Yet some in the City Lord Residence could not sleep.
Dongfang Huo waited at the city gates for his second younger brother, Dongfang Xu, who had not returned for many days, while Dongfang Zan was clearly distracted by his side.
"What are you thinking about?"
With hope for his father’s poison, Dongfang Huo’s mood had also improved considerably.
He also had more time to care about this sixteen-year-old cousin.
Dongfang Zan shook his head, his eyes flickering.
"Really nothing? I’ve heard that you gave the precious Luozhu vine that Uncle had obtained with great difficulty to the fourth miss of the Yun Family!"
"Big brother!" Dongfang Zan exclaimed in shock.
Dongfang Huo couldn’t help but laugh, "What? Have you fallen for her?"
But thinking about it, Yun Jinnian had an exceptionally beautiful appearance, graceful and elegant manners, and her medical skills were nothing short of miraculous, not to mention her broad-mindedness.
His cousin had traveled early in life, appearing gentle and genial, yet in truth he was a deeply scheming smiling tiger, most adept at playing the fool to catch the wise.
"Mm!" Dongfang Zan nodded.
Dongfang Huo took a deep breath, "Indeed, for a fairy-like beauty such as Miss Yun, it would be strange not to be moved!"
"What about you, big brother? Have you ever been moved?" Dongfang Zan asked urgently.
Dongfang Huo tapped Dongfang Zan on the head, "Towards Miss Yun, the feelings I have are different from yours, mine are admiration, respect; for her being a woman, she did not cling to trifles in detoxifying our father. If she were from a very strict family, her actions could have cost her reputation, yet she conducts herself openly and with neither servility nor arrogance. I respect heroes, and Miss Yun is a woman who does not concede to men, how could she not move me!"
"Speaking like that, I was indeed narrow-minded!"
"Sigh, it’s not that you’re narrow-minded; it’s just that I want to remind you, in matters of love, you must not employ the slightest deceit or stratagem, nor can you be too direct. The Capital’s rules are different from those in the small river village, and women here pay much attention to their reputations and won’t easily engage in private exchanges with men. A dignified and pure woman like Miss Yun cannot tolerate the slightest impurity in love!"
Just like her mother, ever since Yun Family’s second master took a concubine, the second lady of the Yun Family has never shared a room with him again, and to this day, they are like strangers, not divorcing perhaps only for the sake of giving Yun Jinnian a complete family.
But to stay together without affection...
Dongfang Zan exclaimed in surprise.
"Younger brother, true love is the least tolerant of any fickleness. Do you understand?"
Dongfang Zan was silent.
It was a long while before he said, "In the future, I will admire her just like big brother does!"
He had a marriage arrangement pending, just waiting for the girl to come of age to wed.
If he were to break off the engagement, what would become of the innocent girl?
It wouldn’t be moral to burden her with all this just because he fell in love at first sight, and then deeper upon the second.
"It’s good that you understand!"
Dongfang Huo breathed a sigh of relief.
He was afraid Dongfang Zan would become obsessed.
To run to the Yun Family to break off an engagement for Yun Jinnian would lead to a mess in the end.
A woman like Yun Jinnian would have countless men moved by her, and with her medical skills, she wouldn’t possibly just stay at home forever. Should she have a heart of compassion, she would be bound to travel the world to heal others.
And Dongfang Zan couldn’t protect her!
It wasn’t that he underestimated his cousin, but that’s just how the world works.
The strong feed on the weak.
If someone with wealth, power, and ability came along, Dongfang Zan wouldn’t even have the chance to strike back!
Dongfang Zan’s body softened, and he slowly retreated to lean against the wall.
Dongfang Huo glanced at him, thinking it was better to let go now than to wait until feelings became too deep to salvage.
In the distance, a troop of riders sped towards them.
Dongfang Huo immediately perked up, because the person he was waiting for had arrived!