Instead of answering her question, Han asked his own in turn, "What about you, Lu Yan? Will you cut me off rather than give me a chance if you have the opportunity again?"
What Ji Jing didn't know was that he had actually left the border.
He had ridden his horse almost to death, and not slept several nights in a row. Just so he could ask her a question.
Only, he had arrived after Lu Yan's marriage to Chen Hai had been announced.
He'd gone to find Lu Yan like this, in the dead of the night, in her boudoir.
And she had refused him.
She looked away, stubborn, but her lower lip was trembling.
Han felt simultaneously furious and helpless.
He didn't force her to answer, just as she didn't force him to.
He simply said, "You can doubt me all you want Lu Yan, but that won't change the truth. And since that doesn't matter to you at all, I only promise you this: no matter what I'll protect you."
Lu Yan turned to him, her eyes wet again, and opened her mouth.
He put a finger on her lips, and shushed her, "I don't need to hear anything else."
Her tears dropped again, and he thumbed them away.
She opened her mouth again, and he shushed her again.
"I understand everything," he whispered softly, so close he could see his reflection in her watery eyes. He pressed his lips to her forehead gently, "Don't torment yourself. Just rest. You're exhausted."
He helped her settle down, then arranged her blankets, "Asan is here with a whole squad. He'll keep an eye on your maids. You don't need to worry about sabotage."
She nodded wordlessly.
"Sleep well, Lu Yan. Don't think about anything. Just get better soon," he waited until she nodded again, before standing upright.
He closed the flame candle and drew the curtains around her bed.
The next second he was gone.
Lu Yan closed her eyes with a heavy heart.
Sleep pulled her under.
---
Outside her room, Han gestured for Asan to follow him.
Quietly, they got around the guards of the Chen mansion, and managed to sneak out.
Once they were in safe territory, Asan said worriedly, "Master you shouldn't have come yourself. If you're caught in the Chen ancestral home-"
Han held a palm up. Asan closed his mouth.
Han instructed, "Keep an eye on her maids. Find the mole, and let her have an accident."
Sneaking in wasn't enough, now they were going to carry out assassinations. Asan felt his head start aching.
Just as he opened his mouth to protest, he saw Han lightly raise an eyebrow.
Flawlessly, he bowed and changed the words that came out, "Of course, young master."
---
Early one morning, Lu Yan had finished eating and was drinking her tea in the yard.
Chen Yuan came to see her.
She had been expecting him for a while now.
She stood, smiled, and instructed the maids to bring another cup.
He greeted her politely.
"What brings you here, brother-in-law?"
Chan Yuan made a move to bow, "I heard my younger brother quarreled with you because of me. I came her to beg sister-in-law's forgiveness."
He was good at rubbing salt into wounds. Since that day, Chen Hai hadn't come to see or talk to her.
Lu Yan hurriedly stepped aside, and dodged, "Please don't mention it. It's just a small matter between husband and wife. I dare not trouble elder brother-in-law over it."
Chen Yuan quit bowing, and took his seat, "I feel extremely guilty. I heard it started because sister-in-law was angry about me mentioning the matter of your pregnancy in court."
Lu Yan too sat down.
Smiling, she said, "Elder brother-in-law is very well informed about everything happening in my courtyard."
"I'm ashamed to pry, sister-in-law. It's just-" Chen Yuan paused, and he really seemed ashamed, "The quarrel was so loud that servants all over the manor were gossiping about it."
"I was tired that day. I'll apologize to Chen Hai for losing my temper."
She didn't mention anything about apologizing for the accusations she'd made regarding him.
Chen Yuan looked at her earnestly, "Sister-in-law, that day at court, I was worried about your safety. That's why I recklessly blurted it out. I hope sister-in-law will be understanding and won't hold it against me."
Lu Yan gently set her cup down, "I understand perfectly. Please don't worry about this small matter anymore. I was planning to announce it anyway. But brother-in-law happened to do so first. In the end, it's all the same."
"Yes, in the end, it's good news for the Chen family."
Chen Yuan sipped his tea for a moment.
Lu Yan waited.
"Mother has been asking about you ever since she heard. Fearing you're still recovering from the wound you got during the assassination attempt, she's afraid to disturb you."
Lu Yan felt a little impatient. She wanted him to quit babbling, and get to the point already.
She said, concisely, "I'll go visit mother-in-law soon."
"Mother has been praying that sister-in-law will add a son to the new generation in the next seven months."
For a moment Lu Yan's mind shuttered. Seven months.
She struggled to keep her smile stable.
Chen Yuan smiled.
After another pause, he seemed to remember something.
"Oh, I heard an interesting bit of news. Ji Jing used to have an apprentice. I had to ask around a lot before I found his name was Ayan. Apparently, he disappeared."
Lu Yan took a slow sip, seeming unconcerned, "Oh, is that so? I thought the regent didn't take any disciples."
"Yes, the news was buried very deeply. I was lucky. I managed to get a portrait of him." Chen Yuan smiled again, "Would sister-in-law like to see?"
"If brother-in-law wants to show me, I'd be happy to look."
He produced a scroll from his robe, and unrolled it.
He looked closely at Lu Yan's expression as he he did so.
The portrait looked nothing like Lu Yan. Her expression didn't change at all, but inside she felt relieved.
She looked up. Right into Chen Yuan eyes.
She had expected his scrutiny, but was still a bit startled to find his unfathomable eyes watching her intently.
Casually, she remarked, "He doesn't look like anyone special. Is he really the regent's disciple?"
Chen Yuan glanced at the portrait, and said, "Oh, seems I showed you the wrong one."
With a snap, he opened up another scroll, and placed it over the first, "This is the correct one."
Lu Yan's eyes fell on the new portrait, and this time she struggled to look away.
When she did look up, her expression wasn't nearly as composed as it had been.
Chen Yuan smiled. A gentle elegant curve of his lips, but it seemed to be filled with infinite mockery.
He asked, "Sister-in-law, don't you think this portrait looks exactly like you?"