CXD - 63

“… A bunch of heartless people. At least when someone uses the ‘bitter meat’ strategy, they actually suffer for it. But him? He just pulled off a trick with his bare hands. I’ve been running around like crazy, up and down, organizing things, and what does he do? He casually asks if an injury from last year counts. Why doesn’t he say something about injuries from his past life?” Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Zhiyi returned to the inner courtyard, sat on her beauty couch with her chin propped up, and thought more and more how absurd it all was.

She had stayed behind earlier to ask about the birthmark and exchanged a few words with Yuan Ce, but then he distracted her with his playful attitude. Seeing his righteous demeanor, she couldn’t find the words to refute him, so in anger, she turned and went back to the courtyard.

It seemed that this forced matchmaking suited him just fine, but not her.

“General Shen deceived you again? That’s too much! Fortunately, Young Miss has sharp eyes and saw through his tricks!” Guyu chimed in with indignation and flattery.

Jiang Zhiyi’s voice softened: “Well, it wasn’t me who figured it out…”

“Then who?”

“He confessed on his own conscience.”

“Oh, so General Shen has improved somewhat.”

Jiang Zhiyi snorted softly: “Does slightly reforming a wicked person make them ‘good’? What’s so impressive about that…”

Just then, Jingzhe entered with a bowl of calming soup: “Young Miss, don’t be angry with General Shen. You were frightened and exhausted last night. Let me help you drink this calming soup and then massage your body so you won’t feel sore tomorrow.”

Look at that—someone who knows exactly what she needs right now truly cares for her and treats her well.

Jiang Zhiyi felt a bit more comforted as she lay on the beauty couch, letting Jingzhe help relax her muscles. Gradually, the lingering visions of blood faded from her mind, and she began to feel sleepy.

As she lazily closed her eyes, suddenly there was a knock at the door. San Qi stood outside with a sheepish expression: “Young Mistress, General Shen asked if you’d like him to help relax your muscles before bed since you were tired last night. Also, since you were frightened, would you like him to stay by your side tonight?”

“…”

It seems the standards of those who care for her need to be raised a bit.

Seeing Jingzhe and Guyu exchange glances, wondering if her relationship with Yuan Ce had suddenly improved overnight, Jiang Zhiyi paused briefly and called out: “... Tell him to save it. My personal maids are much more useful than him!”

The next morning, Jiang Zhiyi woke from a deep sleep.

After drinking the calming soup last night, she didn’t have any nightmares about assassinations, but instead dreamed that Yuan Ce climbed into her bedroom window late at night and lingered by her bed, asking if she really didn’t want him to stay by her side.

In her dream, she was so drowsy and confused that she said only eunuchs could stay by her side besides her maids, so he should go far away if he wanted to accompany her.

Yuan Ce then asked, “How far is far?”

Annoyed, she waved her hand randomly and fell asleep again…

Waking up at dawn, after washing up, dressing, and having breakfast, Jiang Zhiyi had just stepped out of her room when she heard Jingzhe shout sharply from behind: “Who’s there!”

Following Jingzhe’s gaze, Jiang Zhiyi looked up and saw a person lying across the roof ridge of her house. Startled, she gasped. Jingzhe quickly drew her sword defensively.

Seeing the guards in the courtyard hadn’t moved, she wondered if they were all blind. Then, the shadow on the roof opened its eyes, stretched, and leaped down.

Jiang Zhiyi stared at the figure descending from the sky, retreating until her heels hit the wall. She tilted her head and looked closely—

It was Yuan Ce, his face showing traces of fatigue.

Jiang Zhiyi’s pupils trembled: “What are you doing on my roof this early in the morning?”

Yuan Ce stretched his shoulders and back: “Didn’t you tell me to stay on the roof?”

“...”

Jiang Zhiyi silently recalled last night’s dream. So it wasn’t a dream?

She had randomly pointed, and it turned out to be the roof…

He had spent the whole night on her roof. Was he closing his eyes and lying there—catching up on sleep?

“... I was so sleepy I wasn’t clear-headed, but neither were you? Why would I tell you to stay on the roof?”

“How should I know?” Yuan Ce rubbed his neck and walked over. “Anyway, I could still hear sounds from the roof.”

Jiang Zhiyi eyed him suspiciously: “What sounds were you listening for? Were you even eavesdropping on my sleep talk?”

Yuan Ce stopped in front of her and looked down: “Your screams from nightmares, or the sound of you breaking a porcelain cup when you wake up from one.”

The hostility in Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes suddenly vanished. After a moment of silence, she coughed lightly, leaning against the wall. Looking at the body she once clung to during nightmares, her eyes flickered and blinked: “I’ve seen enough storms now; I won’t have nightmares easily anymore…”

“Yes, no need for me anymore, I’m redundant.” Yuan Ce turned his head and snorted.

Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyes to look at his wrinkled robe, still imprinted with roof tiles…

“Well—if staying on the roof has some use, they do say placing protective objects by the bedside prevents nightmares. No wonder I slept well last night.”

“…” She might as well not have shown such kindness.

“Protective?” Yuan Ce laughed bitterly.

“Yes, who can be more evil than you in this world? Killing people as if it’s child’s play…”

Yuan Ce lowered his gaze to look at her: “If I let you sleep well, what are you going out for this early in the morning? Are you planning to visit someone despite their minor wounds that even Li Da Feng dismissed?”

Jiang Zhiyi faltered. Last night, because of Yuan Ce’s sudden “profuse bleeding,” she didn’t even glance at Pei Zi Song’s injuries or thank him, rushing back home instead. Of course, she had to go today.

“Is it Pei Zi Song’s wound that Li Da Feng dismissed? Or isn’t it yours?” Jiang Zhiyi pointed sharply at his abdomen with her chin.

Yuan Ce cleared his throat, covering his mouth with a fist.

“This assassination targeted you and me. For the Pei siblings, it was an undeserved disaster. Regardless of the severity of the injuries, thanks are due.” Jiang Zhiyi bypassed his entanglement and walked forward.

“I’ll accompany you tomorrow,” Yuan Ce called out, stopping her. “Today, the roads outside are sealed. You can’t go even if you want to.”

… If he had just said the roads were sealed earlier, why did he have to say all those things first?

Jiang Zhiyi turned back, puzzled: “Sealed roads?”

“The entire city is under martial law. Only pedestrians are allowed, no carriages. Suspicious individuals are being investigated.”

“Are there still assassins outside?” Jiang Zhiyi’s face changed, and she immediately came back, muttering and nodding. “Then we’ll go out another day with you…”

… She really treated him as a protective talisman.

Seeing her nervous appearance, Yuan Ce thought for a moment and smiled: “Since I’m not going out today, would you like to learn some self-defense techniques with me?”

After Yuan Ce finished washing up and changed into a sleek outfit, Jiang Zhiyi followed him to the martial arts training ground. Watching him stand by the weapon rack, gesturing grandly like surveying his kingdom, he pointed at the row of weapons: “Pick whatever you want to learn; I can teach them all.”

Jiang Zhiyi slowly raised her head, following his gesture, her gaze sweeping over each item—from common knives, swords, spears, and halberds to less common axes, forks, whips, hammers, staffs, and spears, to some strange and ferocious-looking unknown weapons…

Eighteen types of weapons—he could teach them all.

Had he ever considered that she couldn’t possibly wield any of them?

Seeing her bewildered expression after looking through them, Yuan Ce nodded: “Do you not know how these weapons are used? I’ll demonstrate each one for you.”

With that, he casually picked up a spear, weighed it lightly, and walked to an open space.

Before Jiang Zhiyi could react, there was a sharp whistle of wind. Yuan Ce flipped his rear hand and pushed with his front, sending the spear flying like a dragon. A block, a grab, a thrust, then he lifted the spear, performed a mid-air somersault, spun the spearhead lightly, released it into the air, landed gracefully like a swallow, and caught the spear firmly back in his hand.

Jiang Zhiyi’s head followed the spearhead, moving up, down, left, and right. After a dizzying display, Yuan Ce slung the spear over his shoulder and raised his chin toward her: “How’s that?”

Though she didn’t fully understand the moves, they certainly looked impressive. But—

“... Do you call this self-defense?”

“I’m asking you, how was my spear handling?”

Jiang Zhiyi’s lips twitched: “Handling—it certainly loosened my neck.”

“...”

“Anything else?”

Jiang Zhiyi gazed at the figure holding the spear like a crane under the spring sunlight, his robes fluttering. She looked up at the sky: “Anyone can handle a spear a bit. They teach it at the academy too.”

… Wasn’t it her who drunkenly insisted on watching him perform with the spear before?

Yuan Ce walked to the weapon rack, casually tossed the spear aside, scanned the rack, and set his sights on the nine-section whip: “Let me show you something that even Pei Zi Song and my brother can’t do—”

“Enough, enough, I know you’re skilled!” Jiang Zhiyi stamped her foot. “If they can’t do it, how am I supposed to learn it? Can you teach me something useful?”

Yuan Ce cast a regretful glance at the seventeen remaining weapons, thought for a moment, and picked up a light bow from the side, looking tentatively at Jiang Zhiyi: “What about—the one we started learning at the academy last time?”

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Zhiyi found herself standing in front of a target, holding a bow for the second time in her life.

Months had passed, and she had forgotten all the key points. Yuan Ce taught her again. This time, since they were at home, he brought out a jade thumb ring for her to wear on her thumb, saying it was one he used as a child. Wearing it would prevent her hand from being chafed by the string, so she could try drawing the bowstring herself.

Jiang Zhiyi held the bow, looking down at the yellowed jade thumb ring on her thumb. She noticed some fine cracks on it. Such an old thumb ring was still kept—perhaps it held some special meaning for him.

Lost in thought, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly felt an arrow inserted between her fingers. Yuan Ce’s voice rang out: “I’m teaching you something useful, yet I don’t see you focusing on learning.”

“Who says I’m not? I’m just brewing my thoughts,” Jiang Zhiyi held the bow with one hand and the string with the other, taking aim at the target. “This time, I’ll definitely hit it!”

Suddenly, a warm, firm chest pressed against her back, just like months ago on the academy training grounds. Yuan Ce stood behind her, guiding her hands.

His jaw lightly brushed against the top of her head, making her scalp tingle. Her previously relaxed body tensed instantly. She wanted to turn around but feared another unexpected incident like last time, so she stiffly stared at the target ahead: “Didn’t you say I could draw the string myself this time…?”

“Helping you aim.” Yuan Ce squinted one eye and adjusted the direction of the arrow.

Jiang Zhiyi eyed the bullseye suspiciously: “But why does it feel like you’re aiming off? It seems to be pointing beyond the target.”

“If I say it will hit, it will hit.”

Last time, you didn’t hit anything… Jiang Zhiyi pouted angrily: “Can I release the string now?”

“Just wait a bit longer.”

Jiang Zhiyi was confused: “Wait for what?”

Isn’t he already off-target?

Yuan Ce didn’t speak, standing quietly behind her.

As Jiang Zhiyi grew increasingly restless, unable to bear waiting any longer, she finally spoke again. Yuan Ce, holding her hand, suddenly pulled the string: “Release.”

Jiang Zhiyi abruptly let go. The string vibrated like thunder, the arrow shot out with a deafening sound, spinning like a meteor through the air, passing the target, and striking straight into the apricot tree behind it.

A sharp sound rang out as it hit the trunk squarely.

The next moment, a sudden gust of eastern wind blew, scattering apricot blossoms shaken loose by the arrow. They fluttered and danced in the air.

In that instant, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly realized—he had been waiting for the wind.

The feathers of the arrow quivered, filling the air with fragrance.

Looking up at the true rain of apricot blossoms, her vision overlapped with the snowstorm from last December. Trembling her eyelashes, Jiang Zhiyi slowly turned her head.

Yuan Ce gazed at the expanse of white, lowering the longbow and curving his lips: “This is what’s called—February east wind blows apricot rain, stirring my spring heart toward Yiyi.”

Jiang Zhiyi’s heart trembled, and she held her breath tightly.

But while her breathing could be controlled, her heartbeat raced like an uncontrollable horse, breaking free at this moment.

Yuan Ce leaned against her back, feeling her heart pounding heavily against his chest. Suddenly, he remembered something: “Jiang Zhiyi, you’re right. It really can be heard.”

“What can be heard…?”

Yuan Ce lowered his eyes to look at her: “Heard—that you have me in your heart.”