Chapter 800: Chapter 335: Return to the Capital (Part 3)
Yueyao looked at the study: "This time when I return, I probably won’t come back for a while." Without resolving the matter with Zhou Shu, she would not leave the Capital City again.
Capital City is under the Emperor’s protection, even Zhou Shu, no matter how brave, wouldn’t dare kidnap anyone here, so the Capital City is relatively safe.
Gu You and Gu Lan, due to their severe injuries, stayed behind at the manor to recuperate. Once they’re healed, they’ll be brought back to the Capital City.
The manor is quite far from the Capital City, at the break of dawn, Yueyao, with over twenty guards, headed back to the Capital City. The group only returned to Ma’s Mansion by evening.
Ma Chengteng was somewhat surprised to hear Yueyao had returned. Usually, Yueyao wouldn’t return until November or December. Her early return in late August seemed odd.
Yueyao explained, "Uncle, Mingzhu wrote to me, saying she is with child, so I came back to see her."
Ma Chengteng knew that Yueyao and Mingzhu were as close as sisters, and now that Mingzhu was pregnant, it was only natural for Yueyao to return. He didn’t doubt Yueyao’s words, yet he couldn’t help but worry: "Yueyao, you see the Third Miss of the Luo Family is soon to be a mother, you should also consider your lifelong matters." People were already having children, but Yueyao’s marriage prospects were still unclear, and the biggest concern wasn’t even here; it was Yueyao being too picky, neither this nor that seemed satisfactory, leaving Ma Chengteng unsure of whom to choose for Yueyao.
Yueyao responded with a smile: "Uncle, there’s no hurry."
Ma Chengteng truly wanted to say that while she might not be in a rush, he certainly was, but seeing the fatigue on Yueyao’s face, he refrained from saying more: "Alright, rest early!" When your own child is too excellent, it’s also a source of worry.
After freshening up, Yueyao had dinner, then practiced calligraphy for an hour, and continued researching her poetry collection until it was time for sleep.
Xiang Wei tucked in Yueyao’s quilt, her expression gloomy. She hadn’t informed Yueyao that Zhou Shu had actually arrived in the Capital City two days ago. Xiang Wei dared not tell Yueyao this because she feared Yueyao wouldn’t be able to maintain her current composure once she knew.
When Zhou Shu learned that Yueyao returned to the Capital City, his face darkened: "Has anything unusual happened since Miss Lian returned to the Capital City?" Zhou Shu hadn’t expected Yueyao to return so soon. He could send people to the manor to kidnap her because the manor was remote, allowing them to clean up any traces. But in the Capital City, it’s not as easy.
The person delivering the message replied, "No, there have been no unusual occurrences among the Ma Family either."
Zhou Shu touched the gemstone ring on his hand: "You may leave!" This isn’t Haikou, where actions are so restricted.
Ah San, Zhou Shu’s most loyal subordinate, was aware of the matter this time: "Young master, that Lian Yueyao is not a simple girl, moreover, she has deep ties with Marquis Jingning’s Residence; please consider this carefully." Ah San had thought Yueyao was just an ordinary girl from the inner chambers, and upon seeing his master exceedingly fond of her, he advised multiple times but eventually stopped when it proved futile. Once Ah San knew his master had kidnapped Yueyao, he thought they would clean up traces afterward, change Lian Yueyao’s name and identity, and send her to Haikou, letting the matter settle over three to five years, and it would naturally be fine. Yet, Ah San hadn’t expected Lian Yueyao to kill her watchers and escape. This was concerning enough, but more worrisome was Marquis Jingning’s Residence getting involved. Fortunately, they silenced those few people, preventing Marquis Jingning’s Residence from gathering evidence, or there would have been great trouble.
Zhou Shu stopped touching the gemstone ring: "Rest assured, I won’t act recklessly." Even in his arrogance, he dared not make a move in the Capital City. But Yueyao was now vigilant, making it more challenging to find similar opportunities again.
Ah San hesitated a moment before saying: "Young master..."
Of course, Zhou Shu knew what Ah San intended to say. Yes, there are many who are more beautiful and talented than Yueyao, but only she had captured his heart. If possible, he’d rather not take this step, but he couldn’t control himself, as if possessed; whenever he had a moment’s respite, that enchanting figure wandered in his mind. Since he couldn’t forget, bewitched, difficult as it was, he would still have to marry her.
Seeing Zhou Shu’s expression grow cold, Ah San swallowed back the rest of his words. Leaving the study, Ah San’s face twisted in worry. If this Lian Yueyao were a girl from a civilian family, or even from a lesser official’s family, they could use tactics to make her comply. However, this Lian Yueyao not only belonged to an official’s family but was also the renowned Great Scholar’s closed-door disciple, a person with such high aspirations.
Ah San just couldn’t understand, normally his master was very rational, why didn’t he realize that Miss Lian didn’t even fancy the heir to Marquis Yongding, let alone him? It’s not that he disparaged his master, but that his master and Lian Yueyao were from two different worlds, destined never to intersect. Even if some strategy brought her home, with Lian Yueyao’s temperament, how could she possibly submit? Not to mention...
Ah San recalled the account of Lian Yueyao efficiently killing Ah Qing, causing a chill in him. But his master was already bewitched, and nothing he said mattered. Ah San regretted it somewhat; if he had known, he shouldn’t have let his master come to the Capital City last time; without encountering Lian Yueyao, none of this would have happened.