Chapter 217

【Fool】

【Really an idiot】

The slanting sun set at the office, and the dusty litigation had just ceased.

The servants bustled to tie up their luggage, and the baggage was loaded onto the cart.

Only after the servants had finished tidying everything and led the horses over did Du Shanü still have this matter on her mind——

This Yu Lve, the Yu family cousin, after washing up and shaving, his appearance was not bad either.

I simply don't know how he could be so foolish.

Only after she flew into a rage in the study did he realize his own worth......

The crucial point is, hearing her say that, although his face changed dramatically, he still clenched his teeth and refused to speak.

If it were an ordinary person, perhaps they would half-heartedly retreat a step and, going with the flow, spill all the outside information.

After all, although the information he gathered might be important, others could do just as well.

But this person, likewise, clenched his teeth and refused to utter a word.

Truly could be said to be......

A genuine hard bone!

Du Shanü lifted her gaze, looking toward the tall figure standing straight before the not‑far‑away Xian Xie.

He had already changed into clean clothes, his facial hair clean‑shaven, his posture upright, his visage rugged, possessing a certain appeal that men, women, old and young, big and small wives all love—a sturdy, handsome man's look.

Perhaps because Du Shanü's scrutiny was too obvious, the other party quickly noticed; when their eyes met, Yu Lve was the first to look away, not daring to stare longer.

Du Shanü lost interest, gripped the reins, swung onto her horse, and urged it forward with the whip.

The horse's hooves clop‑clop, the sound reaching Yu Lve's side.

On Du Shanü's face there was not a trace of the earlier agitation from the study; instead she said with a smile:

"Yu Cousin, shall we go?"

Yu Lve stiffened, then bowed with clasped fists, his movement clean and decisive as he mounted his horse, his posture proper, his expression solemn.

Du Shanü said no more, only lightly squeezing the horse's belly, whereupon the steed beneath her responded with a gentle forward gait.

Yu Lve followed closely behind; the two steeds trod in the lingering glow of the setting sun, one ahead of the other, accompanied by the baggage‑laden cart behind them, slowly exiting the lane and heading toward Cang Cheng.

All the way the road stretched long, the wilds vast and empty, silent and soundless.

All around, only the wheels rumbling over the dirt road could be heard, emitting a deep, gurgling sound.

The two remained silent from start to finish, exchanging no words, making no inquiries.

The evening sun accompanied them all the way, stretching the shadows of the two people, two horses, and three carts to extreme length; the long shadows fell to the ground, drifting with the night wind, lonely and forlorn.

Upon reaching dusk, the party arrived at a wide riverbank.

The river surged, its ripples dyed crimson by the setting sun, the flowing water murmuring endlessly eastward.

Between Dun Cheng and Cang Cheng, although there is a bridge that can be used, detouring would be truly too far.

Thus crossing the river by boat was still a good choice.

Du Shanü slowly reined in her horse to a halt, her gaze fixed on the surging river.

Yu Lve likewise halted his horse, turning sideways to await orders.

Without further words, the attendants in the party, already familiar with the arrangements, immediately stepped forward to untie the ropes from the horse‑drawn cart, carefully moved the wooden crates, and transferred them in batches to the waiting black‑canopied boat moored at the shore.

The wooden crates were steadily stacked in the boat's hold, duties clearly assigned, movements practiced, proceeding in an orderly fashion to prepare for the river crossing, awaiting only to be ferried across in batches before nightfall.

At this moment the setting sun on the horizon sank ever lower, the residual light like blood, the whole sky's clouds dyed a deep crimson, layered and spread across the firmament.

The evening breeze grew cool, causing the river surface to ripple with tiny waves.

Du Shanü reined her horse to stand at the riverbank, her posture tall and solitary, silently watching the bustling crowd before her and the crimson river.

All around was hushed and soundless; the world's clamor had completely faded.

Only solitude remained, the heavens and earth vast and desolate.

Du Shanü focused her mind, about to cross the river, when suddenly a hurried, crisp horse‑hoof sound came from far behind her.

That sound was urgent yet steady, cutting through the evening breeze and water's murmur, clearly intruding upon this silence; unlike the leisurely drag of travel‑worn beasts, it bore the urgency and panic of a headlong gallop.

Du Shanü's heart gave a slight throb; in the previously calm depths of her eyes, a faint ripple flickered across.

She slowly turned her head, yet her fingertips unconsciously tightened, gripping the reins in her hand.

The wind whistled, the lingering sun spread across the ground.

That galloping silhouette drew ever nearer, a black horse shattering the sky's rosy light as it came racing from afar.

The rider was slender and upright, his robes flying, breaking through the twilight dust and smoke, crossing the endless dirt road, heading straight toward her, heedless of everything in pursuit.

The blood‑tinged setting sun spread across the sky fell upon that person, outlining his familiar silhouette and form.

No matter the distance, no matter how deep the twilight grew, Du Shanü instantly recognized him as her family's Chinu.

He was the Chinu she had deliberately kept away from, yet ultimately could not completely sever ties with.

The heavens and earth were vast, the setting sun nearing its end.

She had thought Chinu would obediently wait for her in Dun Cheng, but she never would have thought——

At this moment of twilight water and slanting sun, when the crossing was about to happen but not yet done, he still ended up chasing after her.

Du Shanü's heart welled with mixed feelings, a moment of stunned stillness, and Chinu had already spurred his horse to catch up, deftly reining in and dismounting.

All the way through dust and toil, his thin garments were worn to rags, yet not a bit could diminish his transcendent, stunning appearance.

The setting sun spread across the sky, bathing him completely, thoroughly outlining his delicate yet fierce brows and eyes, and exposing to full view the deep‑hidden emotions in his gaze.

In those eyes, usually gloomy and dark, lingered resentment, grievance, obstinacy......

And the most fervent among them was a trace of 【resentment】 that could never be dispelled.

Chinu again hated heaven and earth, hated her...... loved her.

Those emotions, thread upon thread, entwined around Du Shanü, winding this way and that, until in the end they amounted to just two words——

【Retain】.

Du Shanü didn't know how she could think of those two words, but when those two words popped into her mind, what was faster than her thoughts was her action.

She loosened the reins, flipped off her horse, and before heaven and earth, caught a glimpse of the beauty's profound mystery.

Within arm's reach, the evening wind, carrying the lingering warmth of the setting sun, swept past the two of them.

Chinu reached out and grasped her palm, his fingertips slightly cool, yet he exerted all his strength.

Du Shanü lowered her gaze to look at their joined hands for a few breaths, and in her heart she finally let out a heavy sigh.

She leaned forward on her own initiative, bent down, and kissed his lips.

This kiss was gentle and entwining, shedding all her lifelong sharpness and edges, leaving only the boundless tenderness of wind and moon.

The dusk was vast, the river water murmured, and the gentle kiss gradually smoothed away the resentment and bewilderment in Chinu's eyes.

Chinu had the kiss, yet he was still unsettled; he reached out to entwine his arms around his own Wife Master, ever so gently, ever so gently, and said in her ear:

"Ah Nu, Ah Nu has a request to beg of the Wife Master......"

Du Shanü had long been devoid of heart and spirit, allowing Chinu to hold her as her fingertip rubbed over the familiar trace on his waist, and she sighed:

"You say it, and I will surely comply."

Chinu's nervousness throughout this journey finally settled; after a few awkward breaths, he then said petulantly:

"...... You, you this time when you go back...... you are not allowed to...... sleep with him......"

Du Shanü:"......"

Du Shanü:"...... Ah?"

She still thought that the obedient slave slave, hurrying fast and slow to catch up, was reluctant to part with her and had something important to say!

Her heart was still softening!

How could her slave slave, how could he suddenly come out with this?!

Slave slave, shouldn't you listen to what you're saying?!!!

?? Truly worthy of being Chinu...... pfft.