Chapter Forty-Three: One Worth Three

Update time: June 12, 2013

Lian Yue entered the Hidden Sect and went straight to the small courtyard where Lan Shui lived. At that moment, Lan Shui was completely flustered by Yao Yao’s pestering, but the arrival of Lian Yue quickly shifted Yao Yao’s attention.

“Sister Yue, you’re finally here! Take me to Lingyang City, won’t you? It’s so boring in the sect,” Yao Yao said, pouting and acting spoiled.

If there was anyone who had changed the least in these three years, it was surely Yao Yao before her. She was only a year younger than Lian Yue, yet her figure and appearance were exactly as they had been three years ago, and even her temperament remained unchanged.

Sometimes Lian Yue envied Yao Yao’s carefree life. Only when she was with Yao Yao could she truly release her childish heart. But today, Lian Yue had more pressing matters in mind and could only ignore Yao Yao’s coquettish pleas. “Yao Yao, I have important business today. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Business? What business? Can I listen?” Yao Yao’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

“As you wish,” Lian Yue replied, since today’s matter was no secret. She turned her gaze to Lan Shui. “Sister Lan, tomorrow my eldest brother and I will set out for the Southern Ping Prince’s residence. Zi Ling is pregnant and unable to travel. Would you accompany me?”

Lan Shui frowned, her expression guarded. “Is Sister Yu in trouble?”

Back on the night three years ago when Lian Yue and Yao Yao watched the Sea of Mist, Lan Shui’s heart knot had been untied by Meng Yanran, and from then on, she resumed the childhood address.

“Eldest sister lost her child and is bedridden. The Southern Ping Prince sent word asking us to visit and encourage her,” Lian Yue said, sorrow filling her heart.

Lan Shui’s face was full of sympathy, but the thought of traveling with Yue Lingjun made her hesitant. “This...”

“If Sister Lan doesn’t wish to travel with eldest brother, we can go separately,” Lian Yue had already anticipated Lan Shui’s reluctance and had her strategy ready.

Seeing Lan Shui didn’t immediately refuse, Lian Yue tugged at her sleeve pitifully. “Sister Lan, please accompany me. If you don’t, I’ll be so lonely on the journey—I won’t be able to sleep at night.”

Lan Shui’s expression softened, and Lian Yue quickly played her trump card. “Besides, someone must have maliciously framed us. We’ll probably need to enter that building at the Southern Ping Prince’s residence. Eldest brother and I aren’t skilled enough—we need your help, Sister Lan.”

Hearing this, Lan Shui agreed without hesitation.

Lian Yue felt a surge of joy and tentatively asked, “Shall we travel together with eldest brother, then...?”

Lan Shui saw the look on Lian Yue’s face and understood her intentions at once. With her knowledge of Lian Yue, even if they started as two groups, she’d find a way to merge them. Rather than fuss later, it was better to keep things simple. “No need for such trouble—we’ll travel together.”

Lian Yue was so excited she nearly jumped, secretly flashed a victory sign to Qing Feng behind her back, and said sweetly, “Sister Lan, please don’t feel obliged. It’s really no trouble at all. Actually, traveling together makes it easier to look after one another. Are you sure you’re okay with it?”

But how could Lian Yue’s little schemes escape Lan Shui? “Or perhaps we should go in two groups after all?”

“Ah—” This time, Lian Yue was left speechless. Lan Shui saw her expression and pinched her cheek. “You little fox, I was teasing you. We’ll go together.”

Lian Yue’s taut nerves instantly relaxed. Qing Feng, whose heart had also been on edge, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Yao Yao finally found a chance to speak, her long lashes fluttering, “Um, can I ask what you all meant just now? Sister Yu lost her baby? And you said you’re going to the Southern Ping Prince’s residence—does that mean you’re traveling far?”

Lian Yue nodded innocently.

“So that means you and Sister Lan will be gone from the sect for quite some time?” Yao Yao counted on her fingers, looking pitiful.

Lian Yue nodded again.

“That’s wonderful!” Yao Yao’s attitude instantly reversed, every pore on her face radiating excitement. “I want to go with you!” Ignoring whether Lian Yue agreed, she continued counting, “Besides the things I just listed, I can also go to temple fairs, buy sugar figures... wow, wow, wow—I can leave the Hidden Sect and go really far away—so happy, so happy!”

Lian Yue looked at the exuberant Yao Yao speechlessly. Suddenly, a familiar feeling welled up inside her, and she realized it meant her second brother was within ten meters.

Lian Yue glanced at Yao Yao, who was still counting her fingers, completely unaware, and asked mischievously, “Yao Yao, do you really want to go with us? Aren’t you going to ask second brother what he thinks?”

Yao Yao was busy counting and replied impatiently, “No need, no need, why tell him? I’m not planning to marry him anymore—what does it matter where I go! Hee hee—I want to...”

Lian Yue could already sense a surge of anger that did not belong to her and waited gleefully for the drama to unfold. Meng Chuchen did not disappoint her.

A voice full of suppressed fury sounded at the door, “Yao Yao! What did you just say? Say it again!”

Yao Yao, who had been so lively, froze with her fingers still raised and looked fearfully toward Meng Chuchen at the door. “I said I want to rob the rich to help the poor.”

Meng Chuchen forced himself to calm down. “Not that—before that!”

“I want to visit the Flower Pavilion!”

Meng Chuchen’s face grew darker. “The sentence before 'what does it matter where I go.'”

Yao Yao finally realized, “You mean ‘I’m not planning to marry him anymore’—that one, you should’ve said so!”

Lian Yue was already laughing inside, seeing Meng Chuchen’s face—so like her own—twist with frustration. She gave Yao Yao a silent thumbs-up. Meng Chuchen’s voice echoed in her mind.

“You dare gloat! This idea of hers is all your doing!”

Lian Yue rolled her eyes and replied inwardly, “Second brother, that’s not fair. After you learned Yao Yao’s thoughts, you kept avoiding her. I thought you weren’t interested, so I encouraged her that way.”

“I avoided her... because I wasn’t clear about my own feelings. You tried to comfort her, but think about what you told her.”

“I just said there are plenty of handsome men out there, and the world is exciting! Didn’t it work? Ever since I said that, Yao Yao stopped pestering you about marrying her!”

“But now, she nags about going outside every day!”

Heavens, Lian Yue was nearly driven mad. She wanted to shout at Meng Chuchen, “If you’re so capable, win her over!” But thinking better of it, since he was her second brother, she refrained and kept the conversation internal.

“That’s your own fault, second brother. You can’t keep her imprisoned in the Hidden Sect to prevent her from falling for someone else. The more you do, the more she longs for the outside world.”

“If I don’t keep her here, she might get tricked away.”

“See! See! You’re still afraid Yao Yao will fall for someone else. Honestly, second brother, just confess to her and bring her home—then you won’t worry about her running off! Oh, but even then, with her nature, she’d probably still do as she likes!”

“...”

Lian Yue glanced at Meng Chuchen’s ever-darkening face and added gleefully, “If you don’t like that face, just take another Change Appearance Pill—don’t ruin it!”

Meng Chuchen’s face grew even darker, startling Yao Yao, who had been waiting for his response. Her voice trembled as she said, “Wasn’t that the right sentence? I really thought it was!”

“Hahahaha!” Lian Yue laughed heartily.

Meng Chuchen looked at Yao Yao’s pitiful face and his heart softened; his expression eased considerably. “That’s the one. Don’t say it again.”

“Why not? I really don’t plan to marry you. Sister Yue said you should marry someone you like, but you don’t like me.” Yao Yao muttered sadly to herself.

Meng Chuchen’s face, which had just relaxed, darkened again. Lian Yue giggled and asked, “So, Yao Yao, do you like my second brother?”

Yao Yao glanced cautiously at Meng Chuchen’s stormy face and nodded toward Lian Yue.

Immediately, Meng Chuchen’s face lit up, and a smile curled his lips—clearly satisfied with Yao Yao’s answer.

“Alright, enough joking—let’s get to business,” Lian Yue said, her expression turning serious. “Eldest brother and I are leaving tomorrow to visit eldest sister at the Southern Ping Prince’s residence. She lost her child, and someone deliberately harmed her. So, eldest brother and I will investigate secretly. Whoever dared hurt her, no matter who, I won’t let them off. Sister Lan is coming with me.”

Meng Chuchen’s smile faded as Lian Yue spoke, replaced by a cold sneer. “It must be related to that Lady Yun. I have matters to handle here, so you go ahead. Keep the token the sect gave you with you—it can mobilize disciples from Hidden Sect’s branch halls.”

“Yes, I understand!” Lian Yue nodded solemnly, her eyes showing worry. “This time, just eldest brother, Sister Lan, and me will go. You should stay in the sect. Father’s health is worsening; please visit him when you can. But you and I should avoid appearing before him.”

Meng Chuchen’s face also grew troubled. He and Lian Yue felt helpless about this; ever since they stopped taking the Change Appearance Pill, their features grew more and more like their mother’s. On Meng Chuchen, the resemblance did not make him appear delicate, but gave him a unique handsomeness. Still, resemblance was resemblance, and thinking of father’s expression every time he saw them made Meng Chuchen uncomfortable.

“I understand.”

“Sister Yue, you seem to have forgotten me,” Yao Yao whispered.

“You—have you passed second brother’s test yet?”

“Brother Chuchen...”

“No!”

“Sister Yue...”

“As long as second brother agrees, I have no problem!” Lian Yue tossed this irresponsible remark and winked at Meng Chuchen. “You two continue. Sister Lan, pack your things—I’m off to say farewell to Mother!”