Chapter 66
Chapter 66 – Memories Tied To A Place (1)
The golden sun slowly set, brandishing the sky with thin stripes of violet hues. Beneath the wide horizon, the lined-up carriages of the Lu Family arrived at the Zhuangzi Hot Springs.
Lu Shiming had already sent people ahead to Zhuangzi to take care of everything. When they arrived, the establishment’s housekeeper had already met them at the door.
Upon arrival, Pei Shi went to check on Ye Zhen. “It’s getting late. You’ve been in the carriage for most of the day. I must make a hot soup for you.”
“Shouldn’t we go to the hot springs with the rest?”
“Every courtyard here draws water from the springs. There is not only one pool.” Pei Shi spoke with wonder.
Ye Zhen smiled. No one was more familiar with the structure of Zhuangzi than her. This was originally her dowry! Given by her family to the emperor upon their marriage!
She had died without children, and her family joined her right after. Therefore, all her things became Mo Rongzhan’s.
She felt bitter in her heart, the tyrant gave her Zhuangzi to the Lu Family!
At the thought of this, Ye Zhen’s heart was filled with anger, and her hatred for Mo Rongzhan deepened somewhat.
Because she was an unimportant person to him, her dowry could be freely given away to others?!
Pei Shi felt that her daughter’s mood was a little foul. Perceiving it as some kind of travel exhaustion, she sent out maids to take Ye Zhen to her temporary chambers in the courtyard.
When Ye Zhen came to the courtyard arranged for her, she had a bitter-sweet smile on her face. It turned out to be such a playful coincidence.
She used to live in the very courtyard she was standing in now. Back then, she had personally chosen this part of the springs for it had the largest courtyard and the biggest pool with a secret passageway to the adjacent hills.
Although the establishment was surrounded by wooden walls, it was not difficult to swim out and find inexplicable freedom at the other side of the wall.
When she was still unmarried, every time she visited this place she would secretly sneak at night. And there, she would bask under the moonlight and embrace the warmth of the night scenery until it was near dawn.
This place also housed memories of her childhood. Her father and her brother, she could see their shadows at every corner.
Her insides shivered and in no time, her eyes welled up with tears. She felt miserable and lonely.
Oh heavens, how she missed them! If only she could turn back time… but miracles were not in her control.
“Yaoyao!” Lu Xiangzhi rushed up from behind. His smile was immediately wiped away when he saw tears in his sister’s eyes. “What happened?”
Ye Zhen wiped away tears, smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine. Why aren’t you with Father? What brings you here?”
With pure disbelief in his eyes, Lu Xiangzhi frowned and ignored his sister’s query. Instead, he held her shoulders at arm’s length and looked her right in the eye.
“Are you worried about the entrance examination? Or did you hear about people betting on you? “
“You know about it?!” Ye Zhen was surprised.
Has word of the wager reached the many ears?
Right now, Lu Xiangzhi’s face seemed to say: “Don’t worry about what other people think, don’t they say you can’t enter if you don’t?”
“Brother, you can bet for me.” Ye Zhen smiled through tears and tugged at Lu Xiangzhi’s sleeve before saying, “All my savings are one hundred and twenty taels1. If you bet on me, bet that I will succeed in entering the academy, my one hundred taels2 will turn to one thousand!”
“Eh? You will put your savings at risk?” Lu Xiangzhi’s eyes looked like they would fall at any moment!
Pursing her lips, Ye Zhen put her hands at her sides, a face of injustice stared back at Lu Xiangzhi.
“Does Brother also think I cannot enter? You also look down on me! Hmph!”
Lu Xiangzhi said hastily, “How can I look down upon you? Our family is smart, and you will definitely be admitted to the academy.”
“Then you should bet on me to win!” Ye Zhen smiled and her clear eyes sparkled like jewels.
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