CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 201 EXTRA: LIKE WILLOW CATKINS STIRRED BY THE WIND (PART 3)

"Scoundrel, how dare you covet the daughter of our Lan Family? Truly a thankless wretch! My father brought you into the residence and painstakingly nurtured you, only to find you’re a little wolf, harboring malicious intents!"

With these words of rebuke, even a fool could understand the implied meaning.

Lan Xianya immediately knelt down to plead.

"Father, elder brother has misunderstood. This has never happened, why wrongly accuse Mr. Lou of such things!"

Her words were earnest, yet such a demeanor made Lan University Scholar even more furious.

"Humph, shameless creature, even your personal handkerchief ended up in his arms. Do you mean to say I falsely accused you?"

And so, the handkerchief sent out by some trick of fate was thrown to the ground by Lan University Scholar.

Just like Lan Xianya’s dignity and feelings, now fully exposed to the daylight.

She immediately wanted to burrow underground from embarrassment.

Then, bowing deeply, she sobbed and could say no more.

Lou Bin, upon witnessing this, felt his vague feelings suddenly become intense and deep.

Regardless of the foot still pressed on his face by Mr. Lan, he resolutely declared.

"Mr. Lan, with my ability, give me three years, and I will certainly secure a great position in court, and then gloriously let Miss Lan..."

Unfortunately, before he could finish, the pressure suddenly increased.

"Gloriously? How can a lowly commoner like you bring glory to my sister? In half a month, it will be the day my sister enters the palace for selection. If this scandal leaks out, it won’t just affect her, but our whole Lan Family too."

"Selection?"

Lou Bin was suddenly bewildered.

He had never known such a thing, nor did he imagine Miss Lan would be destined for the harem.

Thinking about it, in his mind he recalled only two occasions when he met her, hardly exchanging more than a few words.

How did he let a mere handkerchief lead him to such wild imaginings?

Suddenly, he felt lost.

Lan Xianya, amidst her tears, was overtaken by shame and self-reproach.

Since childhood, she had been taught to live for the family.

Now, with this incident at hand, just as her brother said, it would indeed implicate the entire Lan lineage.

She thought of Lou Bin with only a small sense of longing.

If such faint feelings were to ruin the Lan Family, she could never rest in peace, even in death, and would face the shame of seeing Lan ancestors.

So she gritted her teeth and firmly declared.

"The handkerchief was lost a few days ago. Unbeknownst to me, it must have fallen into Mr. Lou’s possession before being returned. Father, please calm your anger, elder brother, please calm down."

As she spoke, the two Lan men exchanged a glance.

They did not want the matter to escalate, or let outsiders take advantage of it.

If so, the Lan Family’s future would be at risk.

Lan University Scholar then cast a complex and dark gaze at his kneeling daughter, took a deep breath, and asked Lou Bin.

"Is this the truth?"

Lou Bin let out a bitter laugh, thinking it was the affection of a fair maiden leading to promise.

Yet it turned out to be a mere illusion, a plaything in others’ hands.

What else could he say?

So he muttered.

"Miss Lan speaks the truth."

With that, the foot on his face finally lifted.

He was subsequently pulled up by his collar and sternly warned.

"Since it’s a misunderstanding, Mr. Lou should go and recuperate. It seems this spring examination is beyond us, wait for another time."

Surprise, resentment, hatred, and unwillingness.

These emotions rose up in waves.

Clearly, the handkerchief giver was from the Lan Family, yet he was the one driven away.

Facing the captivating image he once could hardly part with, he said decisively, word by word.

"I wish Miss Lan remains true to her heart and achieves her wishes!"

Lan Xianya heard this and trembled, knowing her momentary indecision had delayed someone else’s future.

Though feeling deeply indebted, she dared not entertain other thoughts.

After Mr. Lan escorted him out of the study, only Lan University Scholar and Lan Xianya remained.

After a brief silence, Lan University Scholar asked.

"Xianya, tell me truthfully, have you indeed fallen for Lou Bin?"

Lan Xianya clenched her teeth tightly, showing no slack.

"Father knows best, I am solely focused on the selection, not daring to have other thoughts. For the honor of the Lan Family, I am determined to secure a place in the harem."

Lan University Scholar stared at her back, as if he wanted to burn a hole through it.

Until Lan Xianya felt her legs grow numb and a chilling cold spread throughout her body, she finally heard her father’s voice, both distant and near, saying.

"It’s best that you think this way. The Lan Family’s journey to this day has not been easy; do not let these worthless thoughts harm the entire clan, understand?"

"I understand, Father."

As for how she hazily returned to her own courtyard afterward, Lan Xianya could no longer recall.

She only knew that night until dawn, she did not sleep at all.

Under the full moon, one experiences longing, surrounded by melancholy.

That she had such a fleeting infatuation with Lou Bin should never have led to so much trouble.

Acknowledging it was her fault.

Yet now, even if she wanted to make amends, she could find no appropriate opportunity.

Unbeknownst to her, Lou Bin was driven out of Shengjing City by Mr. Lan that very night.

Injured and lacking funds.

If not for a kind-hearted farmer taking him in, nursing him for several days, he might have already died by the roadside.

Once healed, he thought of returning to his hometown.

Profusely thanking the farmer’s family, he departed along the road he came.

Meanwhile, the decree for the selection in March was issued.

After more than half a month of selection, Lan Xianya indeed lived up to expectations, leaving her mark.

She became the Noble Consort of Yong’an Palace.

When the Lan Family received the imperial edict, everyone shared in the honor.

The night before Lan Xianya entered the palace, Lady Lan spoke many private words with her.

Though not explicitly stated, Lan Xianya understood they hoped she would leave the past behind and wholeheartedly serve the Emperor, extending the glory of the Lan Family.

The moon waxes and wanes; people experience joys and sorrows.

The next day, after her makeup was done, the daughter of the Lan Family was taken into the palace.

Thereafter becoming the mistress of Yong’an Palace, Noble Consort.

Occasionally, seeing the full moon again or hearing some news related to Jiangnan.

She would show a momentary sorrow.

But as her days in the palace increased, these memories gradually faded.

Becoming mere past recollections, no longer noteworthy.

However, she did not know.

On the second day of her palace entry, a scholar surnamed Lou encountered bandits on his way home.

He died tragically, with not even a complete corpse left.

Shortly thereafter, his remaining elderly parents passed away as well.

The phrase about encountering one during the season of falling flowers ultimately turned into an empty memory.