Chapter 12: Saving a Life
Proofread by Yin Jing
Liyi notices that Yan Ling stays in her room reading the whole day. She always feels that Lady Ling has something to worry about these days.
"Let's go for a walk, my lady." Liyi holds up her chin and says with concern.
Hearing that, Yan Ling puts down her book and stretches herself. She stands up and moves her neck, feeling some pain in her eyes. Although, Ling wants to read more books during this period, she cannot be hasty.
"Why, you are bored for accompanying me all the time?" Yan Ling looks at Liyi and smiles.
"How could I?" Liyi explains in a hurry, "I'm afraid that you will be will bored for reading all day."
"Tell me, then, what's worth seeing recently." Yan Ling asks casually.
"Of course! There have been some changes recently. The city is very bustling." Liyi says expectantly.
"Really? I'd like to have a look then. Go, call Nan Yan up and go out with us." Yan Ling makes a decision.
Late in the afternoon, beside the lotus dock.
"That's what you mean by bustling and exciting? I don't see anything interesting." Yan Ling looks at Liyi and asks strangely.
Liyi is still very excited, and happily recommends to Yan Ling, "This is the annual Lotus Lantern Festival, my Lady. Although it has not officially started, there are a lot of people these days. Take a closer look. Isn't it a bit festive?"
Yan Ling taps Liyi's forehead gently with the folding fan in her hand, then looks around again, and feels somewhat relieved when she finds that no one notices them.
"I told you not to call me "lady". Why can't you remember?" Ling says in a low voice that only they two could hear.
"My... young master, I didn't mean to. I'm just not accustomed to that."
Liyi covers her head with a little grievance. She quickly changes the sentence "my lady" to "young master" when she noticed Yan Ling lifting the folding fan again.
Nan Yan just stands quietly like a wooden man. That a lady and her maid playing with each other ignoring their identities doesn't move him at all. According to Liyi, this boy is a living shadow.
"Well, it really looks good, especially the lake, which is dotted with lanterns everywhere. It will be more spectacular at night." Yan Ling nods.
"Young Master..." Liyi hesitates a little and finally dissuades: "That's right, but we… It's inconvenient to go out. We need to go home before evening."
Yan Ling taps on Liyi's head again, and then continues to say: "You look smart usually. Why do you become a little foolish now?"
Finishing this, Yan Ling ignores the two people behind her, and walks forward alone. In her previous life, she had never come out and walked freely like this. Now that she wants to live for herself, of course she needs to have fun.
Liyi covers her head and looks at the back of Lady Ling. She always thinks that something is different about her lady. However, Liyi doesn't continue to think about it, because she doesn't understand what Ling means.
On the other side, Nan Yan sees that Yan Ling has gone, so he follows her subconsciously. Then he notices that the person beside him is still standing in the original place.
"You are wearing man's clothes now." Nan Yan says when he finds out that Liyi is still confused, and then leaves.
Hearing this, Liyi suddenly realizes why Lady Ling told her to change men's clothes too before going out.
It's not suitable for two girls to wander in the street at night, but it doesn't matter if they are men.
"My... Young Master, did you plan to go back until evening in the beginning?" After a while, Liyi finally catches up with them and asks curiously.
"I've heard that the night market in the capital is very exciting. I haven't had a chance to see it for such a long time. I can't miss it today." Yan Ling is obviously in a good mood, and says with a smile on her face.
Night market, as the name suggests, doesn't begin until evening. Although it's at dusk now, they have to wait a few hours before the night market begins.
Of course they won't waste these hours, waiting for nothing. So they wander around in the street.
The capital is indeed the most bustling place. Even they who grow up here see many things in the market that they have never seen before. Even Yan Ling is excited and buys a lot of things with Liyi.
"Are you almost finished, my Lady? At this time, the night market is about to start." At the end of the day, seeing the two who haven't enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content, Nan Yan couldn't help but remind them.
Liyi is a little surprised. Nan Yan is just following them all the way, walking silently. Liyi almost forgets this person. Now, why does he suddenly say this?
Yan Ling seems to have the same doubts, but she understands as soon as she turns her head and looks at him. They bought a lot of things which are carried by Nan Yan.
Yan Ling and Liyi are a little embarrassed to see that a teenager boy is carrying all the things for them. Liyi hurries forward and offers to help Nan Yan.
The place where they stand is not far from the roadside. The road, which is not wide itself, now gets crowded with all the people coming and going. Suddenly, they hear a horse neighing.
Subconsciously looking back, they see a carriage coming at a gallop. In the middle of the road not far ahead, a little girl does not realize the danger. She is bending to pick up the candied haws on the ground.
"Look out!" In a hurry, Yan Ling blurts out subconsciously.
However, Nan Yan is unexpectedly quick in action. In the next second, he stuffs all the things into Liyi's hand, and rushes out.
"Nan Yan!" Liyi is surprised, and shouts at him.
However, Nan Yan and the little girl disappeared from the road in a splitting second.
"Hurry! Let's go have a look." Yan Ling is a bit startled. The carriage has stopped. Yan Ling quickly takes Liyi's hand and walks towards the opposite side.
On the other side of the road, Nan Yan squats on the ground, and it seems that the little girl is still confused about what just happened and only begins to cry when seeing someone running across the street.
Yan Ling sees no one is harmed and takes a sigh of relief. She looks at Nan Yan, asking in a worried tone, "Are you ok?"