CXD - 56

This seemingly affectionate gesture carried a dangerous, invasive undertone. Though his hand was on her waist, it felt as though he were gripping her throat. Jiang Zhiyi’s back arched like a taut bow, trembling as she stared at the sharp, angular face illuminated by flickering candlelight.

She had deliberately dimmed this “memorial hall” to conceal her unease and gain his trust. But now, with the candles flickering wildly and him speaking such chilling words, the atmosphere grew so terrifying that it almost overwhelmed her…

What had clouded her vision before, preventing her from seeing how truly terrifying this man was?

Her heart raced as if it might burst through her chest—whether from fear, anger, or something else entirely, she couldn’t tell. At the peak of her trembling, Jiang Zhiyi tightly shut her eyes—

Shen Yuance, if you’re watching over us from above, do something about your deranged younger brother!

After what felt like an eternity, there was no thunderstorm or divine intervention. Jiang Zhiyi cracked one eye open slightly, only to see those dark, unblinking eyes fixed intently on her.

It seemed he truly had no intention of letting her go…

All her efforts to endure and speak softly had been in vain. She wouldn’t tolerate it anymore!

“…A vow made under deception is no vow at all! Even heaven can’t condone your deceitful, scheming, deranged, and utterly heartless behavior!” Jiang Zhiyi paused for breath, her trembling chest rising and falling rapidly. “Do you really think heaven would honor such a vow?”

“Heaven may not, but I will.” Yuan Ce held her firmly with one arm while pushing aside the obstructive table with the other. He reached out, grabbed a curtain hanging nearby, and with a sharp tug, ripped it down in one swift motion.

As she watched him twist the curtain into a makeshift rope with one hand, it became clear he intended to bind her hands and feet.

Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes widened. Desperately wondering why Jingzhe hadn’t returned with the ointment yet, she quickly devised a plan and kicked one of the burning white candles at her feet.

The lit candle struck the curtain, igniting it instantly.

Yuan Ce was momentarily startled, reflexively smothering the flames. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Zhiyi swiftly broke free from his grasp and bolted toward the door, shouting as she ran: “Fire! Fire!”

The Xiance soldiers stationed in the courtyard rushed forward en masse. Just as they saw the young mistress burst out of the room in a panic, they noticed the general inside frantically shaking the burning curtain to extinguish it. Without hesitation, they surged into the room to assist.

But upon entering, they froze in their tracks, one after another crowding awkwardly at the threshold—

What kind of ominous scene was this? Had someone in the household passed away?

Yet the estate only housed two masters—the young general and the young mistress—and both appeared unharmed. Could it be that the young mistress, upset with the young general, had set up some sort of… memorial hall?

Yuan Ce extinguished the fire in a few swift movements, tossing the charred curtain aside. He glanced up at the horrified expressions of the crowd and turned to Jiang Zhiyi, who had hidden herself behind them. “The young mistress is paying respects to her deceased loved ones. There’s no need to worry; everyone may leave.”

Jiang Zhiyi seized the chance to blend into the retreating crowd and slip away.

“Where are you going, Princess?” Yuan Ce’s voice, sharp and commanding, rang out behind her.

Startled, Jiang Zhiyi froze for a moment before lowering her head and quickening her pace. But before she could take more than a few steps, she suddenly felt weightless as an arm scooped her up by the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder.

Jiang Zhiyi let out a startled cry, her head dangling downward as dizziness washed over her. “…This house is on fire—it’s dangerous! If you dare lock me in here, you’ll be guilty of endangering the life of a princess!”

“A burning house is indeed unsafe. For the princess’s safety, we’ll stay in my quarters tonight,” Yuan Ce said calmly, carrying her resolutely out of the room with long strides.

Half an hour later, after futile struggles and kicks, Jiang Zhiyi was utterly exhausted, her face ashen as she was finally placed onto the bed in Yuan Ce’s chambers.

Still catching her breath and clutching her waist, she looked up just as Yuan Ce entered, rummaging through a chest until he found something. He walked straight toward her, and Jiang Zhiyi immediately curled up, hugging her knees and retreating to the farthest corner of the bed.

Yuan Ce reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Terrified, Jiang Zhiyi’s voice quivered as tears welled up in her eyes. Glaring at him defiantly, she shouted, “If you dare tie me up, I’ll…”

A sudden coolness touched her hand, and Jiang Zhiyi paused mid-sentence, shrinking back as she lowered her gaze.

Warm fingertips spread a soothing ointment over the reddened mark left by the incense ash, gently circling it. Yuan Ce crouched beside the bed, lifting his gaze to meet hers. “You’ll do what?”

Jiang Zhiyi swallowed hard, overcome by a mix of fear and relief. She fell silent, lying stiffly on the bed.

“Before lighting incense, always shake off the ash from the tip,” Yuan Ce said impassively.

…He’d already revealed his true nature as a ruthless demon, so why bother pretending to be kind?

Jiang Zhiyi snatched her hand back angrily. “Mind your own business! If I’m willing to endure pain for the one I love, so be it!”

Yuan Ce rubbed the remaining ointment between his fingers, rising to his feet with a faint smirk. “Are you truly willing, or is it just wishful thinking on your part? Did you know the one you admire has long since given his heart to another and privately pledged himself to someone else?”

“I already know!”

Though she couldn’t fathom why a refined and gentle girl like Pei Xueqing would set her sights on Shen Yuance, the mutual affection between them was undeniable. The care with which he had hidden the token of their love in an obscure porcelain vase, and her boldness in seeking answers despite being a sheltered maiden—these acts spoke volumes about their deep bond.

If not for the circumstances forcing her hand, Jiang Zhiyi wouldn’t have wanted to play the role of a third party watching two people deeply in love, especially when one of them was Shen Yuance. It had taken her an entire day to steel herself against the discomfort of crafting those words.

Had she known all this effort would still leave her trapped, why bother?

Seeing Yuan Ce narrow his eyes as if questioning her nonchalant demeanor, Jiang Zhiyi straightened her chest and blinked boldly. “So what? Who I, Jiang Zhiyi, choose to admire is my business. As long as he is worthy of my admiration, even if it’s unrequited, I’ll cherish him wholeheartedly!”

Yuan Ce’s face darkened as he extended his hand.

Jiang Zhiyi flinched back, then looked up to see him grab the jar of ointment from the bedside table with a menacing grip, twisting the lid shut as though breaking someone’s neck. He turned toward the cabinet, his back now facing her.

After putting away the ointment, he stood silently, leaning on a carved stand, clearly seething. Jiang Zhiyi, gathering her courage, gritted her teeth. “Even though he often gambled and caroused, dirtying himself in the process, in my eyes, he shone like moonlight—pure and radiant.”

“During these three years apart, I thought of him day and night, yearning for him constantly. Even now that he’s gone forever, he remains like indelible cinnabar in my heart, never fading.”

“I adore only his soul, untainted by the mire. As for someone who merely shares his appearance—I feel nothing, absolutely nothing!”

A sharp crack echoed through the room. Jiang Zhiyi flinched and peeked over to see the broken-off head of the carved stand lying nearby.

…If she couldn’t escape, then so be it; she’d destroy everything alongside him!

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door, followed by an anxious male voice: “General, something’s wrong! The young mistress’s maid has gotten into a fight with our men!”

Jiang Zhiyi was startled. Jingzhe must have returned with the ointment, discovered her abduction, and immediately confronted them.

“Even warring nations don’t harm envoys! Don’t you dare lay a hand on my maid!” Jiang Zhiyi urgently pleaded with Yuan Ce.

Yuan Ce turned around and approached her. “Your maid started the fight with my men. Shouldn’t you tell her to stand down first?”

It was clear that Jingzhe couldn’t overpower them. A direct confrontation would only hurt her. Jiang Zhiyi quickly called out to the guard outside, “Tell Jingzhe and Guyu not to worry about me. I’ve already devised a brilliant plan to deal with General Shen.”

Yuan Ce: “….”

He was still standing right here.

The soldier outside awkwardly cleared his throat but, hearing no objection from Yuan Ce, hastily relayed the message: “Yes, Young Mistress!”

Jiang Zhiyi adjusted her clothes, straightened her sleeves, and sat formally at the edge of the bed, picking up where she left off. “Since you’re keeping me here tonight, with the long hours ahead, let me tell you about my story with your brother.”

“…”

Yuan Ce: “I’m not interested.”

“For years, my feelings for your brother have remained unspoken. Tonight, finally, I have the chance to pour out my heart. Whether you’re interested or not, I will speak. You may bind my hands and feet, but you cannot silence my…”

Suddenly, her chin was seized, forcing her head upward.

Yuan Ce leaned down, staring at her. “Cannot silence you, you say?”

Jiang Zhiyi’s lashes trembled. She suddenly recalled how he used to silence her lips before. Swallowing nervously, she closed her mouth.

Yuan Ce released her chin, exhaling sharply through his nose. Turning toward the bathing chamber, he said coolly, “Let me finish my bath before dealing with you.”

“…” So he was a clean villain, after all.

Jiang Zhiyi sat stiffly on the bed, straining her ears to listen to the sound of water splashing in the bathing chamber.

When he finished bathing, would he really come to “deal” with her?

The doors and windows were guarded, leaving no chance of escape. Worse still, though it was still early, she hadn’t slept at all last night and had spent the entire day strategizing without rest. Now, lulled by the rhythmic sound of water, she found herself struggling to stay awake.

Falling asleep beside a wolf like this would be too dangerous, but she didn’t know when he’d finish bathing, and her eyelids felt unbearably heavy.

Resisting sleep, Jiang Zhiyi glanced around the room. She climbed off the bed, pushed the broken stand in front of it, and tied the hanging bed curtains to its legs, creating a makeshift alarm system.

Then she crawled back onto the bed, clutching the curtain tightly and closing her eyes—

If he tried to get onto the bed, the curtain would tug, waking her.

With this rudimentary defense in place, Jiang Zhiyi leaned against the bedpost, feeling slightly reassured, and drifted off amidst the soothing sounds of water.

When Yuan Ce emerged from the bathing chamber, he took in the absurd sight before him, pausing just inside the threshold. Was he angry or amused? It was hard to tell.

Silently, he approached with light steps, examining the contraption. Placing a hand on the stand, he vaulted noiselessly onto the bed.

Looking down, he saw her clinging tightly to the bed curtains like a protective squirrel, fast asleep.

Yuan Ce gently grasped her wrist, slowly pulling the curtain from her grasp.

Without its support, Jiang Zhiyi collapsed limply backward, falling into his arms.

Her smooth, jet-black hair brushed against his jaw, carrying a faint fragrance. His breath hitched as he lowered his head. Her mourning attire made her brows appear darker today, her lips more vividly red.

His gaze lingered on her luscious lips for a moment before he gently laid her flat on the bed. Lifting her neck, he placed a pillow beneath her head, then settled next to her, gazing at the ceiling as he sighed softly.

She was mourning his brother’s spirit while he lay here lost in thought.

But the person beside him seemed dissatisfied with the pillow beneath her head. Frowning uncomfortably, she shifted, turning to her side. Suddenly, her arm draped across his waist.

Yuan Ce’s breath caught. He turned his head away.

Jiang Zhiyi continued to shift unconsciously, searching for a more comfortable position. Her head moved slightly, followed by her legs, and her hand began exploring upward along his waist.

The suppressed thoughts reignited, Yuan Ce seized her wandering hand, gazing silently at her. After a moment, he pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest.

Finally, Jiang Zhiyi stilled.

“Enjoying this position?” Yuan Ce’s hoarse voice teased, glancing at the woman in his arms. “You’re always restless when you’re not fully awake, but once you wake up, you deny everything, don’t you?”

Jiang Zhiyi was roused from her daze, her eyelids fluttering open. Squinting, she looked up at him.

Yuan Ce tensed, loosening his hold slightly, bracing for the storm to come.

Instead, she simply frowned at him before closing her eyes again, wrapping her arms around his waist. “…What are you mumbling about? I’m so tired. Stop bothering me.”

“?” Yuan Ce’s stiff hand hesitated, inching cautiously back onto her body.

In the next instant, it was her turn to freeze. Slowly, she raised her head, looking at him as though she’d seen a ghost.

“You… you…” Jiang Zhiyi stared at him, dumbfounded.

Yuan Ce raised his hand. “You made the first move.”

“How could I possibly…” Jiang Zhiyi turned her head, taking in their current compromising position. Letting go of his waist abruptly, she pushed off his chest and sat up.

Yuan Ce lay flat, tucking the arm that had held her behind his head. Raising an eyebrow, he smirked. “Didn’t you claim to be indifferent to my appearance? Seems like you enjoyed holding me quite a bit, Young Mistress.”