After being reborn, I became the apple of my enemy's eye.

Although the maid's words were of dubious intent, they did reflect what Yan Yun was thinking: that if she went, she would only be disturbing Mr. Shu. She asked the steward to pass on the message that she would not be going, and then she gave up on the idea of ​​going out.

He went back to his room and practiced calligraphy by himself.

I wrote the words over and over again.

My mind is in turmoil.

As for Lu Yan, he spent the day with Zheng Jihua visiting countless places, from small merchants to city lords, Zheng Jihua went to almost everything.

Each household is a precious gift.

Lu Yan watched Zheng Jihua circling among those people, which served as his first lesson.

Although Zheng Jihua wouldn't let him speak, she still talked to him and told Lu Yan who those people were.

If I want to stay here in the future, I need to get to know all these people.

Lu Yan was still matching those faces with their names in his mind when he returned, and there were many more people in the middle of the street.

Lu Yan asked an extra question unintentionally.

"Who are these people?"

Zheng Jihua glanced outside and said, "There will be a lantern festival tonight."

"A lantern festival."

There was also a lantern festival in the capital, which reminded Lu Yan of his younger sister. He asked Zheng Jihua, "Sir, may I bring Ning'er to see the lantern festival?"

Zheng Jihua, accustomed to hearing the word "adult," turned to look at Lu Yan.

He wanted to bring Ning'er out.

"Can you protect her?"

This is what Zheng Jihua wants to know. With so many people here, if something happens to Ning'er, can he protect her?

Lu Yan's health is not good, but he is not terminally ill. If Ning'er is willing, he can take good care of her.

"of course."

Zheng Jihua escorted Lu Yan back to the Zheng residence, but he did not disembark from the carriage; he still had somewhere to go.

"The housekeeper will arrange your outings. Ning'er is in your hands today. If anything goes wrong with her, you won't be any better off."

Zheng Jihua's words were not harsh, but the meaning behind them was profound.

As soon as Lu Yan got off the carriage, Zheng Jihua left.

The housekeeper told Lu Yan.

"Young master, I'll go equip the carriage. As for the young lady, I'll leave it to you."

"Okay, that's troublesome."

When Lu Yan returned to the mansion, Lu Yuan handed him the medicine he had prepared. Lu Yan drank the medicine first, and Lu Yuan asked, "Third Young Master, would you like to wash up first?"

Lu Yan also wanted to wash up; he was indeed very tired today, but he had an appointment.

"Come out with me, there's a lantern festival outside."

Lu Yan went to Yan Yun's room to invite her.

As Yan Yun listened to the people outside explain their purpose, although she disliked Lu Yan, Yan Yun still wanted to go out.

She opened the door and followed Lu Yan out of the mansion.

Because the steward had already sent word, no one in the household stopped her.

When Yan Yun followed Lu Yan out of the Zheng residence, it was the first time she had come out so directly.

Lu Yan put the bamboo hat on her head.

Yan Yun did not resist.

Lu Yuan followed behind them, giving them space.

Lu Yan had no interest in visiting the lantern festival; he just wanted her to come out and have some fun, and also wanted to take this opportunity to spend some quality time with her.

The lantern festival was even more lively than I expected.

Yan Yun wasn't interested in the lantern festival; he just felt relaxed as long as he could get out of the Zheng residence.

Lu Yan, remembering the candied hawthorn she hadn't eaten before, asked her, "Would you like to buy a candied hawthorn?"

Yan Yun shook his head.

She walked towards the Yan residence, intending to take a look even if it was unintentional.

Lu Yan followed her, walking further and further away from the main road. He noticed that her gaze was fixed on the courtyard and wanted to ask her something, but Yan Yun suddenly realized that there were other people with her. He shouldn't have come here like this. He didn't dare to think about the consequences if he went back and told the old lady that he had come here.

She glanced at Lu Yan, then veered off course and walked back into the crowd.

This time, she walked very fast, her goal being to shake off the people following behind her.

She wanted to find the place where her mother was, but Lu Yan was preoccupied and his gaze never left Yan Yun. Even in the crowded streets, he followed closely behind.

Yan Yun turned around and glanced at Lu Yan.

In an instant, she took off her straw hat and threw it on the ground.

Lu Yan bent down to pick it up, and Yan Yun seized the opportunity to squeeze into the crowd in an instant.

Lu Yuan immediately called out to his young master.

"Young master, Miss Zheng has run away."

But the noise around him drowned out his voice. Lu Yuan reached out and grabbed him, pointing in the direction Yan Yun had left.

She whispered in his ear, "Miss Zheng ran in that direction!!"

Lu Yan tightened his grip on the straw hat. He turned around and saw that Yan Yun was indeed gone. He glanced into the crowd, but the people coming and going completely obscured Yan Yun's whereabouts.

Lu Yan asked urgently, "Lu Yuan, where did she go?"

Lu Yuan couldn't say where she went either, "It must have been up ahead, I saw her go inside."

Lu Yan immediately stepped forward, and could only say to those who were pushing and shoving him, "Excuse me, please let me through."

Yan Yun didn't follow the flow of people out; instead, he turned into the corner at the front.

She glanced back, but didn't see Lu Yan chasing after her, so she walked forward with peace of mind. But unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

Just as she turned the corner.

Someone followed behind.

The lantern festival is held on the main street, while the stone temple is located in a very remote area.

Yan Yun hadn't expected anyone other than Lu Yan to be following her. She looked back from time to time, and felt relieved when she didn't see Lu Yan chasing after her. As for the elderly people around her, she didn't need to worry about them.

The road she was walking on wasn't unfamiliar; she walked very fast, occasionally breaking into a run.

As they got closer to the stone temple, the surroundings became quieter and quieter. Yan Yun glanced back and saw that the main street was much brighter than this side, with all sorts of lanterns dazzling the eyes. It was completely different from this side.

That place didn't hold her attention for long. She turned to continue walking, but then she heard hurried footsteps behind her.

Yan Yun subconsciously turned around to look, only to see a large black net rushing towards him.

"what!"

Yan Yun had never experienced anything like this before, and he was so frightened that he cried out.

Suddenly, two people appeared and covered Yan Yun with a large net, dragging him to the side. Yan Yun screamed in fright and struggled wildly with his hands and feet.

who is it?

who is it?

She hadn't experienced these things herself, and she felt afraid.

Should I shout for help? But can I even make a sound like that?

She knew the person outside couldn't be Lu Yan; he wouldn't do this to her. But who was it? Was it Zheng Jihua's enemy?

Yan Yun quickly went through all these things, and finally, disregarding the large net that had trapped him, he repeatedly cried for help: "Help, help, save me!"

Her cries for help startled the two people outside.

After scrutinizing Yan Yun, one of them asked, "Wasn't he supposed to be mute? How come he can make noise?"

"Perhaps even a mute person can make a sound."

The other person also said uncertainly.

"I was careless. Quickly cover her mouth."

After she finished speaking, she covered Yan Yun's mouth with both hands through the rope. She was even more afraid when the smelly and dirty cloth bag was put over Yan Yun's mouth.

After his body was slung over his shoulder, he fell heavily to the ground. The sack covering Yan Yun's face was pulled off, and the two men covered their faces with black cloth.

They were sizing up Yan Yun.

"Did we arrest the wrong person? I remember that the young lady from the Zheng family is mute, but this girl spoke just now, didn't she?"

“But I saw that she came out of the main gate. This girl is the only one who looks about the same age.”

"is it?"

As he spoke, the man reached out and pinched Yan Yun's face. He grabbed Yan Yun's hand and looked at her fair and tender little hand. "I don't believe you're a maid."

Although Yan Yun was afraid, he still spoke up: "I am not a member of the Zheng family. You have arrested the wrong person."

She spoke clearly again, which made the people on the other side even more confused. They looked at each other and thought they had arrested the wrong person.

After exchanging a glance, the two said in unison, "Even if we've arrested the wrong person, we can't let them go. If this little girl reports us to the authorities, we'll be in big trouble."

Yan Yun interrupted, "I don't even know who you are. Aren't your faces covered?"

Her gaze fell on the half-open door, and she wanted to rush through.

"This little girl is sharp-tongued and quite good at talking."

"I said you've really arrested the wrong person, can you let me go?"

"can."

One of them answered with a lewd look in his eyes.

Yan Yun thought he was telling the truth, so she stood up and tried to run away, but the man grabbed her and slapped her across the face.