Fuzhu’s Ballad

etorted.
“I'll marry her as soon as I get back!”

 

Lan Dan was taken aback by his response.
She might really not be as astute as Qiuyue…
It was true that Shentu Rui never said he didn't want to marry Lan Cheng.
It was she who had made the wrong assumption.

 

“For anything or anyone,” he said coldly, “the level of cherishment is equivalent to the cost paid to obtain that thing or person.
I am willing to take you away because I don't want Shentu Cheng to get you too easily.
Save for your face, everything about you is not interesting.
He will definitely get tired of you in just a few days.
I'm not ready to rebel yet, and you'll probably be dead weight by then.
Of what use are you to me?”

 

Lan Dan was rendered speechless by his cruel words.
Silently, she lowered her head, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

“You can go back!” he spat, his voice filled with merciless contempt.
“I already think you're a burden.” And with that, he whipped his horse to gallop away, leaving her behind in a cloud of dust on the official road.

 

Lan Dan coughed lightly a few times, her vision blurred, but she didn't feel choked.
Instead, she felt a deep sense of disillusionment, as if the harsh realities of life had finally caught up with her.
She let her horse wander aimlessly without direction, lost in her own thoughts.
She couldn't help but think that anyone who appeared warm-hearted or kind was simply an illusion, a mirage that would disappear as soon as she reached out to touch it.

 

As she rode, a young man carrying a long sword passed her with ease.
He paused briefly to glance in her direction before pulling his horse to a stop.
With a warm smile, he addressed her.
“Where are you heading, Miss?”

 

Lan Dan was caught off guard by the sudden interruption.
She didn't want to engage with this stranger, for she despised false and frivolous behavior.

 

The young man wasn't surprised or annoyed by her silence.
On the contrary, he seemed even more attentive and concerned.
“It's still quite chilly out here,” he remarked gently.
“Why don't we make our way to Shili Pavilion and have a warm cup of tea?”

 

Shili Pavilion?

 

Lan Dan's eyes lit up.
Although Shentu Rui had left in anger, he would definitely be waiting for her at the Shili Pavilion!

 

Without a second thought, Lan Dan spurred her horse forward, galloping as fast as she could towards the pavilion.
The young man followed closely behind her, his sword clanking softly against his side.

 

The Shili Pavilion on the outskirts of the capital was built on high ground.
From a distance, Lan Dan could see Shentu Rui's horses tied up in pairs near the pavilion.
Although she didn't see anyone, her heart settled when she saw the horses.

 

Descending the slope, Lan Dan found the area teeming with small vendors and travelers taking a break.
The bustling and lively scene was extraordinary.
Lan Dan dismounted from her horse from a distance and made her way forward amidst the crowded people.
The young man who had accompanied her persisted in following her, offering to treat her to tea.

 

Lan Dan searched around and finally saw Shentu Rui at a tea stand with a canopy.

 

With an idea in her mind, she walked over with a stern face, and the attentive guards came to help her take away the horse.
Instead of sitting at Shentu Rui's table, she took the empty table beside him and confidently ordered a cup of good tea from the owner.

 

The young man, who was late from tying up his horse, came over with a smile on his face and sat at Lan Dan's table.
He spoke knowledgeably of the vendor's sugar cakes, his words carefully chosen to impress.

 

Shentu Rui reached for his quiver and deftly extracted an arrow.
The guard by his side handed him a fine sandpaper, which he used to polish the arrowhead with ease, a faint smile playing on his lips.

 

“Hey!” Lan Dan called out to him arrogantly.
“I heard the sugar cakes here are delicious.
Buy some for me.”

 

Shentu Rui's obsidian eyes flicked towards the corners of his vision, a cold and disdainful glance aimed at her.
Without uttering a single word, he plunged his long arrow deeply into the tabletop.

 

The young man's complexion changed suddenly.
In fact, he felt a little strange when someone led the horse for her just now.
As soon as the beautiful girl spoke to the noble man at the next table, he immediately understood everything.
As someone who had traveled far and wide, he knew exactly which people he should avoid.
With a quick nod and a bow, he plastered on a fake smile before hastily leaving the pavilion.
He mounted his horse and rode off at breakneck speed, wanting nothing more than to put distance between himself and the dangerous game being played out before his very eyes.

 

“What took you so long? What were you doing?” Shentu Rui began to find fault.

 

Lan Dan sipped her tea and said, “I was hesitating whether to move forward or listen to you and go back.”

 

Shentu Rui's face twisted in a sneer as he stiffened, his hand still tapping his palm with the arrow he had just removed from the table.

 

“Where are the cakes?” Lan Dan ignored his threatening gesture.
Shentu Rui was always ambiguous when he spoke, so since she knew it was just an angry outburst, it didn't matter much.
“I'm really hungry.”

 

Shentu Rui was silent for a while before saying, “Eat until you die!”

 

Lan Dan pretended not to hear his ominous words, knowing full well what was coming next.
As expected, the boss of the teahouse arrived with a large plate of cakes, a genial smile on his face as he placed it before her.

 

Once Lan Dan had finished indulging in the delicious treats that the teahouse had to offer, her attendant produced a silver ingot from his pocket to pay for their meal.
Lan Dan made a show of acting surprised and stood up, positioning herself in the aisle between the two tables.

 

“Why is it so expensive?” she exclaimed in feigned shock.
“And what about the table fee?”

 

Shentu Rui pursed his lips tightly, looked her up and down, and walked out of the tea stand with a grim face.