"I am very happy to see you, young master."
"Ah, so that’s why." Lin Yu was very proud that the daughter of the County Magistrate would be so enamored with him. "I will make you even happier in the future."
"I believe you, young master."
"Wan Mei," Lin Yu’s eyes lingered on the glimpse of snowy white neck shown by Caiyun, "Let’s find a quiet place to talk. It’s been many days since we’ve seen each other. I’ve missed you dearly."
Caiyun almost couldn’t suppress the goosebumps on her body, "As you say, young master."
Lin Yu led the group to a spot beneath the bridge, a relatively enclosed corner where the noisy voices were blocked, leaving only the sound of flowing water.
At 22, Lin Yu was at the age when most men would have already been married.
However, due to his family’s poverty, no matter how many impulsive feelings he amassed, he had no outlet for them.
At this moment, with the young girl’s fragrance before him, Lin Yu felt a blaze ignite within him, and he grabbed Caiyun’s sleeve. "Wan Mei,"
In Caiyun’s eyes, Lin Yu was nothing but a profligate scoundrel, and she thought only of the one hundred taels Shu Wan had given her to not push him away.
"Young master," Caiyun called sweetly, which caused half of Lin Yu’s body to soften.
Not far away, fireworks burst in the sky and crowds surged in the streets, as though many people were heading their way.
Lin Yu reached out to grab Caiyun’s arm. "Wan Mei,"
A wordless emotion rose between the two, and as the warmth of a spring night seemed to grow ever hotter.
Lin Yu slowly drew Caiyun into his arms, and just as he lowered his head, intending to proceed further, suddenly a bright light shone down on them from above.
"Who is there? e out!"
After a stern shout, officials came down to forcibly take Lin Yu and Caiyun away.
Lin Yu attempted to resist, but as a frail scholar, how could he stand up to the officers.
"You’re outrageous!" Lin Yu rebuked the officials, "This is the daughter of County Magistrate Shu!"
Hearing this sensational gossip, the crowd on the bridge immediately drew closer.
"Do not speak nonsense," the official stared at Lin Yu sternly, "County Magistrate Shu is famously strict in managing his household. How could his daughter be rendezvousing with you here?"
"Exactly, the Shu Family’s young lady is even on the draft list for selection, how could she possibly be here? This man must be lying."
The words of the crowd echoed in Lin Yu’s ears, and he quickly schemed.
Originally, he had intended to take Shu Wan away and return with her to apologize to County Magistrate Shu after the selection had ended.
Since their meeting had been interrupted, he might as well escalate the situation. A magistrate’s daughter caught in a secret rendezvous certainly would not be able to participate in the selection any longer.
Moreover, although morals were somewhat relaxed these days, no one would want to marry a woman tarnished by reputation.
Eventually, County Magistrate Shu might have only one choice—to marry Shu Wan to him.
Thinking this, Lin Yu reached down and pulled off the jade pendant from Shu Wan’s waist. "This is the Shu Family heirloom jade pendant, identical to the one County Magistrate Shu wears daily. With this jade pendant as proof, will you still trouble us?"
The official took the jade pendant, glanced at it briefly, and then concluded, "Indeed, this is the Shu Family’s jade pendant. It appears to be the young lady Shu. We have offended you."
At that moment, several more people arrived on the bridge. Adorned in pearls and jade, Shu Ying pushed through the crowd, gazing down from the bridge, "What are you doing? This is my elder sister. Stand back, all of you."
If just relying on the jade pendant was not entirely conclusive, Shu Ying’s words now assured the crowd that the young woman secretly meeting a man beneath the bridge was indeed Shu Wan of the Shu Family.
"Wasn’t Shu Wan supposed to go for the selection? Meeting with a man privately now, she definitely can’t participate anymore."
"How shameless, for the young lady of a noble house to consort with a scholar here without a matchmaker. It really tarnishes the reputation of County Magistrate Shu."
People murmured and chattered, and the officials prepared to release Shu Wan and Lin Yu.
Tonight, with so many gathered at Que Bridge, there was no need to wait until tomorrow; the news of the magistrate’s daughter, Shu Wan, having a secret meeting with a man would spread throughout Shangnan County.
Just at that moment, from behind the crowd, a sweet voice suddenly called out, "Younger sister, what are you talking about?"
Shu Ying turned in surprise, only to see Shu Wan, brimming with a smiling expression, standing at the head of the bridge.
Shu Wan was famously beautiful. Before ing here, Shu Wan had specially applied makeup in accordance with her sister’s age and temperament.
Moreover, the lighting in ancient times was not so bright, adding a kind of soft light effect.
Moonlight interwove with lamplight, and there, Shu Wan stood, smiling broadly, stunningly beautiful in a way that was breathtaking and ethereal. For a moment, everyone present was dumbstruck.
It took a while for the crowd to regain their senses. If Shu Wan was standing here, then who was beneath the bridge?
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