Yan Yunlang felt that he would never marry a woman in this lifetime. If he ever decided to marry, it would have to be someone truly peerless in the world.
As for Chu Yu, he didn’t consider himself particularly devoted or affectionate. It was just that he had always been undefeated in matters of the heart, and being rejected for the first time did hold a certain novelty for him. Thus, he pursued Chu Yu with unwavering persistence and earnestness.
He knew Wei Yun disapproved of this match, but that didn’t matter. As long as Chu Yu agreed, even if he couldn’t marry her in the end, he wouldn’t consider it a regret.
Perhaps all those with the surname Yan were destined to be rogues—especially when his very name carried the character for "wanderer."
Wei Yun’s resistance was fierce, but Yan Yunlang’s tactics were endless. One day it was a carrier pigeon, the next a sky lantern carrying his affections. Eventually, he even bribed children to sing love ballads he had composed for Chu Yu outside the Wei family gates. The children didn’t understand what they were singing, but Wei Yun found it utterly grating.
One night, as Wei Yun and Chu Yu slept soundly, Wei Yun heard the sound of poetry recitation outside. Unable to bear it any longer, he rose to grab his sword, determined to cut down this scoundrel once and for all. Fortunately, Chu Yu retained some rationality—having Wei Yun rush out of her room in the middle of the night would be far too scandalous. She quickly had the Covert Guards drive the intruder away.
And so, back and forth it went. Yan Yunlang thoroughly enjoyed his pursuit of Chu Yu, and Chu Yu watched his antics with amusement. The only one suffering was Wei Yun, who spent his days handling official duties and his nights guarding against this "thief." With his impending departure for the battlefield, Wei Yun grew increasingly uneasy. After some deep thought, he finally instructed Shen Wushuang to prepare a dozen stunning songstresses and invited Yan Yunlang to the Listening Rain Pavilion.
The Listening Rain Pavilion was the most refined teahouse in Bailing. Wei Yun reserved the top-floor private room and sent word to Yan Yunlang.
Yan Yunlang found Wei Yun’s invitation rather peculiar but ultimately accepted.
News of Wei Yun booking the Listening Rain Pavilion soon reached Liu Xueyang’s ears. After frowning in thought for a moment, she finally said to Gui Momo, "Go to the Listening Rain Pavilion and reserve the other private room on the top floor for me. Don’t use my name."
Gui Momo gave her a puzzled look but complied.
The next day, Liu Xueyang arrived early at the Listening Rain Pavilion. When the appointed time for Wei Yun and Yan Yunlang’s meeting arrived, she heard female voices outside. Liu Xueyang had already arranged for a small hole to be drilled in the wall between the rooms, allowing the sounds to come through clearly.
She listened as the neighboring room’s door opened and people filed in, followed by the sound of tea being poured.
A short while later, the footsteps of a man signaled Yan Yunlang’s arrival.
Yan Yunlang brought only two attendants, whom he left standing outside. Upon entering, he saw Wei Yun seated at the head of the room, sipping tea. Smiling, he stepped forward and bowed. "Your Highness."
Wei Yun acknowledged him with a low hum and gestured to a seat. "Prefect Yan, please sit."
Yan Yunlang rose with a smile. The room was heated by a roaring brazier, banishing any winter chill and instead leaving a stifling warmth. Fanning himself, he listened as Wei Yun said, "Prefect Yan must already be aware that I will soon depart for the battlefield."
"This humble official has received the news," Yan Yunlang replied cheerfully. "Your Highness need not worry. I will oversee the allocation of provisions from Bai Province—"
Wei Yun waved a hand to cut him off. "That’s not what I wish to discuss."Yan Yunlang was taken aback for a moment. Wei Yun spoke calmly, "These official matters have already been discussed at the prefecture office, so there's no need to repeat them. I invited Prefect Yan here because there's something I'd like to request."
"Might I ask what matter Your Highness refers to?" Yan Yunlang's eyes flickered slightly as he lightly tapped a small fan against his palm. Wei Yun looked up at him, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "I’ve long known of Prefect Yan’s reputation as a romantic and your fondness for beauties. However, though there are many beauties in this world, not every one is yours for the taking."
Hearing this, Yan Yunlang raised an eyebrow. Wei Yun clapped his hands, and the curtains hanging nearby were suddenly drawn open, revealing over a dozen stunning beauties within their line of sight. Yan Yunlang's eyes filled with appreciation as the women entered gracefully with measured steps, accompanied by the sudden rise of music. The room filled with soft singing and elegant dancing, the women taking turns appearing before Yan Yunlang as if presented for his selection.
Each of these women was extraordinarily beautiful, each with her own unique charm, their every movement exuding refined upbringing—clearly trained with great care. Such courtesans would each be worth a fortune outside, and now over a dozen appeared before them at once. An ordinary man would likely have been utterly dazzled.
Yet Yan Yunlang was, after all, a man of refined tastes. Faced with such a display, he merely smiled and turned to ask, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
"These courtesans were all sought out by my men—the finest among them. Today, I present them all to you, Young Master Yan. I only ask one thing in return from Prefect Yan from now on." He lifted his gaze, his eyes carrying a warning as he looked at Yan Yunlang. "Stay away from my sister-in-law."
Yan Yunlang was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
No matter how magnanimous he was, he was still a man. Being repeatedly thwarted in his pursuit of someone eventually wore his patience thin. A chill crept into his tone. "Yan is rather unclear about Your Highness’s intentions. My pursuit of Madam Chu is a matter between her and me. Your Highness is merely her brother-in-law—why interfere in such affairs now?"
Wei Yun remained silent.
This was the statement he hated most in his life.
He was merely Chu Yu’s brother-in-law—what right did he have to meddle in her affairs?
But why shouldn’t he?
He and she had long been intimate. If not for the inopportune timing...
Wei Yun’s gaze darkened. Yan Yunlang noticed and frowned. "Your Highness, why involve yourself so deeply? If you continue obstructing my pursuit of Madam Chu, shouldn’t you at least give me a reason?"
"A reason?"
Wei Yun looked up at Yan Yunlang and smiled. "If I give you a reason, will you stop?"
Yan Yunlang fell silent for a moment, tapping his fan against his palm. He seemed to realize something, yet found it hard to believe.
Wei Yun straightened and stepped forward, stopping before Yan Yunlang. He bent one knee, half-kneeling beside him, and spoke calmly. "You want a reason? Then I’ll give you one."
"I love her." At these words, Yan Yunlang jerked his head up, only to see Wei Yun draw a dagger and plunge it into the table. His expression was deadly serious as he stared at Yan Yunlang. "I regard her as my wife. I will not tolerate anyone else coveting or laying hands on her. Is that reason enough?"
Yan Yunlang stared at Wei Yun in shock, speechless.
Meanwhile, in another room, Liu Xueyang clamped a hand over her mouth, feeling as though even breathing was too much.
Only one thought filled her mind—
Absurd.
This unfilial son—how utterly absurd!
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