TFSRITA Chapter 82

All other places had been dealt with.

Instead, he felt even more vigilant, gritting his teeth and turning to survey his surroundings.

In doing so, he spotted a woman who was hugging her knees and lost in thought. He was taken aback and whispered, “Miss Yan Er?”

His voice was filled with disbelief, revealing his shock.

Upon hearing the noise, Yan Zhu turned her head. Seeing that he was awake, her expression was complex. She nodded lightly and said, “Young Master Song.”

Song Yu looked around again, not noticing any traces of other people, and asked, “Was it Miss Yan Er who saved me?”

“Mm-hmm.” Yan Zhu lowered her gaze to her fingers, her expression mocking. “It was me, not Yan Qing. Disappointed?”

“Not at all.” Song Yu shook his head honestly. How could Qing Er possibly be here? She should be in the comfortable and gentle Chang’an.

Song Yu only spoke those two words. He had a poor impression of her before, but after being saved by her twice, he said earnestly, “Miss Yan Er has saved me twice. Her life-saving grace is greater than the heavens. I have no way to repay her. If Miss Yan Er has any requests, as long as they don’t go against morality, I will do my utmost, even if it costs my life.”

Having spoken those words in one breath, Song Yu suddenly felt weak, collapsing to the ground, unable to move. He turned his head slightly to look in Yan Zhu’s direction.

Finally, Yan Zhu’s gaze shifted from her delicate fingers to him. She observed the young man in armor, his charm still evident despite his weakness and raised an eyebrow. “You would give your life for me?”

“Indeed,” Song Yu replied earnestly, his gentle peach blossom eyes looking at her with gratitude. No matter the circumstances, she had saved him twice, which was enough for him to give his life in return.

Yan Zhu instinctively averted her gaze. It was those eyes that had caused her to lose control. Upon learning he was here, she had not wanted to remain in Chang’an and had subconsciously come this way.

Because she held the spiritual spring, the journey here was quite bumpy. After all, she was a woman and quite attractive. Thankfully, she had relatively good luck, allowing her to escape crisis after crisis until she successfully arrived here.

However, upon reaching this place, she had just parted from the caravan and accidentally got lost. When she encountered the dying Song Yu, she immediately saved him.

Ironically, as he groggily opened his eyes and saw her, he instinctively pulled her close. Yan Zhu felt a moment of joy and was about to feel shy when she heard his clear voice, filled with affection: “Qing Er…”

Yan Zhu’s face went pale, then flushed red, as if she had been struck.

After that, Song Yu remained in a coma, continuously calling out those two words, like a spell.

Yan Zhu suddenly felt ridiculous. She had a crush on someone, yet this person only remembered his white moonlight, while she, a woman of the future, couldn’t compete with a figure from history.

As her heart grew colder, Song Yu woke up again.

Hearing his words, Yan Zhu initially scoffed, but suddenly her expression faltered, a hint of expectation in her gaze as she looked at Song Yu. Half-joking, half-serious, she asked, “What if you marry me?”

Yan Zhu asked, “What if you marry me?”

Song Yu’s expression changed drastically. Even lying on the ground with serious injuries, he immediately sat up, forcing himself to say, “Miss Yan Er, don’t joke around. I… I…”

His words came out in fragments, and his lips grew increasingly pale.

Yan Zhu interrupted him, her tone more casual. “If not marrying you, marrying your brother is also fine.”

Song Yu forced a smile. “I can’t decide that.”

Yan Zhu shrugged. “Just ask him when you’re better. I’ve heard the Song family has strict family traditions; if a wife can bear children, they would never take a concubine. I’m interested in that aspect, so what’s wrong with it?”

“…I’ll ask,” Song Yu replied, rolling his eyes before fainting.

Once he collapsed and lost consciousness, the curiosity and interest on Yan Zhu’s face vanished, leaving her expression blank.

During her time away from Chang’an and the Yan family, she came to understand how difficult life was for women in this era. Previously, Yan Zhu could confidently claim she could live well on her own, especially since she had a golden finger, but now she genuinely felt afraid.

Throughout her journey, she faced numerous crises, encountering uncountable acts of malice once it was discovered she was a woman. Yan Zhu gritted her teeth and pressed on toward this place.

A casual remark had reminded her that with her current reputation, even with the support of Prime Minister Yan, she could no longer hope to marry into a well-matched family. Even if she managed to marry someone, the likelihood of her future husband resenting her because of her reputation in a society that permitted multiple wives was high.

Yan Zhu didn’t want that to happen, yet she had no means of contacting a suitable man. Therefore, marrying into the Song family was her best option.

Given her life-saving debt to Song Yu, the Song family would surely value him highly, and he was set to be the future head of the family. Plus, her debt wasn’t just once; it was twice.

Even if her future husband didn’t like her, he wouldn’t dare take a concubine.

Although her deepest desire was to marry Song Yu, it was evident that some things must be reserved for Yan Qing. Given that, she didn’t have to covet this man.

As someone from a future world, she was proud enough not to chase after someone who didn’t love her.

In a brief moment, Yan Zhu came to terms with all of this. She suppressed her infatuation for Song Yu, closed her eyes, and gathered her thoughts. Soon, a handful of clear water appeared in her palm.

She poured the water into her water pouch and fed it to Song Yu.

With this, as long as he wasn’t brain-dead, he should be saved.

Having completed this, Yan Zhu returned to the fire, gazing at the orange flames with a bitter smile.

Before long, Chang’an City welcomed another festival—the Emperor’s birthday.

When Emperor Chen ascended the throne, he was merely a youth. Now, he was only twenty-one years old.

The birthday banquet was one of the grandest occasions since his ascension, second only to the Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Naturally, it was a grand affair.