Feudal Dregs - Chapter 28

Once the words left his mouth, Lan Yu wasn't sure if they were meant for Li Ming'an or himself. He suddenly felt disheartened and said, "Let's go."

Li Ming'an responded stiffly and followed Lan Yu.

Gradually, rain began to drizzle again. Li Ming'an held the oil-paper package in one hand and opened an umbrella with the other, tilting it toward Lan Yu. The two drew closer together.

Li Ming'an's heart pounded like a drum.

Standing so near, he faintly caught the scent on Lan Yu—subtle, crisp, and unlike any common fragrance.

In a daze, Li Ming'an asked, "What incense do you wear?"

Lan Yu replied, "I don't wear any."

Li Ming'an sniffed again, certain now that Lan Yu carried a fragrance, though he couldn't place its origin. His face grew inexplicably warm, his heart swaying unsteadily like a leaf caught in the wind. Pedestrians hurried past, but the two of them moved at a leisurely pace, as if strolling through the rain with deliberate grace.

Sweat dampened Li Ming'an's palm where he gripped the umbrella handle. Staring at the cracked stone pavement beneath his feet, he finally broke the silence: "What would Ninth Concubine choose?"

Lan Yu paused. "Hm?"

A beat later, realizing the question, Lan Yu turned to Li Ming'an with a faint smile. "What do you think?"

After a moment's thought, Li Ming'an said, "I don't know. I only know you're neither a caged bird nor one bred for luxury. You're Lan Yu."

Lan Yu blinked, meeting the boy's earnest gaze before replying solemnly, "An American once said, 'Give me liberty or give me death.' In essence—freedom or nothing."

"If it were me," Li Ming'an declared, "I wouldn't fear storms or thorns outside. I refuse to live my life as a caged bird. A true man must make his mark—for his country and his people—or his existence is wasted."

Youthful idealism burned bright in his words, eyes alight with fervor. Watching him, Lan Yu recalled their first meeting—Li Ming'an standing in the bustling street, radiant as the sun, drawing crowds effortlessly. The memory stung unexpectedly. Lan Yu had spent over twenty years in brothels, surrounded by flattery and reckless indulgence, yet he'd never encountered such untarnished brightness—as if this was how humans were meant to be.

Lan Yu's lips curled mockingly. "Naïve."

"Third Young Master," he said, watching raindrops sink into the mud, ripples spreading outward, "your eldest brother sustains the Li family through shrewd business. Even your second brother, Li Yuqing, maneuvers politics with cunning—one day, he may wield immense influence. And you?"

His voice turned icy. "The only reason you can stand here spouting ideals is because the Li family shields you from hardship. But if you ever face true desperation—struggling to survive, unable to protect even yourself—what then becomes of your grand ambitions?"

Li Ming'an paled, stunned into silence. Seeing the boy's stricken expression, Lan Yu frowned, regretting his harshness. He was just a child, after all—why bother arguing?

Lan Yu sighed softly and said, "I spoke out of turn."

He continued, "Some are born into wealth and privilege—these things naturally belong to you, unlike ordinary folk."

Having said that, he paid no further attention to Li Ming'an and strode forward.

Li Ming'an watched his slender figure recede into the distance. Perhaps it was the dim twilight or the rain, but something about Lan Yu's silhouette struck him as desolate. Without much thought, he quickened his pace to catch up, holding up the umbrella to shield them from the wind and rain. Just as Li Ming'an was about to speak, gunshots rang out in the distance, followed by the thunderous approach of horses. His expression darkened instantly. The two exchanged glances before Li Ming'an grabbed Lan Yu's hand and hurriedly pulled him into a narrow alley. Lan Yu stumbled a couple of steps before following him into the shelter of the lane.

The townsfolk nearby seemed to have heard the alarming commotion as well—doors slammed shut, and even the barking of dogs grew faint.

Hidden in the shadows, Lan Yu found himself pressed against the slightly frail chest of the young man, his heart pounding rapidly, each beat faster than the last. Lan Yu looked up at Li Ming'an, whose jaw was clenched tight, his entire body tense with nervousness. Sensing Lan Yu's gaze, Li Ming'an lowered his eyes. Their gazes met briefly before Li Ming'an averted his, murmuring, "Don't be afraid. The Zhili and Anhui warlords have been fighting these past few days—it should be over soon."

Lan Yu gave a quiet acknowledgment.

Listening to the approaching hoofbeats, Li Ming'an added, "Once they pass, we'll go home."

The sound of horses drew nearer—a disciplined cavalry trotted by, followed by a long column of soldiers in military boots, all armed and riding high in their saddles. Their passage through the rain carried an air of grim severity.

Lan Yu whispered, "Beijing is about to see another upheaval."

Li Ming'an frowned deeply. Over the years, the city had been a stage for endless power struggles—no sooner did one faction fall than another rose. Yet no matter who held power, life for the common people only grew harder, with no glimpse of hope in sight.

"These warlords are all cut from the same cloth—just dogs fighting dogs," Li Ming'an muttered.

They kept their voices low until the lengthy procession had passed. Only then did Li Ming'an realize he was still gripping Lan Yu's arm. He froze, unsure why he hadn't let go. Lan Yu, too, noticed the tight hold and regarded him with amusement. "Still not letting go?" he teased.

Li Ming'an: "...Oh."

His cheeks burned as he abruptly released his grip. His glasses had fogged up, blurring his vision. Flustered, he took them off and wiped them hastily on his clothes. But with the umbrella in one hand and an oil-paper package in the other, his movements were clumsy. In his panic, he fumbled the glasses as he tried to put them back on, and they fell to the ground.

Lan Yu couldn't help but laugh at his flustered state.

The laughter only made Li Ming'an more self-conscious. He crouched down to retrieve his glasses, but in the darkness, with puddles on the ground and Lan Yu watching, the young master grew increasingly awkward and frantic, unable to find them.

Watching him struggle, Lan Yu bent down slowly, picked up the glasses from the muddy puddle, and carefully wiped them clean with a handkerchief. Li Ming'an's vision was still hazy, but he could just make out Lan Yu's movements. "...Thank you," he mumbled.

Lan Yu asked casually, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

Li Ming'an answered honestly, "Born with it. My eyes have always been weak, and over time, they've gotten worse."

He said a little sheepishly, "Without my glasses, I'm half blind."

Lan Yu wiped them but found the lens was already cracked. "The right side is broken," he said.

Li Ming'an quickly replied, "It's alright, I have two more pairs at home."

Lan Yu chuckled and teased, "Little blind man."

Li Ming'an wasn't annoyed; instead, he felt embarrassed by the overly affectionate nickname. He pursed his lips into a smile and said, "When I was little, they called me that too."

Lan Yu: "Oh?"

Li Ming'an continued, "The kids at school, they all made fun of me."

Lan Yu glanced at him. "And then?"

Li Ming'an said, "I didn't dare tell my eldest brother, so I went to my second brother to complain. But Second Brother just took off my glasses and threw them into the pond. I got so mad that I ended up fighting him."

Lan Yu smiled faintly. "How could you ever be a match for Li Yuqing?"

Li Ming'an pouted unhappily. "Second Brother is just a few years older than me. If I were his age, I might not lose to him. But after that, whenever anyone at school mocked me for being blind, I fought back."

Lan Yu nodded with a smile. "The kind are bullied by the cruel. Always yielding is no good strategy."

As he spoke, he reached out and placed the glasses back on Li Ming'an's nose, saying slowly, "Third Young Master, though you were born into the Li family, no matter how illustrious the Li name is, if you can't stand on your own like your eldest and second brothers, you'll always just be the Li family's third son, relying on their wealth and glory."

Li Ming'an stared blankly at Lan Yu, who had already straightened up. "Let's go back," he said.

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