Master."
Vermilion Bird shook his head, "The wound is inflamed, Master won’t let us touch it."
Zhan Lan hesitated, Mu Yan could be considered as someone who had shown her kindness, should she help him?
The next moment, she suddenly heard Mu Yan, drunk and slurred, saying: "Zhan Lan... You want to repay the debt of gratitude to the Seal Keeper, don’t you? Come in..."
