Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Chapter 182 Compromise

Xia Lanyue sat in Wang Xiang's courtyard, counting the birds flying in the sky.

She doesn't remember how many times she's counted sevens, eights, nines, or tens, but she feels like she could never finish counting them all.

Time passed day after day.

Finally, Wang Xiang arrived on the second night.

Xia Lanyue grabbed Wang Xiang, who had rushed over, and asked anxiously, "Have you heard anything about them?"

Wang Xiang looked at Xia Lanyue with a complicated expression, hesitating to speak.

Xia Lanyue had a bad feeling. She wanted to ask, but she didn't have the courage to speak. Tears slid down her cheeks first.

Seeing this, Wang Xiang quickly comforted her, "Miss Dai, don't worry, they should be alright."

"Should?!" Xia Lanyue sensed something was off in his words. "Why 'should'? So you haven't heard from them either, right?"

Wang Xiang nodded, avoiding Xia Lanyue's gaze, "We were supposed to meet at the designated place at midnight today, but they didn't come. We've been waiting all day, and we still haven't seen them."

After saying this, Wang Xiang, fearing that Xia Lanyue would worry, quickly added, "But don't worry, maybe they're unfamiliar with the roads and got delayed. No news might be good news."

Xia Lanyue wiped away her tears, not wanting Wang Xiang to worry anymore.

“However, Miss Dai, there is something I would like to discuss with you,” Wang Xiang said hesitantly.

"Please speak."

Wang Xiang glanced at Abei, then turned to Abei and said, "Abei, go and help me clean up the firewood in the kitchen."

Abei responded and went into the kitchen.

Wang Xiang turned to Xia Lanyue and said, "Miss Dai, if—and I mean if—they are arrested and identified as accomplices, could you please ask Miss Dai to intercede on their behalf?"

Xia Lanyue understood Wang Xiang's meaning; he hoped she would plead with Xia Yao on Jiang Di's behalf. If Jiang Di's arrest was indeed related to Xia Yao, she would have no choice but to step in and resolve the matter. "Of course," she said.

Wang Xiang nodded. "We don't have any news about them right now. Normally, if someone were to break into a prison, it would cause quite a stir, but we haven't heard anything from Chief Zhao either. Everything is too calm, which is why I'm a little worried that they might have failed."

After listening to Wang Xiang's analysis, Xia Lanyue's heart clenched. "No way? Weren't they supposed to be very powerful?"

"I'm afraid we'll be outnumbered," Wang Xiang said.

"If they are also arrested, it will take two days for the news to reach us. Should we wait a little longer?" Xia Lanyue was at a loss for what to do.

“I’m not worried about that. I’m just afraid that they might clash with the magistrate’s men on the way, fight back, get hurt, or be secretly executed. That would be troublesome,” Wang Xiang said.

Xia Lanyue hadn't thought about these things before, but now that Wang Xiang was mentioning them, she panicked.

"Miss Dai, is there some conflict between you and Xia Yao?" Wang Xiang suddenly changed the subject, cautiously probing.

Xia Lanyue bit her lip and stammered, "I..."

“I overheard your conversation with Brother Dai that day and sensed that you two had some disagreements. But you and Xia Yao are about to become husband and wife, so even if there are conflicts, they can be resolved. Continuing to stalemate is not a solution. If you are willing to put aside your pride and speak kindly to Xia Yao, he will naturally reconcile with you. Then, you can speak up for Jiang Di, and things will become much easier. Why put Brother Dai in danger? I think you are a smart woman and can weigh the pros and cons clearly,” Wang Xiang said.

Xia Lanyue understood Wang Xiang's words and thought they made sense. However, this would definitely anger Dai You, and all of Dai You's efforts over the past few days would be wasted.

"Miss Dai, do you have any other concerns? Could you please tell me so I can offer some advice?" Wang Xiang asked when Xia Lanyue remained silent for a while.

Xia Lanyue shook her head, and at the same time made a decision in her heart. She was determined to find Xia Yao as soon as possible. "It's nothing, but did Dai You tell me anything before he left?"

Wang Xiang shook her head, then nodded, "Oh, she said to take good care of the girl."

Xia Lanyue smiled and said, "I understand. I'll go out for a bit."

As night fell, the townspeople gradually went to bed.

The lights in Xia Yao's house were on.

Xia Yao sat at the table, reading a book and drinking tea, looking very relaxed.

Beside him was Madam Zhen.

"Miss Zhen, you should go back now," Xia Yao said, putting down his book.

Madam Zhen was taken aback, looked up at him, and hesitated to speak.

Just then, a voice rang out from the courtyard, "Is Xia Yao home?"

That voice belongs to Xia Lanyue.

Xia Yao glanced at Zhen Shi, got up and went to the courtyard, leaving Zhen Shi alone in the house.

Xia Lanyue stood in the courtyard facing Xia Yao.

Thinking about what Xia Yao had done to Jiang Di, Xia Lanyue was still angry. She hesitated, wondering how to bring it up.

Xia Yao waited for a moment, and seeing that Xia Lanyue did not speak, he sent her away first, "If there's nothing else, go back."

After saying that, Xia Yao turned around and was about to go back into the house.

"I..." Xia Lanyue quickly interrupted, knowing that the matter had to be resolved today. "Something has come up."

Xia Yao knew perfectly well why she had come. He stopped and waited for her to continue.

Just then, with a "creak," the door to the main house was opened, and Madam Zhen walked out with a puzzled look on her face.

Xia Lanyue was stunned. She didn't expect that Madam Zhen would be here. When she saw her walk out of the house, she felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

"Sister, you've come," Zhen said with a smile as she jogged over to Xia Lanyue.

Zhen's enthusiastic demeanor was completely different from what Xia Lanyue had seen before, and she even felt that she was the mistress of the house.

Xia Lanyue's heart clenched painfully, and her mind seemed unable to process anything. She unconsciously uttered, "What are you doing here?"

As soon as she said that, Xia Lanyue regretted it; she felt she shouldn't have asked.

"I'll leave right away, sister, don't be angry," Zhen said, and then walked out.

“Sigh,” Xia Lanyue called out to Zhen Shi, she no longer wanted to interfere in these matters, “That’s not what I meant.”

Madam Zhen actually stopped in her tracks. "Then it's good that you're not angry, sister."

"Heh," Xia Lanyue forced a forced smile. She felt she had no right to be angry. "You're overthinking it."

Xia Yao listened to their conversation without saying a word, and then walked into the house.

Seeing Xia Yao leave, Xia Lanyue immediately came to her senses. Her purpose in coming here was to save people; she didn't have time to waste on these trivial matters! Besides, she had already decided to break up with Xia Yao, so why should she care about these things?!

Xia Lanyue followed Xia Yao into the house, walked up to Xia Yao who was sitting in a chair reading a book, and composed herself. "Xia Yao, I've come today to ask you for a favor."

Xia Yao put down the book in his hand, looked up at Xia Lanyue, but did not reply.

Ignoring all that, Xia Lanyue continued, "I think you've guessed it, I hope you can save Jiang Di."

Xia Yao remained calm, as if listening to someone else's story, which left Xia Lanyue unsure how to continue.

Xia Yao lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and then asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Seeing that Xia Yao was paying attention to her, Xia Lanyue felt that there was a turning point and was overjoyed. "I hope you can plead with Village Chief Zhao or the county magistrate to release them." Xia Lanyue knew that things were not that simple, so she added, "Of course, if money is needed to smooth things over, we can provide it. We will pay for it."

Xia Yao sneered, "You guys over there?!"

Xia Lanyue realized her wording was inappropriate and quickly explained, "I meant Jiang Di and the others."

Xia Yao put down his book, stood up, and looked down at Xia Lanyue. "Why should I help him?"

Xia Lanyue knew Xia Yao would ask this question. She glanced outside the door and didn't see Zhen Shi. "I owe you this favor. We come from the same place, so consider it helping a fellow villager. I will definitely repay you in the future."

Xia Yao sighed, "What... will you use to repay me?"

Xia Lanyue was intimidated by Xia Yao's imposing aura and took a half step back. Then she lowered her head and said, "Um... I can give you money. You know I don't have much."

“You know what I want,” Xia Yao said.

Xia Lanyue was taken aback, and looked up at Xia Yao. She seemed to know, yet also seemed not to know, "What do you want?"

Xia Yao pursed his lips and said, "Kiss me!"

Xia Lanyue was taken aback again. Xia Yao's request was beyond her expectations, but Xia Yao's tone carried an assertive force that left her no room for refusal.