101: Zhuang Xian left

Situ Jun's fingertips rubbed over the Acupoints on the sole of her foot. Her skin flushed an inviting pink in the warmth, like a newly blooming rose.

Suddenly, Liu Xuaner curled her toes, sending splashes of water onto their clothes, leaving behind dark stains.

She turned her face away, her earlobes turning a deep crimson that looked ready to bleed. The jade bracelet on her wrist swayed gently with her rapid breathing, making soft, clinking sounds:

"You've certainly improved; your technique is more skillful than before."

Her voice carried a trace of an imperceptible tremor, as if her heart was being stirred into a mess by this ambiguous atmosphere.

Before her voice had even faded, hurried footsteps were suddenly heard outside the courtyard.

Chun Hua's voice came through the carved wooden door, carrying an urgency she couldn't hide:

"Madam! It's a letter sent by the Lord Manor Head!"

Liu Xuaner abruptly pulled back her foot, kicking the edge of the wooden basin with a dull thud.

Situ Jun lowered his gaze to dry the water droplets on her feet, catching a glimpse of a fresh red mark on her ankle—the mark was circular, looking like an imprint left by being tightly bound by a silver bell rope.

"Wait for me a moment."

Liu Xuaner tightened her slipping gauze robe; her white jade hairpin nearly fell as she stood up:

"Steward Situ should go back and rest early."

Situ Jun nodded and slowly walked out the door.

After he went out, Chun Hua walked in holding the letter.

Situ Jun stood under the rose trellis, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

He was truly curious why the Bei Batian would suddenly send a letter to Liu Xuaner. A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he turned and walked toward his own courtyard.

In the Rose Courtyard, Liu Xuaner's face turned red with anger after she finished reading the letter.

After a long while, she slowly let out a breath, her voice as cold as tempered ice:

"You may leave."

Once Chun Hua had walked away, Liu Xuaner suddenly crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it fiercely toward the screen.

The gold-leaf letter paper struck the red sandalwood with a crisp, dull thud:

"What a Bei Batian! He is simply selling his wife for glory!"

She walked to the window and looked at the lanterns swaying under the corridor, sighing softly after a long time:

"Since that's the case, I won't stay in this Rose Courtyard either."

Her voice suddenly turned cold:

"Since we are no longer husband and wife, why should I care about our past feelings? I'll definitely have that Zhuang Xian deal with him properly!"

Her words were full of determination and resentment... In the West Courtyard, Situ Jun's own residence, a gilded bronze incense burner in the shape of a beast's head emitted curls of green smoke, and the scent of dragons saliva incense lingered among the carved wooden window frames.

Situ Jun reclined on a red sandalwood armchair with chi-dragon patterns. In the white jade teacup in his hand, the Biluochun tea rippled with emerald colors. Amidst the misty steam, he gazed at the swaying shadows of bamboo outside the window and suddenly flicked the rim of the cup with his finger.

Realizing that Lin Suwan was the only one in the manor he hadn't visited yet, he turned to the joyful Cherry beside him and said:

"You are tired tonight; go and rest early. I'm going to see Madam Lin."

Cherry pinched the corner of her clothes and lowered her head shyly as she replied:

"Mm."

As the night deepened, the gate to Lin Suwan's courtyard had long been closed.

She was reclining on a Xiangfei bamboo couch, focused on embroidering a handkerchief. Her black gauze skirt spread out like the wings of a night butterfly, revealing half of her calves clad in snow-white shoes and socks; her skin was whiter than snow, glowing softly under the candlelight.

The pearl tassels in her hair swayed gently, casting a soft glow under the candlelight like scattered moonlight, beautiful as a dream.

"Madam."

Situ Jun smiled slightly, but his gaze involuntarily fell on the embroidery in her hand. The stitches were fine and dense, as if hiding ten thousand thoughts; every stitch and thread seemed to be telling of endless sorrow.

Lin Suwan put the needle and thread back into the bamboo basket, catching his gaze out of the corner of her eye, and let out a light laugh:

"I heard long ago that you were back. Have you been getting along quite harmoniously with Sister Su?"

Her voice was sweet, yet it hid a strong scent of jealousy, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible resentment.

Situ Jun gave a fawning laugh and said:

"Didn't I come to see Madam immediately after I finished reporting my business?"

As he spoke, he took her jade-like hand and gently rubbed the soft back of it, comforting her well in an attempt to smooth over the dissatisfaction in her heart.

A long time passed.

Lin Suwan suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes looking at Situ Jun, filled with worry:

"About that matter of Zhuang Xian bullying Hong Mei..."

Her fingertips brushed across the back of his hand, carrying a lingering fear of unease:

"Can you protect us?"

Situ Jun took the opportunity to hold that warm, soft hand and said softly amidst her worried gaze:

"I have already resolved it. Madam need not worry."

His voice was low and gentle, like a spring breeze intended to blow away all her anxieties... Early the next morning, Zhuang Xian impatiently told Zhuang Lei to prepare the carriage, wanting to return to the Xihua Sect immediately.

Zhuang Lei went to prepare with joy, but when he saw the carriage was about to depart with only the two of them and a few maids and servants inside, he couldn't help but remind him:

"Young Master, Liu Xuaner hasn't boarded the carriage yet?"

Zhuang Xian glanced at him and said in a cold tone:

"Another time. This time I have urgent business to return for, something concerning my major affairs as the Saint."

Hearing that it concerned the Young Master's major affairs as the Saint, Zhuang Lei's expression turned solemn. He immediately ordered the driver to set off, and the doubts in his heart dissipated.

The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, kicking up fine dust as it gradually disappeared into the distance.

At the same time, inside the Rose Courtyard, Liu Xuaner was inserting the last golden tassel hairpin into her bun.

Having finished her grooming, she was about to go find Zhuang Xian to discuss joining the Xihua Sect.

But before she could step out, the maid Cui Zhu hurried over, her face full of joy:

"Madam, that Zhuang Xian has left the City Lord's Manor and returned to the Xihua Sect."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xuaner was stunned.

In the past, she couldn't wait for Zhuang Xian to leave, but at this moment, just as she had made up her mind to go to the Xihua Sect, Zhuang Xian had suddenly left. For a moment, she felt a sense of powerlessness, like a punch landing on thin air.

Her fingertips tightly gripped the rouge box on the dressing table, the glazed surface digging into her palm until it hurt, as if she wanted to vent all the anger in her heart.

The morning light filtered through the carved window frames, casting fragmented shadows on her skirt, much like her scattered thoughts at this moment.

She suddenly remembered the crumpled letter from last night. Bei Batian's vigorous handwriting was still before her eyes—'The affection between us as husband and wife has ended. The Divorce Letter has been written. Go with Young Master Zhuang Xian to the Xihua Sect with peace of mind...'

So the so-called 'selling his wife for glory' was actually to use her as a stepping stone to cling to the Sect. This filled her heart with anger and desolation.

"Prepare a horse."

Liu Xuaner stood up abruptly, her white jade hairpin knocking against the jewelry box. The clinking of pearls and emeralds startled the birds perched outside the window.

She hurried through the corridor in her embroidered shoes, only to bump straight into Situ Jun at the corner. Situ Jun was quick to support her waist, but what he touched was a back thinner than usual, making a trace of heartache rise in his heart.

"Madam is in such a hurry..."

Before Situ Jun could finish, he saw Liu Xuaner grab his sleeve, a stubborn light burning in her eyes:

"Is Steward Situ willing to protect me on my way to the Xihua Sect?"

The jade bracelet on her wrist swayed gently with her rapid breathing, making Situ Jun's gaze grow even deeper.

"Does Madam truly intend to go?"

He looked up at the roses blooming in the courtyard. The blood-colored petals fell rustling in the wind, like a silent funeral rite.