Chapter 180: Guilt
Ye Shuo had soaked in the water for a night, and many things on his body were washed away by the river. His clothes were deformed by the water and could no longer be worn. The fine jade hairpin on his head had now turned into a branch picked from any tree.
But even so, it did not detract from his appearance at all, especially his pair of phoenix eyes, which were slightly smiling and watery, like waves on the river or the sea, so beautiful that staring at his eyes for a long time would give one a thrilling feeling, which would make one’s heart tremble violently.
The straw hairpin and plain clothes make the young man look even more handsome.
As the saying goes, Lang Yan is unique and there is no one like him in the world. This is the case.
A young man of similar age appeared in her home and called her master. Even the knowledgeable Yao Zhi had never seen such a scene before. She suddenly stumbled when she spoke: “Who are you?”
“Why are you in my house?”
“I…” Ye Shuo just opened his mouth and before he could say anything, Huo Tianyi and others who heard the noise came out of the house one after another.
After seeing the disciple he had personally brought up, even Huo Tianyi, who was naturally cold-hearted, couldn’t help but relax his brows.“Hmph, you still remember to come back.” But Huo Tianyi has never been good at expressing himself. Even though he misses her in his heart, he still speaks subconsciously with sarcasm.
Fortunately, Yao Zhi has gotten used to it over the years. She also felt aggrieved in the past, but later she gradually discovered that the master actually loved her very much. Over the time, Yao Zhi gradually learned to ignore those bad words.
Ye Shuo who was standing by knew that these master and disciples had not seen each other for a long time and must have a lot to talk about. It was not convenient for an outsider like him to participate in them, so he whispered, “Young apprentice and the masters, please chat slowly. I will go to prepare dinner for you.” After that, he did not say much and sat back on the stool quietly.
Yao Zhi’s attention was immediately drawn to it.
For some reason, Yao Zhi felt that the young man was lonely and pitiful, and almost ignored what the masters were saying.
The beautiful woman noticed this detail, and when she saw that her disciple’s gaze subconsciously followed him, her expression froze.
Didn’t they just meet?
If I had known that Zhi’er would come back today, I would have locked this young man in the room and not let him out!
But if Zhi’er knew about that, I’m afraid she would pity him even more.
The beautiful woman was so angry that when she turned around and saw Huo Tianyi standing there completely unaware of anything, she became even angrier.
Looking at Huo Tianyi again, he didn’t feel any sense of crisis at this moment. He was still looking his apprentice up and down. Seeing that his apprentice was not injured, Huo Tianyi immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
While talking about something, several people came to the yard where Huo Tianyi lived.
At the last moment, Yao Zhi’s gaze was still on the young man with his head lowered, processing the fish and shrimp in his hands.
About half a minute later, Yao Zhi could no longer hold back, and while the masters were asking questions, she quickly asked, “Who is that young man at the door just now?”
At this moment, even the most silent Master Six could not drink the tea in her hand anymore. She just felt very upset.
Huo Tianyi heard this, not only did he not feel ashamed, but he was very proud: “This is something that I found outside the valley with great difficulty, and I specially found a way to get him into the valley to be your husband. How about it, isn’t he much better than your senior brother?”
“If you are satisfied, the Master will choose an auspicious day for you two to get married.”
Yao Zhi had a vague premonition from the beginning. Based on her understanding of the masters, they would not easily let strangers in. Now, after listening to the whole process, Yao Zhi felt a surge of anger rushing to her forehead.
In the past, the masters only forced people with words, but now they directly lure people into the Medicine Valley!
No wonder, no wonder the young man looked like that, now it all makes sense.
Yao Zhi was furious: “Master, didn’t you promise me that you wouldn’t do bad things again?”
Huo Tianyi didn’t care when he heard this: “We both agree, how can it be considered a bad thing?”
In Huo Tianyi’s opinion, it is fair for the young man to marry his apprentice and for him to rescue his father and brother. How can it be considered a bad thing?
Indeed, to be honest, Huo Tianyi’s behaviour cannot be said to be bad, but he is definitely taking advantage of someone in distress.
“Besides, he himself agreed to it.”
As for how Ye Shuo himself felt, Huo Tianyi didn’t care.
This is probably what Yao Zhi cannot understand. Even if the master does not save her, she will not say anything. It is her own business if she wants to save him. Even Yao Zhi cannot force the master to have a chivalrous heart.
But forcing people to sell their bodies… How is this different from being a bully?
A choice with options is a choice, and a choice without options is not a choice at all.
There is only one path in front of you, and it is a joke for others to tell you that it is your own choice.
This can only be a sacrifice that is forced upon us.
“…I’ll send him out of the valley right now.” This young man was indeed born with a good-looking appearance, and Yao Zhi was indeed bewitched by him just now, but she still couldn’t accept it.
Yao Zhi stood up and was about to leave.
Then, Huo Tianyi said behind her: “It’s useless. His father and brothers are still here. Even if you chase him away now, he won’t leave.”
Upon hearing this, Yao Zhi paused, bit her lower lip, and finally wanted to listen to what the young man himself had to say.
The beautiful woman was worried about the two of them being alone together, so she followed them immediately.
Looking at the old man who looked so calm and composed, sitting there leisurely drinking tea as if he had everything under control, the beautiful woman really wanted to eat him alive.
When Yao Zhi went out again, she found that Ye Shuo, who had been there just now, had disappeared at some point, while smoke was rising from the kitchen not far away.
Yao Zhi walked into the kitchen at a very clever time, just in time to catch Ye Shuo putting the fish into the pot.
With a “sizzle” sound, as soon as the fish in Ye Shuo’s hand was put into the pot, the big black pot in front of him immediately began to emit billowing smoke.
Ancient stoves were like this, good in every way except that the smoke from oil and firewood could not be controlled. Ye Shuo would be choked every time. In addition, his internal injuries had not healed yet, so when he coughed, it would inevitably affect his injuries.
After a while, a thin layer of sweat appeared on the tip of Ye Shuo’s nose.
Ye Shuo took after his mother, with naturally fair skin. When he coughed and frowned, he looked even weaker and more pitiable.
When the beautiful woman saw this scene, her teeth were about to break.
Sure enough, my premonition was right, this young man was indeed a demon!
I had never seen him so delicate before, but when my apprentice came back, he immediately became delicate.
The beautiful woman hurried to see her disciple, and as expected, all of her disciple’s attention was now attracted by him.
Yao Zhi didn’t think much about it and immediately tried to snatch the spatula from Ye Shuo’s hand.
However, Ye Shuo seemed to have sensed it already. After dodging, he gently pushed her aside with one hand.
“Young apprentice, there is a lot of fumes in the kitchen, which is not good for a girl’s skin. Young apprentice, please wait outside. The food will be ready soon.”
Ye Shuo is a grown man, so naturally he is not worried about this.
Since Huo Tianyi had found his fourth brother and eighth brother one after another, and Mei Yingzhuo had tried his best to treat his fourth brother’s leg every day, Ye Shuo returned the favor. Seeing that the disciple that several people had talked about had returned, he specially spent some extra effort and prepared a big meal.
In summer, clothes were thin, and Yao Zhi only felt a slight heat on her back before he pushed her away.
Yao Zhi saw that the Second Master was staring at this place non-stop. Yao Zhi had just returned and was unsure of the Second Master’s attitude for a moment. After thinking for a while, Yao Zhi finally whispered: “Come here, I want to tell you something.”
“Wait a moment.” Ye Shuo took some boiling water from a stove next to him and stewed the two fish. He then picked up the towel next to him and wiped his hands before walking to Yao Zhi’s side.
It was obviously a cheap coarse cloth, but in his hands, it seemed like expensive silk. His every move revealed an indescribable pride.
“Young apprentice, what do you want me to do?” When Ye Shuo came closer, Yao Zhi suddenly realised that he was much taller than her.
Especially since the kitchen was dim, Yao Zhi felt as if she was completely enveloped by this young man.
The next moment, a refreshing breath like pine and cypress, which was unique to young people, came. When Yao Zhi looked up again, she met his eyes.
His pair of auspicious phoenix eyes seemed to be able to speak, revealing a hint of doubt in them.
The distance was so close that Yao Zhi could even see his tall nose, flawless skin like jade, and two slightly parted lips…
If this happened to any other girl, she would probably lose her composure on the spot.
Even though Yao Zhi had been in the underworld for many years, she could still feel the heat constantly rising to her face.
Yao Zhi controlled herself and did not retreat, and managed to maintain her composure on the surface.
Subconsciously looking away and not daring to look any further, Yao Zhi whispered, “Do you want to go out? I can take you out.”
Ye Shuo was slightly surprised when he heard this, but then he shook his head: “I can’t leave, my father and my brothers are still here.”
Yao Zhi couldn’t help feeling a little worried when she heard this.
This young man doesn’t plan to leave, what should she do?
Just when Yao Zhi was a little confused, she heard him say, “Young apprentice Master, can you help Shuo’er?”
Yao Zhi was stunned for a moment: “What help?”
“Grand Master and the others value the Young apprentice very much, and Shuo’er must now depend on the Young apprentice. If the Young apprentice is unwilling, then for GrandMaster and the others, Shuo’er will have no value in existence.” In short, the woman in front of him is the key to everything.
“So Shuo’er would like to ask the young valley apprentice to stay in this Medicine Man Valley for a while longer.”
Yao Zhi watched the young man in front of her and it seemed that she found it difficult to speak when he said this. Her eyelashes trembled slightly at first, and then quickly drooped.
Yao Zhi immediately got excited and said, “No problem!”
Realising that her voice seemed a little loud, Yao Zhi quickly lowered her voice and said, “Don’t worry.”
Even if the young man didn’t mention it, Yao Zhi couldn’t just leave without resolving his problem.
The beautiful woman watched the whole process. Although she did not hear what the two people discussed, her heart sank to the bottom.
In addition to the two fish, Ye Shuo also cooked shrimps, grilled mushrooms, roasted lamb, etc., and soon filled the table.
In addition, to express his gratitude, Ye Shuo specially steamed the yam, mashed it into a paste, poured wild honey and jam on it, and made a special dessert for Yao Zhi.
No one else, including several female masters, has this position, only Yao Zhi has it.
“Young apprentice, Masters, I’m going to deliver food to my father and fourth brother.”
Soon, Ye Shuo left with the food box.
Looking at the other person’s back, Yao Zhi couldn’t help but feel soft-hearted.
Such a filial and gentle young man was forcibly abducted by his master. The master was too much this time!
The beautiful woman and the disfigured woman looked at each other, and a few words emerged in their minds at the same time –
Big, momentum, already, gone.
The other side.
After handing the other separately packed meals to several servants and asking them to deliver them to his four brothers respectively, Ye Shuo lifted his clothes and came to his stepfather alone.
After so many days of recuperation, my cheap dad was finally able to sit up. I guess he will be able to get out of bed in two days.
While eating, Emperor Jingwen thought of something and asked casually, “What happened today? Why is it so lively outside?”
Ye Shuo paused, cleared his throat, and said, “My future wife is back.”
Unexpectedly, a deafening coughing sound suddenly broke out in the room.
Then, as expected, Ye Shuo was almost beaten out by his stepfather with a stick.
Picking up the wooden bowl on the ground and putting it back into the food box, Ye Shuo couldn’t help but imagine the image of the young apprentice in fiery red clothes.
I have to say, this girl is quite cute when she blushes.
After a moment, Ye Shuo chuckled.
When Ye Shuo returned to the kitchen, there was no one there. Only a few servants were dealing with the leftovers. After handing the food box to them, Ye Shuo left quickly.
It was getting dark, and Ye Shuo went back to his room to sleep. As luck would have it, he ran into Yao Zhi at the door.
Seeing the lock of the main house in the yard being opened, Ye Shuo was startled, and then a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
Yao Zhi had never expected that the master would arrange for this young man to live in the side room of her courtyard before she came back!
Ye Shuo’s originally pale face gradually turned a little red, and he looked embarrassed, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.
Yao Zhi’s brain exploded with a buzzing sound. At the same time, Yao Zhi’s sense of guilt instantly reached its peak.
Because just now, Yao Zhi, who always claimed to be chivalrous, actually had evil thoughts towards this powerless young man in front of her…