Chapter 214

After that day, Huo Yuyan’s luck improved a lot.

His men did a clean job and drove that poor scholar away without leaving a trace. He sent someone to check, and learned that the scholar had indeed run away in despair, hiding in the countryside in that leaky, dilapidated house.

Also, Lou Wanjun went to the West Market twice, but she gave up when she didn’t find him.

On the contrary, Huo Yuyan caught up with the coincidences. His men always kept an eye on Lou Wanjun’s movements, and so he devised chance encounters several times.

Gradually, Lou Wanjun no longer mentioned the scholar. Instead, her attention was locked on him all day. She even took the initiative to lead him on a tour around Lin’an.

Huo Yuyan took all these changes into his eyes.

He knew Lou Wanjun’s temperament and thought he had a good grasp of her preferences. Sure enough, she was all too easy to hook. Now, Lou Wanjun often took the initiative to find him without his invitation

At this juncture, all he had to do was do some pushing and pulling.

He maintained his lukewarm and gentle approach, neither refusing nor taking the initiative, neither friendly nor aloof, as if he really treated Lou Wanjun as a little sister.

Lou Wanjun then gradually became anxious.

She couldn’t hide things on her face, and gradually, her restlessness and impatience showed clearly in her words and deeds.

Huo Yuyan captured everything, but remained silent.

Until today.

Lou Wanjun excitedly told him that the lotus flowers in the West Lake were blooming and wanted to take him to see it together. However, Huo Yuyan said that he was busy with some trivial matters, so he retreated for two days before responding to Lou Wanjun’s invitation.

Lou Wanjun rented a boat on the West Lake and sat down with Huo Yuyan by the window.

The two chatted for a while, Lou Wanjun had ulterior motives, so her speech was not on it. Not long after, the young eunuch beside Huo Yuyan went out to pour tea. Lou Wanjun hemmed and hawed for a while before finally speaking.

“I remember… you are now twenty-seven, right?” she asked.

Huo Yuyan’s heart skipped a beat, but nothing showed on his face. He smiled gently and said, “Yes. Time has really passed in the twinkling of an eye. When I got to know you, I was only in my teens.”

Lou Wanjun clasped her two hands together and squeezed them nervously.

“Then your father must have urged you to marry, too, right?” she asked.

Hearing this, Huo Yuyan smiled gently for a spell.

Lou Wanjun immediately became anxious: “What are you laughing at?”

Huo Yuyan corrected his expression and joked appropriately, “Little Sister is asking such a question. Do you already have a sweetheart?”

Lou Wanjun blushed, as if he had touched a sore spot.

“I was just asking!” she retorted urgently.

Seeing her reaction, Huo Yuyan smiled again.

“Of course, I have been urged.” He smiled gently and said, “However, I have been unwilling, so there is nothing Father can do.”

“Why?” Lou Wanjun blurted out.

Huo Yuyan raised his eyes to look at her, his eyes a little deep.

Silence reigned for a moment, until Lou Wanjun lowered her head with some embarrassment.

“For one thing, with this physique, I will drag whoever girl I marry,” he said, “Secondly, the girl I like is not one of those ladies in Ye City who never step out of their boudoir.”

Lou Wanjun immediately raised her eyes at him, and a streak of light seemed to flash across her eyes.

“What?” Huo Yuyan feigned puzzlement.

Lou Wanjun kept silent for a moment, then asked with some difficulty: “Then… What sort of girl do you like?”

Huo Yuyan looked out the window. His gaze was distant, as if expressing some yearning.

“I like the kind of free and passionate woman.” He spoke warmly. His tone alone hinted at deep feelings. “The kind of woman who’s always righteous and unbridled; perhaps I am used to following the rules since I was young, so I have always yearned to see such a lady.”

After saying that, he looked at Lou Wanjun and smiled helplessly.

“But … I am the Crown Prince, such hope is an extravagance. I carry the country on my shoulders. Not only can I not be reckless, but also with regards to such major events as my marriage, I must not marry an inappropriate or wrong family.”

“But I…” Lou Wanjun blurted out.

Her voice came to an abrupt halt, and Huo Yuyan’s voice, too, stopped abruptly.

The two looked at each other, and for a moment, no one spoke.

Just when Lou Wanjun was showing shyness, Huo Yuyan smiled faintly.

“Sister Wanjun,” he started, “Do you feel that the woman I just described is very similar to you?”

Lou Wanjun opened her mouth, but made no sound.

Seeing this, Huo Yuyan smiled helplessly.

“But I also know that Uncle Lou is from Southern Jing. He is now loyal to Huo Wujiu and will never be used by me again. I don’t want to embarrass Uncle Lou, so it’s better for you and me to remain brother and sister.”

After saying that, he raised his head and regarded Lou Wanjun seriously.

“These days, I was also hesitating, but two days ago, I made up my mind. Sister Wanjun, you just need to know my feelings. Even as an elder brother, I can protect you for a lifetime.”

Lou Wanjun’s eyes reddened.

A moment later, she choked out a sob and said, “But why didn’t you ask me what my thoughts are?”

Huo Yuyan was rendered speechless for a moment.

Lou Wanjun continued, “You are the Crown Prince in name only. Since my father has submitted to Northern Liang, there is no reason for him to follow Huo Wujiu instead of following your orders. His 300,000 soldiers are not much, but they can also be your backing. Moreover, although I am just a woman, I still have some say in such matters.”

As they chatted, the ship gradually docked.

Lou Wanjun abruptly stood up, her eyes burning and locked on Huo Yuyan.

“… Brother Huo, just wait for me,” she said.

After saying that, she turned around, and before the ship completely docked, she took huge strided. She landed onto the shore of the lake and strode away with a death-defying momentum.

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