Over time, Lian Yan had grown familiar with the various sights and sounds that filled the Pavilion. The occasional presence of guards no longer unsettled her, as her new makeup effectively concealed her true identity, allowing her to blend seamlessly into the background. Just as Jian Wei had predicted, her father never considered searching for her in such an unlikely place.
Once again, she found herself seated across from Jian Wei, engrossed in a detailed discussion about their plans. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the lanterns casting long shadows on the walls. "Why not prioritize finding your uncles?" she inquired, her arms crossed over her chest as she fixed him with a steady gaze. The fabric of her hanfu rustled softly as she shifted in her seat. "It seems wise to locate your uncles before we proceed with anything else. Don't they deserve the opportunity to participate?" Lian Yan was genuinely perplexed by Jian Wei's hesitation to seek out his uncles before moving forward with their plans. She believed that family should be at the forefront of their efforts, especially when it came to seeking justice.
Jian Wei mirrored her posture, crossing his arms as a noticeable tension filled the space between them. The air seemed to thicken, making it almost difficult to breathe. "Where do you propose I begin my search for them?" he countered, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of frustration. The flickering light of the lanterns danced in his eyes, reflecting the turmoil within him.
"First, I'd like to understand why you didn't want to find them sooner," Lian Yan pressed, her voice gentle yet firm. "What's the reasoning behind that?" It appeared as though the two were engaged in a silent standoff, each waiting for the other to relent. The minutes stretched on, the silence between them growing heavier with each passing moment.
A profound silence enveloped the room, interrupted only by the sound of their breathing. The distant hum of activity from the rest of the Pavilion seemed to fade away, leaving them in a bubble of quiet contemplation. Jian Wei seemed to be grappling with his thoughts, his expression inscrutable. The lines on his forehead deepened as he stared at the floor, lost in his musings.
"I need more time to consider this," he eventually muttered, rising from his seat with a sense of finality. The wooden chair creaked slightly as he pushed it back, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. He left the room they had been in, leaving Lian Yan alone with her thoughts. She noted with a touch of frustration that it wasn't even his room, a fact that added to her growing sense of unease.
Left alone, the weight of their unresolved conversation bore down on her like a heavy cloak. The room felt emptier without Jian Wei's presence, the absence of his energy leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill. After a moment, she stood and made her way out of the main part of the building, her footsteps echoing softly on the wooden floor. She sought refuge in the quieter areas at the back, where the noise of the Pavilion faded into a distant murmur.
It was there that she heard the distinct sound of coughing, a raspy, wet sound that cut through the silence like a knife. "Who's coughing?" she wondered aloud, her brow furrowing in concern. The sound seemed to come from a secluded part of the building, a place where few people ventured.
Following the sound, she was drawn to an isolated room with its window and door slightly ajar. The faint light of the setting sun filtered through the open window, casting a warm glow on the scene before her. Peering inside, she saw an elderly man sitting in bed, his body wracked with coughs. His frail form was barely visible beneath the thin blanket that covered him, and his face was etched with lines of pain and suffering.
Their eyes met, and after a brief pause, Lian Yan stepped fully into the room, her heart aching at the sight before her. Her gaze fell upon a table set with dishes, their contents still warm and inviting. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, a stark contrast to the otherwise somber atmosphere. A simple meal of egg porridge had been prepared, clearly intended for the old man, its steam rising gently into the air.
Taking the bowl in hand, she approached the bed and offered him a gentle smile, her eyes filled with compassion and warmth. "Hello, my name is Lian Yan," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm a new servant here. It seems your food has been waiting for a while, but fortunately, it's still warm. It's best to eat it while it's hot." She blew on a spoonful of porridge, the steam swirling in the air before dissipating. Taking a small bite herself, she was reassured by its wholesome taste, the flavors simple yet comforting.
The elderly man regarded her with an inscrutable expression, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity. He accepted the food without hesitation, his trembling hands reaching out to take the spoon from her. "Who in their right mind would leave someone like you in a place like this?" he remarked, his voice tinged with concern for her well-being. "I'll have to speak to Jian Wei about this," he added, a hint of determination in his tone.
As Lian Yan finished feeding the elderly man, Jian Wei entered the room, his expression tense and his eyes filled with a mix of concern and irritation. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his tone sharp and accusatory. The suddenness of his appearance seemed to fill the room with a renewed sense of tension, the air thickening once again.
Lian Yan turned to face him, her expression a mix of confusion and defiance. The bowl of porridge trembled slightly in her hands, the liquid inside sloshing gently against the sides. "I was feeding him," she explained, her voice steady and calm. "He's clearly still unwell and needs assistance. I didn't see anyone else in the room, and I wasn't about to let him struggle out of bed in his condition." She gently wiped the elderly man's mouth with a cloth, her touch tender and caring, a stark contrast to the tension that filled the air.
The elderly man, frail and weak, sat propped up in the bed, his gaze shifting between Lian Yan and Jian Wei as if awaiting an explanation. His breathing was labored, each breath a struggle, and his eyes were filled with a mixture of pain and resignation. The air in the room was thick with unspoken words, the silence heavy and expectant, as if the very walls were holding their breath.
Jian Wei let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he relinquished his tense posture. The lines on his forehead softened, and his eyes seemed to lose some of their hardness. "This is my father, Jian Bo," he revealed, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the words were too heavy to carry. The revelation hung in the air, a palpable shift in the dynamic of the room, as Lian Yan grappled with this newfound knowledge.
Lian Yan paused, her eyes widening as she looked from the elderly man to Jian Wei and back again. This was certainly information that should have been shared with her earlier, she thought to herself, her mind racing with a myriad of questions and emotions. She had been under the impression that the infamous mountain bandit, Jian Bo, had met his end, but here he was, alive albeit injured and frail. The revelation seemed to cast a new light on everything, and she struggled to reconcile the man before her with the stories she had heard.
She managed to compose herself, her expression softening as she turned her attention back to Jian Bo. "Have some rest for today," she said gently, her voice filled with a warmth and kindness that seemed to fill the room. "Tomorrow I can help you take a little walk. Walking is always good for building your muscles." Her optimism was evident in her bright demeanor, a beacon of hope in the otherwise somber atmosphere. She moved with a grace and elegance that seemed to bring a sense of calm and tranquility to the room, her every action a testament to her compassion and care.
Jian Bo smiled at her, his eyes filled with gratitude and appreciation. He allowed her to assist him, his frail form sinking back into the bed as she laid him down to rest. The thin blanket rustled softly as she covered him up, tucking it gently around his shoulders. The simple act seemed to bring a sense of comfort and peace to the old man, his breathing steadying slightly as he closed his eyes. She placed the finished bowl on the table, the clink of the porcelain echoing softly in the room, a gentle reminder of the care and attention she had provided.
Meanwhile, Jian Wei waited outside for Lian Yan, his arms crossed and his expression inscrutable. He leaned against one of the pillars, his gaze fixed on the door as he waited for her to emerge. The minutes stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity, as he grappled with his thoughts and emotions. The weight of the revelation seemed to bear down on him, and he struggled to find the words to express the turmoil within him.
"I'm guessing you want answers," Jian Wei said, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of resignation. The words seemed to hang in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the complexity of the situation and the need for understanding and clarity. As Lian Yan exited the room, her expression was obviously curiosity.