Chapter Eighty-Six: The Chen Family

Lu Ying naturally declined the two girls’ suggestion, but after this incident, she found herself a little closer to everyone. The event left the group of youths uneasy; they urged one another on, and even their usual banter grew much quieter.

Hanyang, though small, was conveniently located. Along the official road to Chengdu, caravans and travelers appeared frequently. A few days earlier, these young men and women had held themselves somewhat aloof, looking down on the passing merchants and their parties. After the recent scare, however, whenever a group passed by, they would send someone to inquire about them.

By afternoon, Wen Qing’s laughter rang out from afar. “Everyone! We have company!” He rode up, glanced around at the group, his eyes lingering involuntarily on Lu Ying, and announced in a clear voice, “Here’s the news—I just found out that a distant uncle of mine is moving his whole family from Jiyang to Chengdu in the next two days. Judging by their pace, if we hurry a bit, we can catch up with them.” He grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. “I’ve already sent a carrier pigeon, and according to the reply, my uncle’s party is guarded by more than two hundred men. Now, even if those remaining bandits seek revenge, we have nothing to fear!”

His words sparked a cheer among the youths. Wen Qing’s gaze again drifted toward Lu Ying. In the sunlight, Lu Ying’s lips were curved in a gentle smile. Seeing her happy, Wen Qing’s own smile turned warm.

“Let’s pick up the pace.” “There’s a fork in the road thirty li ahead—that’s the route from Jiyang to Chengdu. We’ll wait for them there.” “Yes, let’s go wait for them.”

Joking and laughing, they spurred their horses into a faster gallop.

Thirty li was neither near nor far, but eager for the reunion, they pressed their mounts onward. By late afternoon, they reached the fork in the road.

By then, their bones ached from the jostling, so they stopped to rest and recover.

Lu Ying let the driver lead the donkey to graze while she herself walked aside with A-ti, Xiao Yan, and a few other girls.

After waiting for more than half an hour, a great procession finally appeared at the edge of their vision—fifty or sixty carts at the very least, the long line raising a cloud of dust that drifted high into the sky.

At the sight, the youths exclaimed in delight.

Just then, Lu Ying heard a gentle, subdued voice call, “A Ying…”

Lu Ying turned. She met Wen Qing’s gentle eyes. Like Wang Shang and the others, Wen Qing was about fifteen or sixteen, but taller than most, with well-defined features and a long face. When he looked at someone seriously, he gave an impression of steadiness and reliability.

Meeting Lu Ying’s dark eyes, Wen Qing looked a little awkward, but even so, he continued to gaze at her earnestly, lowering his voice. “A Ying, you needn’t worry about those bandits anymore. As soon as we get back, I’ll make sure they’re dealt with. They won’t be left to seek vengeance on you.”

There was a solemn promise hidden in the quiet tone of his words. Lu Ying looked up.

Their eyes met—his gaze was gentle and resolute. Lu Ying’s lips curved faintly. She replied softly, “Thank you.”

With just those two words, the boy’s face lit up with joy. He said simply, “It’s what I should do.”

At that moment, Mo Yuan’s voice called from the side, “A Qing? A Qing, they’re almost here—let’s go greet them.”

Wen Qing rode off, calling, “The rest of you, come with me.” With that, he led Mo Yuan and the other boys forward at a gallop.

A-ti suddenly leaned close to Lu Ying, giggling. “A Ying, what are you looking at?”

Lu Ying turned around.

Meeting her gaze, A-ti’s smile grew mischievous. She made a face at Lu Ying, her upper body stretching out from her own carriage, as if she wished to press her face right to Lu Ying’s, and teased, “A Ying, it looks like that Wen family lad has taken a fancy to you.”

Xiao Yan poked her head out of A-ti’s carriage as well, laughing. “That’s right, A Ying, Wen Qing isn’t betrothed to anyone yet.”

Lu Ying curled her lips slightly and said coolly, “We’re not of equal standing—what’s the use of talking about him?”

The two girls hadn’t expected Lu Ying to be so clear-sighted and were momentarily stunned.

Then another girl said softly, “Enough with your teasing. A Ying has already caught someone else’s eye.”

At these words, the other two girls fell silent for an even longer moment.

Finally, A-ti pouted. “I don’t believe it.” She turned to Lu Ying, asking seriously, “A Ying, is it true? Has that person really taken a liking to you?”

Lu Ying faced three pairs of curious eyes and tugged the corner of her lips. “No such thing.”

“No such thing? I don’t believe you!” Still A-ti, oblivious to the contradiction in her words, stared at Lu Ying. “You’re lying!”

Lu Ying mimicked her, staring right back. “So do you believe it or not?”

A-ti was taken aback. After thinking a moment, she replied, “I—I don’t know.”

The girls burst out laughing.

They chatted for a while as the approaching procession, shrouded in dust, drew ever nearer. Before long, the group came into view.

Leading the riders, apart from Wen Qing and Mo Yuan, were six unfamiliar faces—two young men, two boys, and two girls.

Lu Ying glanced over them, but her attention was drawn to the girl riding on the left.

This girl was not only beautiful but dressed in a red brocade gown. Her skin was white and lustrous, glowing like pearls in the sunlight. Galloping at speed, her nose glistened with a touch of sweat, and her cheeks were flushed, making her look exquisitely lovely, like a figure from a painting.

Her beauty surpassed even Lu Ying’s—indeed, she was the most beautiful person Lu Ying had ever seen.

Their conversation was lively and cheerful, but at the sudden appearance of such a stunning young woman, several of the boys were struck dumb, and the girls, though their eyes darted about, could not help but covertly compare themselves to her.

Soon Wen Qing brought the group into the midst of the procession. He introduced them, “This is my eldest cousin, Chen Qi; my second cousin, Chen Zhen; fourth cousin, Chen Shu; and sixth cousin, Chen Lian.” He then indicated the extraordinary beauty, “This is my cousin, Chen Yan.” Pausing, he nodded toward another pretty, round-faced girl, “And this is Lady Zheng.”

The boys greeted them with bows and courtesies, and Chen Yan’s bright eyes soon found Lu Ying.

In fact, all the Chen cousins glanced at Lu Ying from time to time.

At present, Lu Ying was still dressed as a youth, in a moon-white robe that made her look especially elegant.

Lu Ying was striking in appearance—and disguised as a young man, she was even more handsome than in her own clothes. The young gentlemen present were all scions of noble families, neat and well-featured, but none could compare to Lu Ying’s refined good looks.

Noticing the glances from her cousins, Wen Qing smiled and said, “This young lady is surnamed Lu—”

He had barely begun before several voices spoke at once, “She’s a girl?” “How can that be?” Their disappointment was clear.

Feeling she’d let them down, Lu Ying touched her nose, then raised her eyes and smiled, “Lu Ying of the Lu family pays her respects to you all, and to Miss Chen.”

At last, the outspoken Chen Shu couldn’t help but ask, “You’re surnamed Lu? May I ask who your father is?”

Lu Ying smiled gently, “My late father has already passed away.”

Chen Shu was taken aback.

Having learned she was just a young lady, their interest quickly waned. Soon, Lu Ying overheard someone exclaim in surprise, “I thought she was some noble lady—turns out she’s just a country bumpkin from Hanyang!” Another voice, tinged with disappointment, added, “With that background, how can she travel with you all?”

As these comments spread, a low buzz of conversation followed.

Before long, the two groups formally joined together.

The Chen family was moving their entire household to Chengdu and would need to establish many new connections. Meanwhile, A-ti, Wang Shang, and the others all had powerful families behind them with considerable influence in Chengdu. Eager to curry favor, the Chen cousins quickly mingled with the rest of the young men and women.

But intentionally or not, Lu Ying, who shared neither background nor interests, was left out.

She didn’t mind. Picking up a bamboo slip, she began to read.

Just then, a figure blocked her light, and a clear, melodious voice sounded, “I heard he has taken a special interest in you?”

It was the beautiful Chen Yan.

Lu Ying looked up, meeting Chen Yan’s luminous eyes—then glanced at the tall, handsome bodyguard at her side, whose presence blocked out most of her sunlight. She lowered her gaze and replied, “I’m not sure who you mean by ‘he’?”

Chen Yan pursed her cherry lips, her exquisite face expressing displeasure with a frown. “You know perfectly well, yet you pretend otherwise.”

After a moment, she pressed further, “What has he given you? Has he promised you any title or position?” As she spoke, her eyes searched Lu Ying from head to toe, as if she wished to see through every strand of her hair. The longer she looked, the more disdain appeared in her gaze. Lu Ying heard her mutter, “I heard your parents died early, and you’re just a rootless nobody without a family? I don’t believe someone so distinguished would ever set his sights on the likes of you.”

Lu Ying slowly closed the scroll, not bothering to raise her head. “If you’re so interested, why not ask him directly?” With that, Lu Ying swiftly dropped the carriage curtain, her voice flat, “I’m tired—please excuse me.” With a swish, the curtain fell, shutting out Chen Yan’s glare.

Snubbed without the slightest courtesy, Chen Yan’s beautiful face flushed scarlet. Just then, Wen Qing rode up and called from behind, “Yan? What are you doing here?”

At the sound of his voice, Chen Yan spun around, her eyes filling with tears as she called pitifully, “Cousin Qing…” She gazed at Wen Qing with wounded affection, glancing toward Lu Ying’s donkey cart, and choked out, “Cousin Qing, who is this person? Why is she in your group?”

Lowering her head and sniffling, she waited until Wen Qing approached, then raised her eyes, letting her tearful gaze shine up at him from under long lashes, so pitiful and appealing. “I don’t like her. Could you ask her to leave?”

The sky was growing dark; night was about to fall. In this remote place, far from any village or inn, to drive away someone so striking in appearance would put her in real danger.

Lu Ying lifted the carriage curtain.

[End of excerpt]