Volume 1: Laughing at the Splendor Chapter 16

  Li Yun watched as Rong Jing approached step by step, like admiring a meticulously crafted ink painting. She thought that this kind of person was the real killer of men and women, young and old, and no matter who stood in front of him, they all seemed insignificant, unable to compare.

  Before long, Rong Jing stood still in front of Li Yun at a distance of one step, his clear and bright phoenix eyes gazing at her finely.

  Li Yun had never been looked at by a man so carefully, as if she was transparent in front of him. For a moment, she felt a little overwhelmed, her face slightly red, avoiding his gaze, and coughing lightly, "You..."

  "Let's go!" Rong Jing didn't wait for Li Yun to speak, turned around and walked towards the horse carriage. His voice was clear and pleasant to hear, his steps still light and elegant. Without saying another word.

  Li Yun was stunned, staring at Rong Jing's back as he turned and walked away. Was that it?

  Rong Jing seemed to have not noticed Li Yun's gaze on his back, and soon walked to the side of the all-black carriage. The black-clad man standing in front of the carriage immediately took over the umbrella from him and lifted the curtain. He slightly bent his body and entered the carriage. The curtain fell, blocking his figure from view.

  Li Yun was thoroughly stunned this time. Thinking that indeed big shots are somewhat eccentric in nature.

  At the moment when Li Yun was stunned, the black-clad guard had already sat in front of the carriage, not even looking this way, and with a wave of his whip, the carriage quickly and steadily left the palace gate.

  Li Yun's mouth twitched. What kind of master there is, what kind of servant there is!

  "Miss? Jing Shizi has left, let's go too!" Cai Lian withdrew her gaze and asked Li Yun with a questioning look. Although she didn't know why Jing Shizi wanted to save the miss, it was said that Jing Shizi never approached anyone within three steps, but just now he stood still one step away from the miss. This was enough to surprise her.

  "Alright, let's go!" Li Yun pouted.

  Cai Lian hastily handed over the reins to Li Yun, who nimbly mounted the horse and looked at Cai Lian, "Want me to take you?"

  "Miss, I don't need to. I'll just follow you and run." Cai Lian hastily shook her head. Today, the miss had been acting strangely since she woke up, and was nicer to her than usual by a huge margin. She still couldn't quite accept it, feeling like she was being overly favored.

  Running behind her horse? Li Yun's face turned red. Even if the imperial palace is close to the Cloud King's Mansion, there are still several streets in between! At least five miles away. It would be fine to run back like this, but it would also be very tiring. She stretched out her hand to pull Cai Lian, "Get on, I'll take you back!"

  "Miss, I really don't need to, where is there a servant and miss sharing the same horse? I can run..." Cailian not only didn't reach out her hand, but also took a step back in fright.

  "What's with the hesitation! I said I can, so come on!" Li Yun frowned, her voice leaving no room for doubt.

  Cai Lian trembled, and didn't dare to take a step back. She looked at Li Yun with tears in her eyes, as if she was about to cry. Li Yun's stern face couldn't help but soften, and he let out a sigh of resignation. "You're my maid, who cares who sees me carrying you? Come on! Let's hurry back to the manor, I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving."

  Actually, the main reason is that without Cai Lian leading her, she might not be able to find her own residence in Yun Wang Fu!

  Cai Lian immediately swallowed back the tears that were about to flow out, looked around, hesitated and stared at Li Yun, saw her firm and encouraging expression, plucked up the courage to take a step forward, and stretched out her trembling hand to Li Yun.

  Li Yun's hand had just stretched out and immediately grasped her small hand, lightly pulling it. Cai Lian was instantly pulled to sit behind her, and she didn't delay, clamping her legs on the horse's belly. The sorrel horse's four hooves lifted off, shooting out like an arrow leaving a bowstring.

  Caiyun was so scared that she tightly hugged Li Yun's waist, suddenly feeling that today's young lady was very warm, like a long-lost family member.

  Li Yun looked at the small hand tightly wrapped around her waist, and a smile played on her lips. She didn't know why, but with this little girl by her side, she always felt more grounded. Maybe it was because she was the first person Li Yun had met when she arrived here, and there was something special about that feeling.

  Catching up with Rong Jing's carriage, Li Yun had no choice but to slightly pull the reins, letting the horse under him slow down its pace and follow behind the carriage.

  The horse-drawn carriage drove through the bustling main street, which was already approaching dusk. The number of people on the street had increased significantly. Various rare and precious items were displayed on both sides of the street, and the vendors' cries for sale were endless.

  Li Yun thought it was interesting and realized that this kind of night market had been popular since ancient times.

  She walked a little further, and saw that the two most prosperous large wine houses were burned to blackness, looking at the marks as if they had just been burned by a big fire. She thought for a moment, rushing too fast earlier didn't notice, only now did she see it. Could that be the Wang Chun Building?

  Li Yun was sizing him up, when the curtain in front of the carriage suddenly opened from inside, revealing Rong Jing's handsome face. He slightly tilted his head to glance at the remains of the burned down Wang Chun Lou, then turned his phoenix eyes towards Li Yun sitting on her horse and smiled faintly: "Burned well!"

  Li Yun was stunned for a moment, and then she was dazzled by his shallow smile. Rong Jing had already put down the curtain, and no more sounds came out.

  "Miss, I heard that although Wang Chun Lou is doing that kind of business, but in private, the servants have heard that they are actually doing the most despicable and dirty things. Especially selling people, forcing good women into prostitution, and even sometimes when the old madam takes a fancy to some respectable family's daughter, she will think of ways to snatch her away... it's simply evil incarnate." Cai Lian whispered behind Li Yun.

  "It turned out to be like this, and it was indeed well done." Li Yun nodded. So she did another good deed?

  "Yes, that's right! People in the capital have been secretly talking about this, and I think it's true. It's just that Wangchun Building has a strong backing, so it was suppressed in secret, which is why such things didn't come to light." Cailian continued in a low voice: "This time Miss burned down Wangchun Building, although it seems a bit reckless, but the common people are actually secretly applauding. It's just that no one dares to speak out for Miss openly."

  Li Yun nodded again, thinking that this little girl knew a lot. After some thought, she asked in a low voice: "Is the backstage of Wangchun Building all the ministers of Beijing? Otherwise, why did those people write memorials to impeach me after I burned down Wangchun Building?"

  "Miss, think about it! Even if those officials didn't have an ulterior motive behind their backs at the Wangchun Building, the people inside, whether men or women, are all national treasures. After all, there are nobles and young masters from various provinces who come to admire them. Now, with one move, you've ruined everyone's reputation. Isn't that something for people to resent? Of course, they'll jointly sign a petition to impeach you." Cailian's voice was as low as it could get.

  Li Yun suddenly realized. She was dressed in a group of hatred.

  "Is the person behind Wang Chun Lou the crown prince?" Li Yun asked in a low voice again.

  Cai Lian was shocked, and immediately let go of Li Yun's hand, her face turned pale, and she almost fell off the horse. Fortunately, Li Yun quickly pulled her back, looking at her frightened appearance with a puzzled expression, asking: "Could it be that I guessed correctly?"

  Cai Lian shook her head and said in a frightened tone: "I don't know either."

  "If you don't know, then you just don't know," Li Yun said, looking at her.

  Cai Lian saw that Li Yun was not getting angry, took a deep breath and said with a bitter face: "I'm just afraid as soon as I hear the name of the Crown Prince."

  "Is he very scary?" Li Yun thought of the crown prince's relentless pursuit of her death and her face turned gloomy.

  "Miss?" Cai Lian was startled again, and under Li Yun's inquiring gaze, she could only lower her head and honestly say in a low voice: "In the past, Miss would never allow anyone to speak ill of the Crown Prince..."

  Li Yun was startled again, her emotions still reeling from the aftermath of fear. He steadied her and turned his head to continue riding forward, his voice calm and emotionless as he said to her: "It won't happen again. From now on, I, Li... Cloud Shallow Moon, will have nothing to do with the Crown Prince. The emotions are cut off, the thoughts are severed. Nor will you enter the palace as a concubine or enter the imperial court. You listen carefully and remember. You are my personal attendant, and I don't want you to be afraid of him again."

  Cai Lian's eyes widened as she stared at Li Yun, only to see her straight back, clearly determined. Her eyes gradually became sour, and Miss must have thoroughly lost heart after this great change. Before, she always felt that although Miss had a bad temper and was not good to them, the maids by her side were constantly changing, and she had been here for less than half a year. But as they got along longer, she found that Miss was actually straightforward and true in nature, but there was only one thing - whenever it came to matters about the Crown Prince, she would become like a different person, doing all sorts of crazy things, and who knows how many things she had done for the Crown Prince in private. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince didn't even know. He was still cold and disgusted with her. Now that Miss saw through it, Cai Lian was happy but also felt sorry for her, thinking that Miss was really too pitiful.

  "Huh?" Li Yun felt that Cai Lian's emotions were off, and she hadn't heard her voice for half a day. She turned her head to look at her.

  Cai Lian bit her lip and nodded, choking back tears: "Yes, I remember what you said, miss. I just want you to be happy, and now you won't have to suffer anymore. Although the crown prince is good, in my opinion, he's not a good match for you either. It's just that there's the emperor's decree, so I'm still worried about you... What if the emperor orders you to marry the crown prince? You're being too decisive, and I'm afraid the crown prince won't be happy... After all, you're the only legitimate daughter of the Yun King's household..."

  Li Yun heard this and rubbed her forehead, this matter was indeed a trouble. But she was broad-minded, for now in the Cloud King's Palace, she hadn't yet stood firm on her feet, where did she have the heart to think about other things? The future would be discussed later. She put down her hand, shook her head and said: "It doesn't matter! The Cloud King's Palace isn't just me, one daughter. Whether born to a wife or a concubine, they are all daughters of the Cloud King's Palace, what difference does it make? Don't pay attention to it."

  "The young lady is right." Cai Lian burst into tears and smiled. She wiped away the wetness from her eyes and said in a low voice, "I think Miss has become more cheerful after going through this big change, it's really good news, Old Master Wang will definitely be delighted to see the current Miss."

  Li Yun heard this and suddenly felt a surge of joy, she had finally waited for the breakthrough from Cai Lian's mouth about Yun Lao Wang Ye's attitude towards Yun Qian Yue. With this breakthrough, if she was a bit more careful, it would be easy to deceive him with false information.