Chapter 115 Jade Pendant

  The ox cart had been walking for a while when Lu Yue suddenly said, "Let's go to Cong Cheng Nanjing Garden instead."

  The husband outside shouted: "Little wife, we've walked a long way already, and now you're changing direction again..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yue calmly said: "Add three iron coins for you."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Fu calmed down.

  Before long, the ox cart stopped outside Jingyuan. Compared to the large mansion that Guiren had specially told her about last time, this Jingyuan was much more elegant and natural.

  Lu Xuan gave the iron coins to Yu Fu and walked towards the main gate.

  Before she approached, an older gatekeeper said, "Is it Miss Lu? Please come in."

  This is only her second time here, and yet the gatekeeper is as respectful as those in Hanyang, with an air of letting her pass through.

  Lu Xuan nodded and entered the inner room.

  It's just the right time in spring, when the flowers are in full bloom inside the Mirror Garden, with butterflies fluttering around, accompanied by the gentle sound of silk and bamboo music, giving people an indescribable sense of romance and comfort.

  Lu Xuan walked for a while, and a man in green clothes came towards her, expressionlessly saying: "Miss Lu, this way please."

  "Yes."

  Lu Ying followed him from behind and walked towards a courtyard.

  In this courtyard, the flowers were blooming in every color of the rainbow. Scholars and guards came and went from time to time. When they saw Lu Yue approaching, they took a glance at her and then pretended not to see her.

  Before long, the guard led Lu Yue into a study and said, "Wait for a moment, Master will be here soon."

  "You're too kind."

  The guard retreated and went out.

  This is an exquisitely decorated study, except for a single purple rug that matches the color of the walls, showing the owner's nobility. On the shelves are rows and rows of books, and at random glance, several volumes are actually rare editions that were said to have been burned during the Qin Shi Huang's burning of books and burying of scholars.

  Just then, footsteps were heard approaching.

  Before long, a young man appeared at the door and bowed to Lu Yue, "Is that Miss Lu? The master is calling for you."

  "Yes."

  Lü Yuè replied and followed the young man, walking for a while listening to the sound of string music coming from all around. Lü Yuè curiously asked: "Where is Master now?"

  "The master is discussing matters."

  Lu Xuan was taken aback by this response. She pursed her lips and said, "In that case, may I trouble you to wait for a moment, and then go disturb the master?"

  The young man turned around and looked at her, saying: "Master has called for you to go forward."

  The child... is."

  Before long, Lu Xuan arrived at the entrance of a magnificent dome-shaped hall. As she appeared, she saw a row of Confucian scholars and four guards in green uniforms kneeling neatly in front of the hall. It was clear that there had been a fierce dispute earlier, with many of them having their foreheads knocked against the ground until they were purple and swollen, some even bleeding, while others were sobbing.

  The nobleman, however, had his eyes half-closed and a hint of a mocking smile playing on the corners of his lips.

  Seeing Lu Yue come over, a green-clothed guard hastily stepped forward and bowed to Lu Yue, saying: "The master is inside, you can go in."

  He looked unhappy and these people were obviously discussing important matters. Lu Xuan didn't think he had the qualifications to enter at this time.

  So she stepped back and said lightly: "The master is busy, I'll just wait."

  "Lu's going in won't make any difference."

  Looking at his urging guard, Lu Xuan glanced at him and said lightly: "I know my own place."

  Seeing her unwilling to enter, the man in green clothes lowered his voice and begged: "Every time Master sees you, he is in a great mood. If Ah Yuan goes in now, maybe she can save a few lives, isn't that a good thing?"

  Lu Xuan glanced at him and said lightly: "Ah Xuan is just a woman, a plaything, not worthy of your expectation."

  Having said that, she turned around and walked towards the distant garden.

  Looking at Lu Yue's figure, the young man stumbled and asked the person in green clothes: "Do you want to persuade him again?"

  "It doesn't matter." The man in green shook his head, and sighed bitterly: "This Lu has always been cleverer than others." In a moment he sighed again: "It really has nothing to do with her, it's my fault."

  Lü Yuè stood in the garden, idle and without a care. She strolled along, appreciating the scenery. Before she knew it, several mournful cries suddenly rang out. When Lü Yuè turned to look around, everything had returned to its usual tranquility.

  Just as she turned her head again, she saw a row of men in green clothes walking over, with every two men carrying a blood-soaked corpse! With a rough count, there were actually five corpses!

  Lu Yun's face turned pale.

  She quickly lowered her head.

  Just as she stood still with her head hung low, a gentle footstep approached from behind her, followed by the noble's indifferent voice, "Afraid?"

  Lu Xuan turned around and nodded at him.

  "Come over."

  Lu Xuan walked slowly in front of him with a gentle smile.

  The nobleman lifted her chin and scrutinized her complexion, the nobleman sneered: "Really cold-hearted... , actually, her expression didn't change!"

  Actually, it's not suitable, but she has now practiced the facial paralysis skill.

  Lu Xuan ignored his sarcasm, smiled and glanced at the lake beside him, saying: "The spring breeze is gentle, the waves are calm. On such a beautiful day, would you like to take a boat ride with me between the lakes and mountains?"

  The nobleman glanced at her and smiled, "You're quite good at changing the subject."

  He didn't let go of Luoyin's chin, but instead lowered his head and gazed at her intently.

  Staring at her, he saw that although Lu Xuan's face was expressionless, the tips of his ears were suspiciously red. The man couldn't help but suppress his voice and laugh in a low, magnetic tone: "So you can still blush?"

  "Master, you're standing too close."

  How could she be completely numb with his face?

  The noble person smiled again with a low voice.

  He smiled for a while, then leaned in close to her, his breath gently brushing against her face, his voice soft as water, "Does the taste of this blood smell sweet?"

  As soon as this was said, the maids who had been standing not far away with their heads lowered, as if they didn't exist, all knelt down in unison.

  This sudden "thud thud" sound of kneeling on the ground really startled Lu Xuan.

  Lu Xuan glanced at them, then withdrew her gaze and looked up at the nobleman. Lu Xuan replied somewhat unnaturally: "Blood is just blood, there's no such thing as a good or bad smell."

  Upon hearing her response, the nobleman slowly withdrew his smile and said calmly: "Not bad, the taste of blood is just that, no more fragrance or stench."

  He released Lu Xuan and let out his arms: "Get me a change of clothes."

  "Yes." The two maidservants stepped forward and, in a moment, helped Xian change into a moon-white long gown. Then, they undid his hair binding and re-bound it with an ordinary jade pin.

  In just a turn of an eye, this man changed from a noble with great power and wealth to a handsome Confucian scholar.

  Dressed like this, he is a few points less overbearing and strong in presence compared to before, but has gained a few more points of elegance and refinement.

  Never thought that after his noble air was suppressed, he would be so handsome.

  As Lu Xuan approached him, the nobleman reached out and grasped her hand, raising the corners of his lips, his low, magnetic voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "I didn't expect that you, Xuan, would take the initiative to come today."

  Lu Yu was held by his hand, so she couldn't bow. She walked forward with him and said in a clear voice: "Yesterday, Lu's family borrowed the young master's jade pendant and escaped from a disaster. Today, I came to thank the young master."

  "Thanks?" He smiled, this smile was so lazy. Glancing at Lu Xuan, the noble slowly said: "A Xuan should know that in this world, not everything can be easily obtained... That jade pendant, I originally thought A Xuan would never use."

  Lu Ying's face finally changed.

  Actually, she had felt uneasy since receiving the jade pendant.

  Now she finally understood after hearing your words.

  Indeed, in this world, not everything can be taken by stretching out one's hand. Some things, once taken, require a price to be paid.

  And on that jade pendant, there was a dragon pattern and the word "Jiang" engraved on it. Without needing to be reminded, Lu Xuan also knew that it was the token of the person in front of her.

  After receiving such a token of his feelings, she still wanted to clarify things with him, which was somewhat absurd and also violated the usual practices of this circle.

  Lu Xuan's face changed color, and that nobleman quietly appreciated it for a moment before suddenly saying: "You're not thinking of going boating, are you? Let's go."

  Having said that, he took Lu Yue by the hand and jumped onto a small boat with one swift movement, commanding: "Let's go."

  "Yes."

  A young guard in a green uniform jumped aboard the small boat and with one stroke of the long oar, the flat-bottomed boat shot out like an arrow towards the center of the lake.

  In the Mirror Garden, this small lake is not very large. Just as the light boat turned over a small hill, Lu Xuan thought he had reached the end, but suddenly found that behind the small hill was a long river.

  Pointing at the river, the nobleman smiled and said: "From here you can enter the Yangtze River."

  This man actually connected the Yangtze River with a small lake in his own estate.

  Just as Lu Xuan was lost in thought, the noble's hand grasped hers, and his gentle, low voice came, "Lu Xuan, hold on to me... I was drowned by water when I was young, so I'm afraid of it."

  His palms were indeed icy cold.

  Lu Xuan hastily lifted her head.

  Under the brilliant sunshine, this person is smiling, with a handsome face and an air of elegance, where is there even half a hint of fear?

  But his hands were actually cold.

  Moreover, she could clearly feel that he was not telling a lie.

  Lu Xuan tightly grasped his hand and couldn't help but say: "Since Master doesn't like it, we'll just go back."

  "Don't you want to turn back?" The nobleman chuckled and said slowly, "There aren't many things in this world that can be enjoyed, and being terrified is one of them. Ah Ruan will understand this principle soon."

  Soon, Lu Xuan understood his meaning.

  But once the small boat enters the Yangtze River, the water flow suddenly becomes turbulent and is no longer warm. Every whirlpool could be a trap, and the small boat that was sailing smoothly would suddenly tilt sharply downward or crash heavily into the cliffs from head to tail!

  It was a bright and sunny day, with a large ship rushing over from hundreds of steps away. The big ship was bobbing up and down in the turbulent river, causing people on the lake to scream repeatedly. At this time, someone noticed the three people on the small boat, and suddenly, pairs of shocked and sympathetic eyes turned towards them.

  In the howling wind and waves, Lu Xuan vaguely heard, "Such a handsome person!" "Don't they want their lives?" "Quickly go forward and pull them up..."

  Lu Xuan took a glance, and then turned his head back. A huge wave came rolling in from dozens of steps away. The wind was blowing against the waves, and the waves were piling up on top of each other. As they got closer, the water level rose higher and higher. At first, it was only as high as two people, but in the blink of an eye, it became as high as three people, then four people. The wave was rising into the air, with a majestic and powerful momentum, as if it would capsize the small boat and throw the three people into the turbulent river at any moment!

  This chapter makes up for yesterday's missed update. Yesterday there was a sudden power outage and I didn't have time to react.

  Some readers left messages, mentioning Guo Shengtong and the history of the early Eastern Han dynasty. Hehe, I'll say it again here, this article is a true alternate universe story. After writing about real historical events in "Southern Dynasty Spring Color", I felt very constrained. Because no matter which handsome man I liked, they were all already engaged or married with official wives, so I thought it would be more freeing to write an alternate universe story. I wanted to pair the female lead with whoever I wanted, and make the male lead as handsome as I pleased. My point is that except for a few names, everything else in this article is not real, because from start to finish, I didn't do any research or thoroughly understand the history of the early Eastern Han dynasty.

  Real history is always a bit cruel and boring, it's more interesting to think about how to write it however you want. Hehe.