My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 8

Although Yao Qianxue spoke with certainty, Helan Ci still had her doubts and couldn’t be completely sure.

Just a few days later, Lin Zhang took the initiative to visit.

When he walked in slowly, his face was pale, and his brows were tightly furrowed, as if his family had encountered a great disaster. He showed none of the joy from a few days prior when he had passed the exam; instead, he appeared somewhat anxious and sorrowful.

At that moment, Helan Ci was on the roof and couldn’t help but sigh when she saw him.

As for why she was on the roof—

It was unfortunate that it had rained just last night.

After enduring a night of heavy rain, the roof of the west wing of the Helan residence had unfortunately leaked.

Rainwater trickled in through the gaps in the tiles, pattering into Helan Ci’s room.

She was awakened by the sound of rain, feeling a chill seep through her body. Then she saw Shuang Zhi, with a worried expression, holding a small basin to catch the rainwater in the corner.

It wasn’t the first time the roof of Helan Manor had leaked.

Although this house was granted by the Emperor, as a residence for officials collected by the court, it had not been repaired for a long time—when the house was granted, they wouldn’t also fix the roof for you. Helan Manor didn’t have enough money, so it had just been patched up, making leaks from time to time quite normal.

At first, they had hired the mason twice, just for some simple repairs.

Helan Ci had watched it a few times and felt that it didn’t seem too difficult.

So, after the rain stopped and dawn broke, she had the steward prepare some cheap linseed oil, wood, tiles, and thatch. She changed out of her formal clothes, rolled up her sleeves, and took her tools up the long ladder, deciding to give it a try herself.

If it worked out, she could save a good amount in the future.

Shuang Zhi trembled under the eaves, heart racing: “…Miss, it’s too dangerous. Let’s just ask someone else to do it.”

“It’s fine, just help me grab two more pieces of wood.”

Helan Ci was insistent—mainly because she wanted to be prepared. After all, her father served as an official in the Great Yong, and there were many risks involved.She always felt that learning more could only be beneficial. Additionally, she had learned some strange and seemingly useless skills in Qingzhou, but who knew when they might come in handy?

Just as Helan Ci was carefully cleaning the rotting wood on the roof ridge, Lin Zhang had just turned the corner and walked in.

Helan Ci paused in her movements, standing straight, the stone hammer in her hand placed atop her head, producing a crisp sound.

Lin Zhang heard the noise and looked up, just in time to meet the girl’s gaze from the rooftop.

Beside the eaves, a few branches of magnolia flowers slanted out, their petals still resembling carved jade, the fragrance rich and intoxicating, wafting through the air. The girl stood gracefully, her dark skirt somehow exuding a beauty akin to pearls covered in dust, her whole being bathed in bright spring light, not merely a figure from a painting but surpassing one.

Lin Zhang was momentarily stunned, and when he regained his senses, his expression grew even more awkward.

He lowered his head in shame, turning to the side to avoid her gaze, not daring to look at her, as if he had sullied himself and was no longer worthy of touching the clear breeze and bright moon.

Though Helan Ci felt no romantic feelings for him, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sorrow, as if she were a rabbit mourning a dead fox, pressured by the powerful.

Ordinary daughters of officials would never stoop to such a thing.

The favored ones among the royal relatives, however, are exceptions, such as the daughter of the Marquis of Kangning.

She was raised early on under the care of her maternal grandmother, Xunyang Gongzhu, who was the elder sister of the Emperor. Thanks to this elder sister’s support, the Emperor was able to ascend the throne.

Xunyang Gongzhu had a fiery temper in her youth; she dared to divorce her husband and openly kept a lover, disregarding the controversies in the court. With her authority even stronger after becoming the emperor’s sister, she naturally cherished her only granddaughter, the daughter of her beloved daughter, even more than a princess. This upbringing led to Miss Kangning’s unruly and spoiled nature.

Thus, Lin Zhang was destined to suffer in silence.

Even if he doesn’t marry Miss Kangning, others might still be afraid of the power of Xunyang Gongzhu, and few would dare to marry their daughters to him. After all, who knows when that little ancestor from the Kangning Marquis’s residence might want to marry again? Using this matter as leverage could very well lead to his family being torn apart.

Helan Ci sighed inwardly, her lips slightly moving.

She certainly knew that she shouldn’t say anything at this moment.

Only Lin Zhang and her father knew about this matter; they had discussed it, and that was that. She was a young lady of the boudoir, and it was only right that she knew nothing of it.

But at this moment, she couldn’t help herself. Helan Ci deliberated for a long time and finally called out to Lin Zhang, whose figure was about to disappear down the corridor: “Young Master Lin.”

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to speak to him.

Lin Zhang’s figure paused.

Helan Ci’s voice was soft as mist: “This matter is not your fault, Young Master Lin, so you need not blame yourself too much.”

Lin Zhang’s shoulders trembled slightly, his fingers clenched into a fist, as if he were trying hard to hold back something. Then, slowly, he relaxed, as if a long time had passed, yet it also felt like just a moment. He took a deep breath before finally speaking: “……Thank you, Miss Helan.”

The voice was unexpectedly choked with emotion.

After saying that, Lin Zhang’s figure disappeared into the corridor.

This scene was undeniably poignant.

Unfortunately, the next moment, Helan Ci’s mood was completely shattered by another voice.

“Miss Helan, forgive my boldness, though the view above is beautiful, it is easy to slip.”

Helan Ci turned around abruptly and saw a person standing at the doorway.

“……？？？”

What does he mean by always following me?

The newcomer turned his gaze back, his peach blossom eyes slightly lowered, no longer smiling, his expression indifferent, at least he didn’t seem to be here to watch a joke.

At that moment, it was just the two of them. Helan Ci couldn’t help but say, “What does this have to do with you?”

Although Helan Ci has always had a strained relationship with him, at least she maintains a facade of politeness. It’s quite rare for her to speak so coldly and sharply; it’s a stark contrast to how gentle and soft-spoken she was just a moment ago when talking to Lin Zhang.

Lu Wuyou paused for a moment and said, “Miss Helan, are you venting your anger, or… do you think I am the one who harmed him like this?”

Helan Ci tried hard to soften her tone: “I heard that Miss Kangning originally intended to capture you.”

Lu Wuyou chuckled lightly and said, “So the one who got caught was him, not me. Does that make you feel very regretful? I had no idea you liked him so much; I truly apologize.” Although he was smiling, there was not a hint of amusement in his tone.

She could tell he wasn’t in a good mood.

Although it was possible he was just pretending, Helan Ci still hesitated for a moment and said, “But if you have the means to escape, why can’t you help…?”

Lu Wuyou smirked, a hint of mockery in his tone: “If I said it was an accident, would Miss Helan believe me?”

“To be honest, not really.”

Usually, their conversation would end here.

Lu Wuyou didn’t care much about how Helan Ci viewed him, but he didn’t like being wronged, especially regarding this matter, which he found quite unpleasant.

“There are plenty of ways to make sure he can’t marry you; there’s no need to use such a self-destructive method,” Lu Wuyou’s tone became even more sarcastic, “Miss Helan, while I can’t claim to be a true gentleman, have I ever deceived you?”

Helan Ci quickly recalled and responded sharply, “That day at Jueyue Temple, you promised to help me block Marquise Cao Shizi, but you didn’t.”

Mentioning this, Lu Wuyou suddenly broke into a smile.

Helan Ci was just about to say something more.

A loud and deafening voice suddenly rang out.

“Xiao Ci! What are you doing on the roof! What if you fall down!”

Helan Jian stared at her in shock, nearly dropping the birdcage in his hands.

Helan Ci was startled by the voice, her body swayed slightly, and the tile beneath her feet slipped. She quickly grabbed a nearby branch, but it was difficult to stop her descent.

“Xiao Ci! Don’t be afraid! I’m coming to save you!”

The loud voice almost made her slip again.

Just then, Helan Ci suddenly felt something lift her foot from below.

In the next moment, she stood firmly back on the roof.

Helan Ci: “…!”

Lu Wuyou’s voice came through, completely different from before, sounding extremely gentle and amiable: “I just reminded Miss Helan that the top roof is dangerous.” He even seemed to sigh with genuine concern.

—Yes, if there had been a third person present, he would never have spoken in that sarcastic tone just now.

As her startled heart settled, the strength beneath her feet became clear; she was certain it was not just her imagination—she had indeed been saved by someone.

Her gaze slid past Helan Jian and slowly landed on the only person left in this place—Lu Wuyou.
“……Was that you just now?”

“Indeed it was,” Lu Wuyou replied without hesitation, gracefully bowing as he spoke, his tone clear and pleasant. “Miss Helan should believe that I mean no harm, right?”

Although Helan Ci couldn’t understand how he managed that, since he said so, she couldn’t possibly forget her gratitude on the spot.

She could only accept it with some suspicion.

“Then… thank you, Lu Gongzi*.”

Helan Jian’s puzzled gaze swept over the two of them.

Lu Wuyou flicked his sleeve, seemingly intending to return to the entrance, but just as he was about to turn, he seemed to remember something and said with a smirk, “—How do you know I didn’t keep my promise that day?”

Helan Ci: “……？？？”

The onlooker Helan Jian: “？”

Helan Jian: “How do I respond to this? Is it something brother can’t know?”

Helan Ci’s contemplation was interrupted by him: “… Yes, that’s right.”

Helan Jian: “??”

He came to his senses and saw Helan Ci still on the roof, quickly calling out, “Xiao Ci! Hurry down! What are you doing on the roof? Is it dangerous? If there’s anything, just let me handle it…”

Helan Ci, feeling helpless and afraid of being yelled at again, could only hold onto the ladder and come down.

At that moment, Lin Zhang had already stepped out of her father’s study, his gaze downcast, looking quite desolate.

However, after the earlier interruption, Helan Ci had lost her previous emotions.

Instead, Lin Zhang walked out with heavy steps, looking lost and disheartened.

The news from the Censorate was well-informed, and Helan Jin had already learned the details. When Lin Zhang arrived, he said nothing, only waved his hand and sighed, “I already know everything, I just lament that you and my daughter are not fated to be together.”

The second miss of the Marquise of Kangning was different from the shizi of the Cao Kingdom; as long as the Xunyang Gongzhu remains in power for a day, he cannot be impeached, and in the end, it is the other who suffer.

Lin Zhang bowed deeply.

As he reached the door, he forced a smile at Lu Wuyou and said, “Thank you, Ji’an, for accompanying me on this trip. Coming alone at this time might tarnish Miss Helan’s reputation.”

Lu Wuyou thought of saying something like “What does a man have to fear without a wife?” because he truly believed that marrying one person over another made no difference. What bothered him was being schemed against, but seeing Lin Zhang like this, he knew it was inappropriate to say such things, so he kept quiet.

After walking a few steps, he casually asked, “May I ask a rather bold question, my foolish brother?”

Lin Zhang was taken aback for a moment before he forced a smile and replied, “Feel free to ask, Ji’an.”

“What is it that Shao Yan admires about Miss Helan?”

Lin Zhang never imagined he would be asked this.

He was momentarily stunned, as if the scene of first meeting Helan Ci floated before his eyes. Words like “stunning beauty” hardly did justice; it was simply breathtaking. How could there be such a woman in this world? Even in dreams, one couldn’t capture her likeness.

At first, he was captivated by her beauty, but later he discovered that she was well-read and polite, with a gentle disposition, completely devoid of any vulgarity, almost like a celestial being. It was hard not to feel a deep admiration.

However, it is inappropriate to comment on a woman’s appearance, so Lin Zhang omitted the first part.

As Lu Wuyou listened to Lin Zhang’s increasingly sorrowful description, he couldn’t help but think of the Helan Ci he knew, falling silent for a moment.

When she was repairing the roof, she was indeed quite extraordinary.

1. 公子 / gongzi/ master, young master, sir.

T/N: Thanks for reading!

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