CXD - 49

The morning after the Lantern Festival, an urgent letter arrived at the inner hall of the palace from a hundred miles away.

Emperor Xingwu sat at his desk, lowered his gaze to read it, and let out a cold laugh.

“Your Majesty,” a eunuch beside him poured tea and asked, “What has happened?”

Emperor Xingwu pinched one corner of the letter and tossed it aside.

The eunuch glanced down at it and was shocked. “Oh! The entire male lineage of the Zhong family escaped during their exile—what incredible skill!”

Emperor Xingwu turned to look at him. “Is it the Zhong family’s skill or the young man of the Shen family’s skill?”

The eunuch pondered for a moment. “If they’re alive but missing, it’s an escape; if there’s no body, it could also be an escape… If it’s the latter, then this case against the Zhong family must have been orchestrated by Young General Shen?”

“In your opinion, why would he do such a thing?”

“The embezzlement wasn’t from Hexi’s military funds, so I doubt Young General Shen would make such a big deal over it. Could it be related to the defeat of the Shen family’s army in May last year… Did Lord Kang Le interfere?”

“If that’s true, it’s not just one Lord Kang Le.” Emperor Xingwu pointed toward Hedong. “They’re all my ‘good’ ministers!”

“From this perspective, though Young General Shen is bold and reckless, he’s also solving problems for Your Majesty. It’s not yet time to confront Hedong openly. Using Young General Shen as a blade to counter Hedong’s sword is truly brilliant!” The eunuch flattered the emperor, trying to soothe his anger.

“But looking at Young General Shen now, his intelligence can achieve much with little effort, his military prowess is formidable, and his resolve is ruthless and decisive. Perhaps even back in the capital, he wasn’t truly as carefree as he seemed… Such a sharp blade—could it cut the hand that wields it?”

Emperor Xingwu accepted the tea offered by the eunuch, lowered his head, and gently blew away the rising steam. “A blade is still a blade. If I point it east, it must go east. If I sheathe it, it must return to its scabbard.”

________________________________________

At the same time, in the main room of the post station, Jiang Zhiyi woke up to the morning light, drowsily squinting as she turned her head. Seeing the empty half of the bed beside her, she reached out curiously and touched the cold quilt.

“Sister?” Jiang Zhiyi came to her senses and sat up on the bed.

The post station had only one main room. Last night, she had shared a bed with Princess Baojia, falling asleep together. But when she woke up in the middle of the night and found no one beside her, she asked Guyu where her sister was. Guyu replied that the princess said she couldn’t sleep and went out for some fresh air.

Because she was so tired from traveling during the day, she fell back asleep almost immediately without giving it much thought.

But now her sister was still missing. The quilt felt cold, as if she hadn’t returned after going out for fresh air.

“Guyu?” Jiang Zhiyi called out.

The door opened, and familiar black leather boots stepped across the threshold.

“Awake?” Yuan Ce walked in wearing a fresh robe with a turned-down collar.

“Brother A Ce, have you seen Sister Baojia?”

Yuan Ce sat on the edge of the bed and thought for a moment—

He had traveled over a hundred miles in one night, killed the targets, and covered his tracks before returning to the post station. Just as he entered the courtyard, he saw Li Dafeng coming out of the side room, closing the door gently as if not wanting to disturb someone inside.

“I might have seen her.”

“What do you mean, ‘might’?”

“It means—” Yuan Ce hesitated. “I saw Li Dafeng.”

Jiang Zhiyi deduced the answer from his evasive expression.

“...So that’s what the cold wind on the fifteenth night of the first month was about! Turns out it was Li Dafeng she was blowing on!” Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes widened in surprise. Just yesterday evening, these two refused to even share a meal, and now they were sleeping together at night? Sister Baojia was truly impressive.

Thinking about this, she sighed and hugged herself pitifully. “So last night I slept alone? I actually spent the night alone in this remote post station…”

Yuan Ce: “It’s already over. What else can be done?”

Jiang Zhiyi threw her arms around his neck. “Then I’ll learn from them too—I want to sleep with you!”

Yuan Ce paused, raising an eyebrow. “Forget it. Children shouldn’t imitate adults.”

“What children and adults? Sister Baojia can say that, but how can you? You’re only a few years older than me!”

“But I’m more experienced than you.” Yuan Ce tapped her forehead with his knuckle.

Jiang Zhiyi wrinkled her nose and dodged, then suddenly remembered something and leaned closer, her eyes bright. “By the way, last night when you weren’t here, I…”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Zhiyi paused mid-sentence and sniffed his neck. “Why does it smell like…”

Yuan Ce leaned back to avoid her nose.

Jiang Zhiyi chased after him, pulling at his collar and sniffing all the way up to his hairline. “It smells like blood?”

Yuan Ce had only managed to take a quick shower and hadn’t washed his hair yet.

“You have such a keen sense of smell?” Yuan Ce smirked. “Last night I went out and hunted a wild rabbit. Today I’ll roast it for you.”

“So this is… the smell of rabbit blood?”

Yuan Ce nodded. “What were you about to say earlier?”

She was about to say that last night, while he was gone, she and Sister Baojia made lanterns together. Sister Baojia made a fox lantern, and she made a—

Jiang Zhiyi slowly turned her head to look at the rabbit lantern hanging by the window.

“...Never mind. It’s nothing.”

It was time to set off again. Seeing that Jiang Zhiyi was still sleepy, Yuan Ce picked her up along with the quilt and carried her outside.

The Xuan Ce Army soldiers waiting outside kept their heads down, pretending not to see anything. Jiang Zhiyi, wrapped up like a cocoon, was carried into the carriage and continued to nap on the bed inside.

By the time the group was ready to depart, Sister Baojia still hadn’t appeared, reportedly unable to get out of bed. Li Dafeng decided to stay behind at the post station, saying he would catch up with Yuan Ce once reinforcements arrived to escort Sister Baojia.

As they resumed their journey westward, Jiang Zhiyi gradually grew accustomed to this kind of life. During the day, she would sit in the carriage for hours on end, and at night, they would rest at post stations. This routine continued smoothly for half a month until the arrival of the Jingzhe season in early February, when the rains began to increase.

At first, it was only a few light drizzles. Wearing a straw raincoat while riding didn’t hinder their progress. However, one night, heavy rain fell throughout the night, turning the roads so muddy that the carriage couldn’t pass. They had to wait at the post station for half a day until the road dried out enough to resume their journey.

At the time, Jiang Zhiyi remarked how fortunate it was that this happened before they set out; otherwise, they wouldn’t even have a place to stay. But fifteen days later, they encountered an unfortunate mishap.

After a torrential downpour in the afternoon, not only was the carriage difficult to move, but the horses were also sluggish from exhaustion. Jiang Zhiyi, dozing off in the carriage, was woken by Yuan Ce. Still half-asleep, she listened as he spoke, though she didn’t fully understand what he said. Suddenly, a thick cloak was draped over her head, and she was pulled out of the carriage.

Then she saw Yuan Ce standing by the carriage, lifting his robe’s hem, bending down, and presenting his back to her. “Climb on.”

Jiang Zhiyi glanced at the carriage wheels stuck in the muddy ruts and quickly climbed onto his back.

The sky was gloomy, with fine, dense rain falling through the wind. Jiang Zhiyi took the umbrella handed to her by Guyu and steadied the handle. Just as she did, Yuan Ce turned and carried her into the mountains. Behind them, neither Guyu nor the soldiers followed.

Only then did Jiang Zhiyi realize that Yuan Ce had just said the soldiers would camp where they were for the night, while he would take her on foot over the mountain to the next post station.

…Over the mountain?

A gust of cold wind jolted her awake. Lowering her head, she exclaimed in surprise, “You’re going to carry me over this mountain?”

Yuan Ce’s steps didn’t falter as he trudged through the mud and water, climbing steadily upward. “Or would you rather sleep outdoors?”

“But… but it’s not necessary to climb the mountain—”

“If we don’t take this shortcut, we won’t reach the station even after walking all night.”

Jiang Zhiyi held onto his neck with one hand and raised the umbrella with the other, glancing at the towering, seemingly endless mountain and then at the slippery, muddy path beneath them. “…Are you sure you can do this?”

“I won’t let you fall.” One of Yuan Ce’s hands supported her knees while the other occasionally grabbed tree trunks along the way to help him ascend. He appeared relaxed, but crossing such a mountain—with the descent still ahead—and the rain intensifying made the task daunting.

Jiang Zhiyi worriedly suggested, “Why don’t we just camp outside? I can manage…”

“Hold the umbrella further back,” Yuan Ce ignored her suggestion. “It’s blocking my view.”

Jiang Zhiyi quickly adjusted the umbrella, realizing that while her back was now completely shielded, Yuan Ce was entirely exposed to the rain.

“Where’s your straw raincoat?” Jiang Zhiyi suddenly asked.

“It got wet. How could I carry you while wearing it?”

“Does the umbrella really block your view, or are you just trying to keep me from getting wet?” Jiang Zhiyi eyed him suspiciously.

“If you catch a cold from the rain, who will have to deal with it?”

“And what about you? Won’t you catch a cold if you get soaked?”

“Is this even considered rain?”

Fine, she conceded. In this unpredictable weather, if she were to get drenched, she likely wouldn’t be able to handle it. Jiang Zhiyi stopped protesting, firmly holding the umbrella over herself. Every so often, she wiped the raindrops from Yuan Ce’s cheeks and neck with a handkerchief.

The mountain path stretched endlessly. Watching him drenched in rain, his robe hems and boots soaked in mud, while she remained clean and untouched on his back, left her feeling conflicted.

By the second watch of the night, they finally reached the post station.

In the main room of the post station, Jiang Zhiyi removed her cloak and found herself completely dry. There was no rush to bathe, so she washed her feet, changed into comfortable slippers, and sat by the charcoal stove, sipping ginger tea.

From inside the bath chamber came the sound of splashing water, making Jiang Zhiyi feel oddly tense.

This post station was already in the western region, and its facilities weren’t as complete as those near the capital. The side rooms didn’t even have proper bathing areas. Earlier, Yuan Ce had gone to clean himself, and she had pushed him into her private bath chamber.

The wooden tub inside was the one she had been using throughout the journey, delivered by the post workers earlier that day before the storm. Such personal items had never been shared with anyone before.

Thinking about this, Jiang Zhiyi’s face grew hot, and the chill in her body seemed to dissipate.

After what felt like a long time, the sound of water slowly softened, eventually replaced by the rustling of clothing being put on.

A moment later, Yuan Ce emerged from the bath chamber, dressed in clean casual robes. Seeing Jiang Zhiyi clutching her soup bowl with a flicker of unease in her eyes, he asked, “Are you up to something?”

Seeing how relaxed and composed he appeared, without any lingering thoughts, Jiang Zhiyi studied him. “Did you… manage okay?”

“?”

“I mean, were my things convenient for you to use?”

“You really—” Must ask so directly? Can’t she keep anything to herself?

Yuan Ce stared at her for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing, before looking away. “…They smelled too good.”

Jiang Zhiyi coughed lightly and averted her gaze.

After a brief silence—

“I—”

“You—”

Jiang Zhiyi blinked. “You go first.”

“The tub got dirty from my use. Don’t bathe tonight; just sleep like this.”

“How dirty can it get from a bath?” Jiang Zhiyi frowned. “You carried me here so I could bathe and sleep well. I must bathe…”

“There’s no ‘must’ about it,” Yuan Ce interrupted firmly. “Sleep.”

Jiang Zhiyi tried to resist, but a knock on the door interrupted them. “Young General, there’s a message for you.”

Yuan Ce gestured toward the bed, indicating she should lie down and sleep, then turned and stepped out of the room.

The messenger followed Yuan Ce a short distance, moving far from Jiang Zhiyi’s quarters, and lowered his voice. “Young General, word from the capital: A maid named Jingzhe, who used to serve the young mistress, was injured by bandits three months ago. She has been recovering in Zheng County and returned to the capital a few days ago. Upon learning of your engagement to the young mistress, she is rushing here on horseback—”

Yuan Ce abruptly lifted his eyes.

“What shall we do?” The soldier mimicked a slicing motion across his throat.

Amidst the fierce wind and rain, lightning flashed through the rolling clouds.

Yuan Ce slowly rubbed his hand against his side, then nodded at the soldier.

The soldier bowed and hurried off into the storm.

Yuan Ce stood silently in the corridor when suddenly a deafening thunderclap roared overhead.

This was followed by a woman’s scream.

Yuan Ce rushed back to the main room, pushed open the door, and immediately saw Jiang Zhiyi covering her ears, cowering in the corner of the bed, clearly terrified.

Jiang Zhiyi looked up and, upon seeing him, threw herself into his arms.

“It’s just thunder,” Yuan Ce sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her close.

“What do you mean, ‘just thunder’… The thunder during the Jingzhe season is the scariest!” Jiang Zhiyi clung to him, still shaken. “What was so important about that message that you had to go out and listen to it, leaving me alone in this strange room…”

Yuan Ce swallowed softly. “It’s nothing.”

Jiang Zhiyi started mumbling. “…There’s only one candle in this room. Back when it stormed during this season, Jingzhe would always light up a whole tree of lanterns for me by my bedside.”

Yuan Ce’s eyelashes fluttered. “Jingzhe?”

“Yes, don’t you remember? The maid who’s been with me since I was little. She was badly injured protecting me a while ago, and I haven’t seen her in a long time…” Jiang Zhiyi rambled on. “I thought once she recovered, I’d arrange her marriage. Who knows when we’ll see her again now.”

“She was… good to you?”

“Of course! She treated me as well as you did today—for ten whole years.”

Yuan Ce’s hand stiffened slightly on Jiang Zhiyi’s back.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Zhiyi looked up at him.

Yuan Ce blinked. “What if one day both she and I fall into a river, and you can only save one of us—who would you save?”

Jiang Zhiyi was taken aback. “What nonsense are you talking? You both know how to swim—I don’t. I’d probably just cheer you on from the shore!”

“…”