Untouchable Lovers

Chapter 265: Chapter 242: It Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come Chapter 265: Chapter 242: It Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come Clear about the figure, Huan Yuan was slightly surprised, and then his heart warmed.

The person blocking the doorway was Chu Yu. She had run past Huan Yuan to reach the door before him.

Fearing that Huan Yuan would leave through the back exit, she pressed her back against the door, using her body to block the seam of the two closed doors.

Seeing her look as if she were facing a great enemy, Huan Yuan could not help but smile. “What’s the use of just blocking the front door? Don’t forget, this residence also has a side door and a back door.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Yu immediately gritted her teeth and commanded, “People, come and block all the other doors!”

Huan Yuan burst out laughing, “Don’t throw a childish tantrum. You can stop me temporarily, but do you really plan to stop me forever…?”

He was halfway through his remark when he saw Chu Yu’s expression and his voice gradually lowered, and the smile on his face solidified.

Because Chu Yu’s face was on the verge of tears.

Chu Yu propped her hands against the door. She knew her actions were futile, but she couldn’t just let Huan Yuan leave and wander alone, yet she didn’t know what to say to make him stay.

Chu Yu was about to cry. People were leaving her one by one. Liu Sang had been taken away by Zhong Niannian, and now Huan Yuan was leaving too. She still had Amman left. At least Liu Sang had Zhong Niannian, but what about Huan Yuan?

With what kind of feelings was he leaving?

Thinking of this, she became so sad she could hardly contain herself. The people around her were her family, from the Southern Dynasty to the Northern Dynasty, who had always been by her side, supporting each other along the way. She couldn’t bear to part with any of them and didn’t want to neglect anyone.

When Liu Sang left, she could still comfort herself with the fact that he had family accompanying him, but Huan Yuan? What did Huan Yuan have? He had been quietly accompanying her, and now he planned to leave silently; he had lost so much yet gained nothing in return, not even a stable home which became something troublesome…

Chu Yu bit her lips fiercely, her eyes reddening, but her words were choked in her throat.

Don’t go…

Don’t wander alone…

Don’t leave her…

Because she would be sad, saddened by his loneliness.

Mixed feelings stirred in Huan Yuan’s heart as his calm, collected gaze gradually became veiled with sadness while staring at Chu Yu for a long time; he smiled wryly. “Princess, don’t be like this. I am just a lonely and trivial person, not worthy of your concern…”

Don’t cry, for if she cried, he would find it hard to leave…

But no matter how hard it was to let go, he ultimately had to leave, for there are no everlasting banquets under the heavens.

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About a quarter of an hour later, Huan Yuan finally left Chu Garden. Looking back at the closed gate for a long while, he still took heavy steps forward.

He first approached the entrance to Guan Canghai’s residence and knocked on the door, requesting the servant who answered to deliver a letter to Guan Canghai and to relay a message, hoping that after his departure, Guan Canghai would take extra care of Chu Yu.

He did not know whether his message would ultimately reach that person’s ears, but as long as Guan Canghai was there to protect her, Chu Yu’s safety could largely be assured and he could leave with some peace of mind.

The servant who opened the door recognized Huan Yuan, asking if he wanted to meet Guan Canghai. Huan Yuan smiled and shook his head, then politely took his leave. He had no desire to see Guan Canghai, for seeing him would unconsciously remind him of another person, especially at this moment.

He measured the grounds of Luoyang City with his slow steps, distancing from Chu Yu with each step, yet he did not stop but continued onward.

Once a decision was made, it must be acted upon. Huan Yuan’s stubbornness was not likely to lose to anyone.

He proceeded eastward at a leisurely pace and had just walked about a mile when, passing through a barely frequented alley, Huan Yuan saw someone in front of him at the exit, a figure in black standing with his back to him, hands clasped behind his back. The person was dressed in black, his figure was slender and frail, yet his bearing was graceful like a willow, supple yet strong.

Huan Yuan’s expression darkened and after a moment, he said indifferently, “It’s you, Moxiang.”

Though he only saw the figure’s back, recognizing this person who had once worked alongside him took only a second or two for Huan Yuan.

Moxiang slowly turned around, looked at Huan Yuan and raised his hand in a salute, smiling, “Young Master Huan, it’s been a while. I have been waiting here for you, and it seems you are not surprised.” His demeanor and movements were reminiscent of Young Master Rong, elegant and refined without any trace of the previous seductive guise.

His face still bore some scars, but they had faded compared to when he had seen him over a year ago.

By now, Huan Yuan dared not underestimate Moxiang, and after observing him for a while, Huan Yuan coldly said, “I am indeed not surprised; Young Master Rong dominates Luoyang City, and it’s not just knowing about my departure but even if the person standing before me were him, I would not be the least bit startled.”

Since Moxiang had come to seek him, he must have had something in mind, and by remaining composed, Huan Yuan might yet learn some information.

Unperturbed by Huan Yuan’s cool demeanor, Moxiang grinned and said, “Young Master Huan takes it too seriously. My master has other important matters to attend to. It was Moxiang’s own initiative to stop you… Did you just decline the Emperor’s decree?”

Huan Yuan scoffed, “That’s your Emperor, not mine.” No matter how incompetent the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty might be, from the beginning to the end, he had no intention of serving the Xianbei barbarians as his sovereigns.

Upon hearing Huan Yuan’s words tinged with anger, Moxiang was initially stunned but after a moment’s reflection, he laughed and said, “Young Master Huan, hold back your anger, for whose emperor he is doesn’t matter. My true master is only Young Master Rong, and it was I who decided to stop you. I have a request to make. Please quell the anger in your heart and listen to my reasons from the beginning.”

Huan Yuan frowned and said, “Speak.”

Moxiang revealed a triumphant smile, bowed deeply, and then began to speak in a soft and gentle tone.

Huan Yuan half guessed correctly; Young Master Rong indeed sided with Empress Dowager Feng, but he did not directly assist Empress Dowager Feng. Instead, he sent Moxiang to be her aide, occasionally contacting Moxiang to inquire about the situation. However, lately, Empress Dowager Feng and the Emperor of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong, began to confront each other. It seemed at first that Empress Dowager Feng was about to achieve full victory under the guise of assisting in the governance, but suddenly, a person emerged beside Tuoba Hong who helped turn the tide against her, even forcing Empress Dowager Feng to make some concessions.

Huan Yuan gave a slight scoff, about to remark sarcastically about how this concerned him, but then he suddenly remembered that if it were irrelevant, Moxiang wouldn’t bother telling him in such a detested manner, so he listened patiently.

Throughout his speech, Moxiang kept observing Huan Yuan’s expressions, guessing his thoughts. He chuckled and said, “Young Master Huan is truly perceptive, and you also know that person, an old acquaintance from the Southern Dynasty.” When he mentioned ‘old acquaintance,’ his tone held a hint of bitterness.

Seeing that Huan Yuan remained composed and did not inquire further about the name, Moxiang didn’t keep him in suspense, openly revealing, “That person is Tian Rujing.”