"So why did you pretend to be A Jing? You could have told me you were Luo Yuan. Do you know I was troubled, thinking I was a fickle woman, loving Luo Yuan and then falling for A Jing…" Yang Ruo Ning complained.
"Every time I wanted to tell you, you'd interrupt me. Besides, I noticed you actually found it easier to pour your heart out to A Jing," Luo Yuan replied.
"Yes, those were things I couldn't tell you…" Yang Ruo Ning hesitated, "About Qing Ye and Yue Feng, you also know he's the one I'm looking for, Luo Yuan, those futures I saw…"
"Those futures…" Luo Yuan brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, "are just things that haven't happened. Now that I know Qing Ye's identity, why would I still kill him? Ruo Ning, you are all my family now, so Qing Ye, let us protect him together."
"Then what about your cousin? Do you know she's a serial killer? Those bones at the bottom of the lake, you saw them with your own eyes today. Those women were all people you had a connection with. Luo Qian Qiu was jealous of them and killed them."
"I… I actually didn't know. I didn't know Luo Qian Qiu's jealousy would lead her to commit such a cruel act."
"Luo Yuan, even so, do you still insist on marrying her? Perhaps you don't care how many people she's killed, but I'm telling you, she's your cousin, and genetically speaking, it's not very suitable. That means any children you two have would very likely have defects. You need to think carefully…"
"Alright, alright, I won't marry her," Luo Yuan interrupted. "The engagement is just part of the plan. I already have a wife whose jealousy is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea at home, how dare I marry another? I'm afraid you'd really blow up my entire collection of treasures." Luo Yuan affectionately flicked her nose. "However, I want to be frank with you. The things in the capital mansion are not my entire fortune. I also have the Fan Lou, several pawnshops, a few silver shops, and many other things. Your husband is the wealthiest man in Da Song."
Yang Ruo Ning's eyes widened in disbelief, "…You're that rich? I never imagined you'd be so capable when you grew up…"
"You told me, don't you remember?"
Yang Ruo Ning shook her head, confused.
"It was over there," Luo Yuan pointed to the valley. "That's when you had just bought me and brought me here. When we were eating in front of the tent, you told me you wanted to do business related to money in the future."
"But speaking of which, if you're so rich, why wouldn't you pay me my salary in advance when we were in Bian Liang…"
"I was afraid you would leave."
"Then the salary you gave me was also very stingy! I was the only one working in the mansion!"
"But you didn't do much work either, and you sold so many of my golden carp. Do you know how expensive those fish were when I bought them!"
"Are the two benefactors…" a voice interrupted Yang Ruo Ning and Luo Yuan. They both turned to see that it was the master from the temple.
She and Luo Yuan stood up, clasped their hands together, and bowed to the master in return, "Master, you've returned," Luo Yuan said.
"General Luo, do you know this female benefactor?" the master asked in surprise.
"Master, this is the person I've been waiting for," Luo Yuan replied.
Yang Ruo Ning also said, "Master, General Luo is the little boy I've been looking for."
Although Yang Ruo Ning and Luo Yuan couldn't explain to the master why the other was the person they were looking for, the master didn't press further. He simply clasped his hands and said, "Amitabha, destined people will eventually meet. You two benefactors have also proven to be persistent, and finally found each other."
*******************
Despite Yang Ruo Ning's strong reluctance, Luo Yuan still went down the mountain alone. Before he left, he told Yang Ruo Ning his plan. He said the engagement ceremony was actually a meticulously designed Hongmen Banquet. He invited all the generals of the Luo family army to gather, just to seize the opportunity to eliminate Old General Luo and take command of the military.
"This journey is extremely dangerous, and I fear I won't be able to spare attention to protect you. I will have Han Dan Chun come to stay with you, so you can remain here for now," Luo Yuan advised her.
This time, Yang Ruo Ning obeyed. She didn't want to ruin Luo Yuan's plan again due to her own stubbornness, so she agreed and obediently stayed at the temple to wait for him.
"You must be careful," she said, after a long kiss goodbye with Luo Yuan, and then placed the diamond necklace around his neck. "I'll wait for you here."
Han Dan Chun arrived the next evening. The first thing he said upon dismounting was, "Yang Ruo Ning, you really have many secrets." Then he started to follow Yang Ruo Ning, buzzing like a fly, incessantly asking questions.
Annoyed by his pestering, Yang Ruo Ning wailed and finally put down her pen, "Han Dan Chun, I'm ready to answer your questions seriously, but you need to think carefully, because I will only answer three questions."
"Only three questions?"
"Yes. Alright, you have two questions left."
Han Dan Chun growled, suppressing his anger, "You cunning woman!"
After thinking for a while, his clenched fist finally loosened. "Fine," he moved a chair and sat beside Yang Ruo Ning. "What exactly is your relationship with Luo Yuan?"
"He is my husband, I married him," Yang Ruo Ning said, looking at Han Dan Chun. She saw Han Dan Chun staring intently at her without speaking, but his right leg was trembling. She knew Han Dan Chun must have desperately wanted to ask when they got married but didn't want to waste his last question. She smiled and continued, "It was before I was sold to the tribe. He was actually looking for me all along, but I didn't know he was A Jing. I only found out yesterday."
"Okay, then does Luo Yuan plan to raise an army to overthrow the Emperor of Da Song?"
Yang Ruo Ning paused for a moment. Han Dan Chun's question surprised her. She thought for a moment, "He doesn't have any plans to become emperor. Do you see this?" Yang Ruo Ning showed Han Dan Chun the sketch she had just drawn. "This is a design draft for my house. Luo Yuan and I will build a house in this valley and live together."
After hearing this, Han Dan Chun seemed to deflate and slumped back in his chair. He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling, saying disappointedly, "Then what about my plan?"
Yang Ruo Ning then remembered Han Dan Chun's plan to lead his people to build a grand city similar to Youzhou City. So many things had happened these days that she had actually forgotten about Han Dan Chun's matter.
She comforted Han Dan Chun, "Hey, don't be discouraged. Although Luo Yuan won't be emperor, we… still have many influential friends in the capital. Han Dan Chun, you should have confidence in Luo Yuan."
"Really?" Han Dan Chun didn't seem encouraged by her words. He maintained his posture, muttering, "Will your relationship really help? Will the Emperor of Da Song agree to cede Youzhou City to me…"
"I can't answer that question. You need to ask the Emperor of Da Song. Oh, did I forget to tell you? The Emperor of Da Song is my nephew, my own nephew."
"…"