CXD - 35

After Jiang Zhiyi softly spoke, she slowly released his collar, holding her breath as if trying to hide her mischievous act. A delayed surge of heat rushed over her like a fierce wave, her cheeks burning hot. Not only was it hot, but an inexplicable restlessness stirred within her, making her suddenly yearn for the cool embrace of the cold wind.

Jiang Zhiyi breathed in small, controlled breaths, attempting to quell this agitation. She felt as though the silence around her was so profound that only her own presence remained. Cautiously turning her head slightly, she stole a glance—

Yuan Ce still hadn’t moved from his leaning position, his hand braced on the edge of the bed clenched into a fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand. His eyes were fixed on the canopy behind her, as if he intended to bore a hole through it with his gaze.

Suddenly, a faint crackling sound of sparks bursting from the charcoal brazier echoed like thunder in their ears. Yuan Ce abruptly stood up and swiftly retreated two steps away.

In just those two steps, he had already distanced himself a full zhang away from her bed.

…Could it be that she had angered him by kissing him?

Princess Baojia’s pouch clearly stated that the word “lust” carried a blade, and the word “patience” also bore one. No normal man could withstand both blades simultaneously. If she kissed him, he would surely return the favor.

Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyes to see him still appearing lost in thought, seemingly staring at something behind her. Hesitantly, she propped herself up on her elbows and parted her lips.

Yuan Ce’s eyelashes flickered as her lips parted, but he took another half-step back, turned sharply, and hurriedly walked towards the door. Pushing open the tent flap, he nearly collided with Gu Yu, who had just returned with water.

“Where is General Shen going? Has the princess finished applying the medicine already?” Gu Yu asked in confusion, glancing inside.

Yuan Ce froze in place.

“...No, not yet!” Jiang Zhiyi answered Gu Yu, but her voice reached out to the retreating figure.

“And I don’t know how to apply the ointment…” Gu Yu looked at Yuan Ce, who seemed intent on leaving again. “The person who hurt the princess hasn’t been caught yet. If General Shen leaves now, it might…”

Yuan Ce closed his eyes, enduring the biting cold wind for a moment before exhaling deeply. He turned around and walked back into the tent.

Jiang Zhiyi winked at Gu Yu to express her approval, her gaze following Yuan Ce as he moved deeper inside. Just as she curved her lips to speak, she noticed he had now turned his back to her, sitting at the foot of the bed. With swift movements, he unscrewed the lid of the medicine jar.

His calloused fingertips dabbed the cool, oily ointment and began gently massaging it in circles around her swollen ankle.

His movements were quick, almost impatient, but when they touched her ankle, they were surprisingly gentle, as if he feared causing her more pain.

The tender skin brushed against his rough calluses, and Jiang Zhiyi instinctively pulled her foot back.

Yuan Ce paused, looking back at her with a glance.

“It tickles—”

“Bear with it.” Yuan Ce frowned, turning his head away. He tugged her foot back and continued applying the medicine.

Jiang Zhiyi hummed softly at his back, muttering under her breath, “Getting all the benefits and still playing coy…”

“…”

Pretending not to hear, Yuan Ce picked up a roll of fine cloth. “I’ll bandage your wound and arrange for someone to escort you back.”

Jiang Zhiyi wanted to contradict him but quickly calmed herself.

Hunting was indeed too bloody, and she feared she couldn’t handle it. Besides, with her injured foot, if he went hunting, she’d have no mobility and would feel unsafe staying in a place where something had just happened.

Jiang Zhiyi: “Alright, then what about today’s incident—”

On the way back to the camp earlier, she had planned to show him the forged note written in his handwriting. But upon searching, she realized it was missing. Recalling, she had held it in her hand before falling into the trap. It likely drifted away and was destroyed by the culprit.

The note was gone, the arrow in the tent disappeared, and the substance used to knock out Gu Yu was likely the medicine applied to arrows during hunting to prevent attacks from fierce beasts. Each tent was equipped with it, leaving no specific evidence.

It was clear that whoever dared to harm her, the princess, ensured no evidence was left behind. They also assumed she wouldn’t dare publicize her private meeting with Yuan Ce. Thus, she could only endure this silent injustice.

“I have an idea who did it,” Yuan Ce replied.

“Did you find any other evidence?”

Although she knew who the prime suspect was, it was obvious that this was not a one-man job; there must be accomplices. Moreover, unlike the young masters whose legs Yuan Ce had broken before, these academy nobles were the heirs to their family titles. Acting without cause could invite trouble.

“No evidence is needed.” Yuan Ce rose, supporting himself on his knees, and rubbed the remaining ointment between his fingers. “Just say that you accidentally fell into the pit today. Don’t worry about anything else. Go back and sleep—”

Jiang Zhiyi gazed at his slightly upturned lips, feeling a chill sweep through the tent, an inexplicable sense of foreboding rising within her.

Yuan Ce: “When you wake up, it will all be over.”

The hunting grounds weren’t far from Xuan Ce Camp. Jiang Zhiyi was escorted back to the city by several soldiers from Xuan Ce’s army. Upon returning home, the effects of the ice pack and ointment gradually wore off, and her ankle began to ache again.

Unable to bear the pain and preoccupied with thoughts of what Yuan Ce might do, she had the female physician examine her injury. Confirming there were no other injuries, she drank the calming and pain-relieving broth and closed her eyes. Before sleeping, she instructed Gu Yu to wake her if there was any news.

This deep slumber was perhaps due to the day’s endless twists and turns. Jiang Zhiyi fell into one dream after another, sinking deeper and deeper, unable to wake up no matter what. She slept until late at night when she was vaguely awakened by the rustling sound of whispers.

She tiredly opened her eyes, her vision gradually clearing as she saw two maids standing by the bedroom door, their heads close together in a hushed argument.

“What are you arguing about—” Jiang Zhiyi weakly asked.

Gu Yu and Xiaoman abruptly stopped talking and turned around.

“The princess is awake,” Xiaoman said with a quick glance at Jiang Zhiyi, stepping forward. “Does your ankle still hurt?”

“How could it not…” Jiang Zhiyi slightly moved her numb foot. “What were you two arguing about?”

Xiaoman glanced at Gu Yu beside her, who then looked toward the small stove where medicine was being warmed. “Oh, it’s just that it’s time for you to take the herbal medicine, and we were debating whether to wake you.”

“So, did you two think that arguing wouldn’t wake me up?” Jiang Zhiyi looked at them askance.

The two maids touched their noses sheepishly and came over to help her rinse her mouth and drink the medicine.

Jiang Zhiyi was helped to sit up, her thoughts finally emerging from the haze of dreams. Remembering what had been weighing on her mind before she fell asleep, she immediately asked, “Is there any news from the hunting grounds?”

“No.” Gu Yu and Xiaoman replied in unison.

Jiang Zhiyi looked at their firm answers and frowned, glancing at the pitch-black sky outside the window. “What time is it now?”

“You Hour.”

“Wu Hour.”

Jiang Zhiyi: “?”

Their expressions tightened, and they exchanged a glance.

Jiang Zhiyi: “You two seemed quite coordinated earlier. What happened now?”

Xiaoman: “…Didn’t we agree to say an hour earlier?”

Gu Yu: “That was the agreement from the previous hour. Now it naturally becomes saying two hours earlier!”

Jiang Zhiyi: “Do you think I’m deaf or stupid?”

“Princess, forgive us. We didn’t mean to deceive you…”

“What time is it really?”

“It’s already Hai Hour, Princess.”

“What else are you hiding from me?” Jiang Zhiyi scowled, looking stern.

Gu Yu nervously swallowed. “We heard… that during the afternoon hunting competition, a group of noble sons were chasing each other fiercely, competing for prey. Young Master Zhong accidentally shot an arrow at Lord Zhuo’s horse. The horse went wild and threw him halfway off. His head hit a rock by the roadside, and he lost consciousness immediately. A crowd of medical officers rushed over. By evening, he regained consciousness but seemed to have become… a fool. He doesn’t recognize anyone or understand anything, only crying and making unintelligible noises. It’s quite terrifying…”

Jiang Zhiyi shuddered, a chill running down her spine.

Young Master Zhuo must be Zhuo Kuan, the son of Marquis Xuande. Marquis Xuande had long suffered from infertility issues in his youth, and it was only in his later years that he managed to father this one son. Having a child so late in life, and being his only heir, Zhuo Kuan was cherished like nothing else.

If Zhuong Boyong’s arrow had caused Zhuo Kuan to become like this, and if he couldn’t be cured, Marquis Xuande would likely never let the Zhong family rest.

Zhong Boyong, Zhuo Kuan—could it be—

Before Jiang Zhiyi could fully process this, she realized something was off. “Wait, isn’t this between the Zhong and Zhuo families? Why are you two hiding this from me?”

The two maids lowered their heads, trembling nervously. “It’s… it’s because we also heard that Young Master Zhuo was hanging onto the horse, about to fall off a cliff with it, and his life was in danger. Fortunately, General Shen arrived just in time to stop the horse. But to restrain the horse, General Shen was dragged along the ground for a long distance… His injuries looked even worse than Young Master Zhuo’s. He was covered in blood…”

Jiang Zhiyi’s face paled, her breath caught in her chest, unable to exhale. Just like when her ankle had throbbed painfully earlier that morning, black spots swarmed before her eyes.

“Princess!” Gu Yu and Xiaoman hurriedly rushed forward.

At the same moment, the back window opened and closed, and a familiar shadow leaped in—

“Slow down on fainting.”

Jiang Zhiyi was nearly collapsing onto the bed but was held up by Gu Yu and Xiaoman on either side. Seeing the person who had appeared, she forced herself back from the brink of unconsciousness, her blocked breath suddenly easing as she took a deep inhale.

Gu Yu and Xiaoman were equally shocked, their eyes widening as they watched someone who should have been bedridden suddenly appear, walking calmly toward them as if nothing was wrong.

“Relaying messages is enough; there’s no need to make it so vivid. Don’t you know how prone your princess is to fainting?” Yuan Ce coolly glanced at the two maids. “Leave.”

The two hesitated, looking at Jiang Zhiyi. “But is the princess alright?”

Jiang Zhiyi blankly examined the person before her, who clearly hadn’t lost any limbs, calmed herself, and waved them away. “I’m fine.”

The two maids reluctantly retreated, glancing back multiple times.

Yuan Ce sat on the footstool beside her bed, lightly stretching his arm.

Jiang Zhiyi quickly leaned down to look at him, bombarding him with questions. “Where are you injured? They said there was a lot of blood. How can you come here if you’re injured?”

“How can I not come?” Yuan Ce glanced at her. “If I were a step late, you’d have fainted again. You got what you wanted and still act coy.”

“…”

“Then where are you injured? Let me see.” Jiang Zhiyi tried to pull at his collar.

“Not here.” Yuan Ce avoided her touch, sighing. He knew there was no escaping this once he arrived, so he simply rolled up his right sleeve.

His elbow and surrounding area were wrapped in fine cloth. Though bandaged, the severity of the injury was hidden, but considering how dismissive he usually was about minor wounds, the fact that it was so tightly wrapped and still emitted a strong smell of blood indicated a serious injury.

With tear-filled eyes, Jiang Zhiyi pulled his hand closer, examining it from all angles. Wanting to touch but afraid to do so, she muttered through sobs, “Can you show some restraint… Your elbow is such a critical area, especially since it’s your right hand. If something happens, how will you wield a spear again?”

“If you think this way, Marquis Xuande will naturally think the same.” Yuan Ce chuckled.

Jiang Zhiyi stopped sobbing and lifted her head.

“The prey today was originally a contest between Zhong Boyong and me. Even if that arrow was shot by Zhong Boyong, Marquis Xuande might still direct half his anger toward me. But if I became a victim while saving his son, his anger will solely target the Zhong family. To borrow a blade to kill, the blade must be sharp and precise.”

So, she hadn’t been mistaken earlier. Those who had harmed her today were Zhong Boyong and Zhuo Kuan.

Thus, Zhong Boyong’s “accidental” shooting of Zhuo Kuan’s horse was likely not an accident, and Zhuo Kuan’s head hitting the rock might not have been coincidental…

Realizing this, Jiang Zhiyi blurted out, “Even so, you can’t risk your life like that!”

Looking at the injured person still smiling before her, Jiang Zhiyi felt a surge of anger. In her eyes, he was insane—previously using himself as bait on the battlefield, and now risking himself to set up revenge!

Jiang Zhiyi didn’t even want to ask if it hurt, knowing he’d probably respond with, “It’s not worth mentioning.”

Yuan Ce pulled his hand back and casually rolled down his sleeve. “These are just superficial injuries meant to scare. The Zhong family isn’t worth such effort.”

At this point, there was no use in dwelling further. Jiang Zhiyi looked at his bandaged elbow and then at her own bandaged ankle, sighing. Whether comforting herself or him, she said, “Alright, let’s say it’s to make us more compatible.”

“…”

After calming herself, Jiang Zhiyi asked, “But… has Zhuo Kuan really become… an imbecile?”

Yuan Ce tilted his head. “Isn’t he known for being clever with schemes?”

From his tone, it seemed clear that Zhuo Kuan wouldn’t recover.

“Isn’t this going a bit too far…”

“Getting injured depends on luck. You were lucky enough to only sprain your ankle. If you’d hit your head instead, you could’ve ended up like this. Returning the favor—how is this excessive?”

Imagining herself becoming an imbecile, Jiang Zhiyi gasped, covering her face. “I won’t end up like this!”

After a pause, she asked, “But what if I do? Will you take care of me for the rest of my life?”

“…”

Before Yuan Ce could respond, Jiang Zhiyi shook her head, muttering to herself. “Never mind. If I became an imbecile, it’d be so embarrassing that no one should know. If anyone finds out, they must be silenced. I don’t want you to take care of me—just find a place where no one knows me and spend the rest of my days there…”

“…”