Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 149 - 136: A Meeting after Dusk

Chapter 149: Chapter 136: A Meeting after Dusk

Huan Yuan was somewhat astonished upon hearing this, “Then why did the Princess…”

As they spoke, the two of them had already walked out and came to their own carriage. Chu Yu boarded the carriage, and it wasn’t until she was seated inside, leaning against the carriage wall, that she smiled slightly and said, “Because I’m curious about what she plans to do.”

She suddenly understood why Zhong Niannian was so evenly skilled in various talents, having learned and mastered each one; this requires a considerable amount of energy and time. If one doesn’t like every single one, forcing oneself to learn something unenjoyable is a very painful matter. Chu Yu had once suffered through a painful learning experience and knew this pain all too well.

If it wasn’t for someone else’s demands, Chu Yu found it hard to imagine a person maintaining balanced interests in the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and playing instruments, especially since Zhong Niannian was merely a merchant’s daughter before falling into a life of debauchery, unlikely to have been immersed in a deeply artistic atmosphere. The answer hidden underwater seemed to be surfacing along with a beckoning call: she had a purpose.

Even among the powerful and influential, everyone has different preferences, such as Wang Yizhi, who loves books, and Xiao Bie, who enjoys the qin. Only by excelling in various fields can one gain the affection of all.

Zhong Niannian’s talents were not learned for herself but rather could be considered her own unique weapon. This weapon had no edges, yet it was invincible.

...

A knife hangs over the head where desires lie; no matter who wields it, it is still a knife after all.

And now, this knife was poised at the neck of Chu Yu.

Shrugging her shoulders and finding a more comfortable position to lean on, Chu Yu slowly said, “With so many eyes watching just now, whether I accept or refuse, I will face the animosity of many. If I refuse, then just a few unwilling sobs from Zhong Niannian would largely destroy the network we have painstakingly built. Accepting for now is to seek a buffer for later maneuvering.”

After Chu Yu finished speaking, she fell silent for a while, then sighed softly and said, “You were a natural beauty; why stoop to thievery?” Now that she knew Zhong Niannian had ulterior motives, she would be careful to guard against her and not allow her any opportunity to fulfill any schemes.

She had a vague guess at Zhong Niannian’s true identity: she was a spy, or rather, a scout, an undercover agent; no matter the term, whether in ancient times or the present, or in the books and movies Chu Yu had seen, a female spy always possessed extraordinary beauty and talents, using their radiant lives to build up an iron fortress of political power.

Hence, Chu Yu wasn’t exactly filled with hatred but rather felt pity for Zhong Niannian: such a beautiful and talented woman should not have been mired in the muddy waters of politics; had she grown up and married like an ordinary woman, she would likely have been much happier.

While Chu Yu was on her way back to Chu Garden, Zhong Niannian had already taken her leave from the master of the estate, and with her two maids and some light luggage, headed straight for Chu Garden.

The many dejected young gentlemen, though filled with envy and resentment toward Chu Yu, ultimately knew it was Zhong Niannian’s own choice and could only watch, through their jealousy, as she left.

After boarding the carriage, Zhong Niannian sat inside with Zhu Yan, while Zhu Sha, dressed in men’s clothing, acted as the coachman. Although she was a woman, she handled the horses with great skill, and the carriage rode exceptionally smoothly. Inside the stable carriage, Zhu Yan spoke in a calm voice, “Zhong Niannian, what exactly do you want to do?”

Being Zhong Niannian’s maid and yet daring to call her mistress by her name was obviously an extreme insolence; but Zhong Niannian showed no surprise or blame, simply smiling faintly and saying, “It’s just a little trick. No need for you two to worry about it. My actions won’t hinder your mistress’s grand plan.” She lifted her hand and drew out the jade hairpin given to her by Chu Yu, twirling it in her fingers.

Over the years, Zhong Niannian had encountered numerous nobles and seen all kinds of precious and rare treasures, yet the two gifts she received at the banquet today felt unprecedentedly light.

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Proficient in various means, Zhong Niannian was well aware that the leaf Wang Yizhi wrote the character “Niannian” on might not have any deep significance. Yet, the more straightforward it was, the more space there was for imagination, for it could be understood from various angles. A single leaf, a single word, and indeed, many things could come to mind. Had today’s event not been a performance but a genuine choice of her future, perhaps she really would have chosen Wang Yizhi.

As for the hairpin given by Chu Yu, she could see that it was given with a perfunctory attitude. However, this was also the first time she had received a gift from a woman, and one that she had requested at that, leaving her with a unique memento.