Have You Violated Any Taboos Today?
Yu Yang’s golden finger had also appeared half a month ago.
A rather idealistic golden finger.
As long as any single “taboo” was met, the person carrying the yellow paper of “Good and Bad Omens” would encounter inexplicable misfortunes.
At this moment, Lu Huaice couldn’t help but clutch his stomach, his face flushed bright red.
Yu Yang tactfully pretended not to notice.
Lu Huaice opened his mouth, his eyes instantly reddening.
He simply couldn’t hold it in any longer.
He had no choice but to turn and run.
His shoes pounded loudly against the wooden stairs as he dashed out of the inn like a gust of wind.
Yu Yang fanned the air in front of her nose.
“Truly, to harm the enemy a thousand, one must suffer eight hundred.”
But honestly, this golden finger was quite useful. It seemed that as long as she could justify it logically, the taboo would be triggered.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, Yu Yang suddenly felt her vision darken.
She was about to take out the medicine she carried when she saw her guard, Cheng Liu, approach.
As the dizziness faded, she tucked the medicine back into her robe.
“What is it?”
Cheng Liu: “Miss, the young master has arrived and is currently at Cloud Abode Courtyard.”
Yu Yang frowned slightly.
“The young master?”
A youthful figure flashed through her mind. “Xie Chi?”
Cheng Liu nodded emphatically.
“Yes, it’s none other than the young master of Duke Su’an Manor, the Yu family’s great patron, your savior, the master’s long-admired young lord Xie Chi. After eight years, he has now returned, handsome and dashing, peerlessly elegant, emerging from the secret passage in Cloud Abode Courtyard… Ah, no, I mean, he has arrived!”
Yu Yang raised an eyebrow.
“That good-looking?”
Cheng Liu nodded vigorously.
“Absolutely! When the master sent me to fetch you, I caught a glimpse. Honestly, I may have left the courtyard, but my soul is still there.”
He paused, as if suddenly remembering his main task. “Oh, right, the master is in a hurry to go to Taizheng Prefecture to deal with matters at the Apothecary Workshop, so there’s no one at home. You might need to return quickly to entertain the guest.”
Yu Yang let out an “Oh.”
She took out a mirror and examined herself.
Pale complexion—good, fair skin.
Dull eyes—good, dark pupils.
Fair and dark—a peerless beauty.
Satisfied, she put the mirror away and said, “Let’s go home. I’ll go experience this soul-leaving sensation too.”
The Yu family, to which Yu Yang belonged, was considered a wealthy household in the southwest.
The family was small.
Just her, her uncle, and the aunt her uncle had married only a month ago.
Few knew that Yu Yang’s uncle had once been a trusted shadow guard of one of the Five Great Princes of the Li Dynasty, Duke Su’an. Over the years, the Yu family’s rise to prominence was largely due to having the powerful Duke’s Manor as their backing.
Thus, in a way, Young Master Xie Chi was actually her master.
Cloud Abode Courtyard was located on the rear hill of the Yu residence, where a secret passage led to a small forest outside the city.
By the time Yu Yang arrived home, her uncle had already left.
She knocked on the door.
“Young Master, Yu Yang requests an audience.”
A clear, crisp voice of a young man reached her ears from inside the courtyard.
“Please come in.”
Yu Yang pushed the door open.
Inside, maple trees rustled in the autumn breeze.
A few maple leaves drifted down, deepening the layers of autumn hues.
A young man stood beneath the tree, bathed in golden light so dazzling that Yu Yang’s eyes welled up with tears, making it impossible for her to see his face clearly.
Yu Yang: “…” Before she could see the yellow paper of Good and Bad Omens, she would often see a glow around people, but this was the first time someone’s radiance had moved her to tears. How unique.
Quietly, she took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.
Without even seeing his face, she spoke first.
“It has been many years since I last saw the Young Lord, yet your grace remains unchanged, moving me deeply.”
Beneath the maple tree, Xie Chi gazed at the woman wiping tears at the entrance.
Eight years ago, he had caught a glimpse of Yu Yang.
Though her face was deathly pale, the tranquility and spirited determination between her brows lent her an aura of frail dignity rather than weakness—much like the girl he remembered from their youth.
He nodded in acknowledgment.
“Miss Yu, it has been a long time.”
Beside Yu Yang, Cheng Liu watched her wipe her tears, his lips twitching.
Our young lady…
This is even more exaggerated than my soul leaving my body—she’s actually crying from looking at him.
Yu Yang paid no mind to her subordinate’s inner grumblings.
The golden light faded, transforming into a yellow slip of paper.
【Good Omens: All matters are favorable】
【Bad Omens: All matters are unfavorable】
Yu Yang: “……” Since she gained the ability to perceive Good and Bad Omens, this was the first time she had encountered such a mischievous set of predictions.
Finally, she could face Xie Chi directly.
The man before her wore a jade-colored narrow-sleeved cross-collared robe tied at the waist, his jet-black hair neatly tied and crowned. His sword-like brows were slightly raised, exuding an upright, untainted nobility.
His figure gradually overlapped with that warm, autumn-sun-like youth from years past.
Yu Yang’s gaze trembled slightly.
He really hasn’t grown poorly…
Just as Yu Yang was about to invite Xie Chi inside, she noticed a look of astonishment appear on the man’s jade-like face.
“You…”
“Hmm?”
Blood dripped onto the ground.
Yu Yang instinctively touched her nose and found her hand covered in blood.
Cheng Liu, who had been spacing out nearby, was first startled.
How is our young lady so dramatic? First tears, now a nosebleed—is she going to start drooling next?
But when he saw Yu Yang sway unsteadily, he shrieked, “Young lady! You’re having another episode! Medicine, the medicine…”
A wave of dizziness surged through Yu Yang’s mind like a tidal wave.
Yu Yang cursed the heavens inwardly.
She quickly retrieved a medicine bottle from her robes and, before her vision went dark, swiftly popped a pill into her mouth.
Seeing Xie Chi standing close by, she whispered tremulously, “Later… when I… wake up… we’ll talk…”
Xie Chi: ???
Two hours later.
Yu Yang opened her eyes.
Supporting her aching head, she looked around in confusion.
This was… her room in the Cloud Abode Courtyard.
“Cheng Liu…” she called out hoarsely.
Cheng Liu happened to enter just then, carrying medicine.
His usual playful expression was gone, replaced by concern.
“Young lady, you’re awake. Perfect timing to drink your medicine…”
Yu Yang took the medicine and downed it in one gulp, tossing the bowl back onto the tray.
She wiped her mouth, feeling slightly more clear-headed, and casually began to tidy herself up.
“Where is the Young Lord?”
Cheng Liu replied, “The Young Lord is currently in the study.”
Yu Yang sighed. “I should’ve taken the medicine back at the tavern. What a humiliation.”
Cheng Liu reminded her, “Young lady, the Young Lord recognized the medicine you took as the Life-Extending Pill. Moreover, he suddenly asked to see Divine Doctor Ji, but the Divine Doctor has already left. So, I suspect he’s figured some of it out.”
Yu Yang sighed inwardly.
Her life had essentially been saved by Xie Chi back then. Now, failing to take proper care of herself felt somewhat ungrateful toward his past kindness.
“Does Auntie know?”
Cheng Liu immediately shook his head.
“The Madam has gone to a banquet and hasn’t returned yet. Right now, only you and the Young Lord are home.”
Yu Yang breathed a quiet sigh of relief and headed to the study.
The sun was beginning to set.
Evening light slanted through the window.
Xie Chi stood by the bookshelf, flipping through a book.
Seeing her enter, he placed it back and asked gently, “Are you feeling better now?”