ebookland Chapter 346 Ling Yue
Chapter 346 Ling Yue
Guan Xin was startled and turned around to see An Liangchen standing behind her, his gaze deep and unfathomable. Guan Xin's heart tightened, and she quickly knelt down to pay her respects, nearly knocking over the chair in her haste.
An Liangchen squatted down and reached out to lift her chin: "You're good-looking. You look a lot like your mother, don't you?"
The Crown Prince knows her mother? How could the noble Crown Prince, far away in Bianjing, know a village woman from a remote mountain village? Guan Xin was full of questions and only dared to lower her head and reply, "This servant doesn't look much like my mother."
My mother always says that not only do they not look alike, but their personalities are also different; she's too bookish!
An Liangchen released her: "I heard that Madam Luo redeemed you to bear them a son. You've been at Wenxiang Pavilion for over a year, haven't you learned how to serve people yet?"
What does that mean? Guan Xin looked up at An Liangchen, momentarily stunned.
An Liangchen smiled enigmatically: "If you don't want to go back to the brothel, you should know what to do."
An Liangchen left and closed the door. Guan Xin remained kneeling, staring at the sweat on her palms, An Liangchen's voice echoing in her mind:
"They said Madam Luo redeemed you so you could bear them a son. You've been at Wenxiang Pavilion for over a year, haven't you learned how to serve people yet?"
"If you don't want to go back to the brothel, you should know what to do."
Guan Xin crawled forward on her knees, reaching the bedside and standing up by gripping the edge. She bent over, staring at Luo An's face. Luo An's breath hit her face, making her seem a little drunk as well.
Guan Xin slowly reached out and gently stroked Luo An's face. His face was fair and rosy, warm and delicate, a flawless face, completely different from his clear-headed indifference during the day.
After the lightning came thunder. The person in bed seemed startled and opened their eyes to see a blurry figure in front of them.
Without a second thought, Luo An reached out and pulled her: "Nianyao!"
Guan Xin was pulled forcefully by him, her upper body pressing down on Luo An. The girl's fragrance mingled with the scent of wine, creating a naturally alluring aroma.
Outside, the wind and rain whistled; inside, springtime passions raged. Drunkness corrupted desires and hearts too!
When Luo An woke up, it was already bright daylight. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light and saw a face hidden by black hair at the chest. Luo An nuzzled the other person's head with his chin, casually tossing the black hair aside, his voice hoarse: "Nian Yao, I'm thirsty!"
Guan Xin vaguely heard Luo An say he was thirsty. She propped herself up on Luo An's chest and said sleepily, "I'll go get some water."
cold!
Guan Xin had just stretched her legs out when she felt a chill and instantly sobered up. With her back to Luo An, she didn't dare turn around, crossed her arms, jumped off the bed, picked up her clothes from the floor, put them on, and then went to get some water.
With trembling hands, Guan Xin lifted the porcelain jar from the charcoal stove, poured water into a cup, and then carried it to the bedside. He lowered his head, his voice trembling, and said, "Young master, please have some water."
Luo An propped himself up to sit up, the blanket slipping down to his waist. Guan Xin caught a glimpse of the scratches on his abdomen out of the corner of her eye, and her hands trembled even more violently, spilling half a glass of water onto the tray.
Luo An took the glass and drank it all in one gulp, then twirled the glass in his hand a few times, his voice carrying a hint of reassurance: "You shouldn't be so timid."
Guan Xin was never a timid person. Even at Wenxiang Tower, she was fearless and composed, and she remained calm and collected in front of Nian Yao. But in front of An Liangchen and Luo An, her courage inexplicably vanished.
But what is there to be afraid of? What is there to be afraid of! Whether a servant, a maidservant, or a concubine, life and death are all the same, how much worse can things get right now?
Guan Xin instantly calmed down, and even his voice became much more steady: "Young master, let me pour you another cup."
Luo An put down the cup: "No need, help me get dressed."
Guan Xin took some clean clothes and helped Luo An change. Luo An and Nian Yao were never pampered in their daily lives; they never needed to be served when they got up or dressed. Today was an exception. Guan Xin didn't think much of it, assuming that Luo An was just tired.
At the end of the year, five servants left for various reasons: the young women went home to get married and have children, and the young men went back to inherit their families' land. After the New Year, Grain Rain passed away, and Spring Blossom also left. Putting everything else aside, the garden seemed somewhat desolate.
An Liangchen sent a group of servants to stand in front of Luo An. Luo An had no interest in such matters and said to Guan Xin, "You can arrange it."
Assigning servants is a mental task; it requires assigning tasks based on each person's strengths. Just as Guan Xin finished arranging the servants, Luo An came in carrying a tray.
Guan Xin reported to him, "Young Master, I only took four people; everyone else has gone back. Young Master prefers peace and quiet, so I don't need to be served. The garden and courtyard need tending, and the kitchen needs..."
"It's up to you," Luo An interrupted her, placing the medicine in front of her. "Drink it, okay?"
A bowl of dark brown medicine, still steaming. What kind of medicine is this?
Guan Xin dared not ask or look at Luo An. She slowly picked up the bowl of medicine, took a small sip, and smiled, saying, "Not too hot, not too cold, just right."
Luo An personally brewed the medicine and brought it over. Even if it was deadly poison, he had to drink it. Since he was going to drink it, he should drink it readily. Guan Xin tilted his head back, poised to drink it all in one gulp.
"Young Master," De'an appeared at the doorway just in time, "His Majesty invites you in!"
Normally, the Crown Prince handles and relays matters; it's extremely rare for the Emperor to request a visit. Luo An dared not delay and hurried over: "Is Your Majesty unwell?"
De'an whispered a reminder: "His Majesty's health has never been good, as you know. But today it seems to be something else."
Luo An didn't return until evening. Guan Xin arranged for the kitchen to deliver the food to his room. Luo An asked for two more sets of bowls and chopsticks: "Sit down, let's eat together."
The atmosphere was somewhat dull. Luo An was unaware of the awkward silence, let alone the possibility of him initiating a conversation.
Guan Xin broke the silence: "Young Master, how is His Majesty's health?"
Luo An said in a flat tone, "His health is indeed not very good, but he called me over today because it's about you."
Even the Emperor himself was involved in her affairs? Only then did Guan Xin have a chance to ask, "Young Master, how did you know my mother was Guan Lingyue?"
Luo An said, "That's what His Highness the Crown Prince told me. As for His Highness the Crown Prince, he has his own methods."
Luo An sometimes suspected that there was something in this world that An Liangchen didn't know. So much so that he once inquired about Xu Sheng's background from An Liangchen.
Guan Xin asked, "Does Your Majesty know my mother?"
Luo An was somewhat surprised: "You didn't know?"
Guan Xin shook his head: "My mother never told me about the past. Before she died, she gave me all her savings and told me to come to Bianjing. I left Guanjia Village and headed to Bianjing. When I got to Yicheng, I encountered robbers, but luckily a passerby saved my life."
I begged my way to Bianjing, and having nowhere else to turn, I went to the Wenxiang Brothel. The Wenxiang Brothel offered entertainment but not prostitution, and the madam was relatively kind; at least she wouldn't force a woman into prostitution. "Young master, what happened to my mother?"
Since even her mother is unwilling to talk about it, why should he? Besides, he's not a gossip-loving person to begin with.
Guan Xin said urgently, "My mother said I was born posthumously. I want to know how my father died? Why did my mother send me to Bianjing? Young master, please, just tell me."
Luo An had little appetite, so he put down his chopsticks and ladled himself a bowl of soup: "Don't you think the name Guan Lingyue sounds like a man's name?"