CXD - 66

In the main study, Li Da Feng rested his hand on his temple, leaning against the chess table on the daybed with his eyes closed to rest. Suddenly, he heard footsteps echoing in the corridor—swift and lively when departing, but somber and weary upon returning.

Three, two, one. The door was pushed open abruptly, causing the candle flame on the desk to flicker. Li Da Feng opened his eyes.

Yuan Ce stepped over the threshold, glanced at him, and then looked at the portrait scroll beside him: “Didn’t I tell you to put the painting away if I didn’t return?”

“The Young General instructed me to put it away only if you didn’t return,” Li Da Feng smirked knowingly. “But I had faith in you, believing you wouldn’t keep me waiting for long.”

“...”

“Doctor Li seems well-versed in this matter. It seems he hasn’t faced many setbacks in his youth.”

“Young Master Shen worries too much. I merely understand the principle that extreme joy can lead to sorrow.”

Yuan Ce shot a glance at him, recalling how Jiang Zhiyi had just moments ago consoled him, only to suddenly change her expression as if realizing she’d been duped into showing concern, and promptly chased him out—

No matter. Today, after hearing her recount the storybook tale, it seemed the male protagonist was written by combining him and his brother into one character—half representing his brother, half representing him. The title “Brother Ce” belonged to him just as much as to his brother.

Since there was no place for his brother in her heart, the other half would eventually belong to him.

Yuan Ce: “Today is my auspicious day. There’s nothing tragic about it, so Doctor Li need not lecture me.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. Tomorrow morning, I still have to change Pei Zi Song’s bandages as ordered by the young mistress.” Li Da Feng stood up, gave a slight bow, and gracefully walked out.

Yuan Ce narrowed his eyes, standing still. Li Da Feng’s sharp-tongued remarks reminded him of something—

Earlier, Jiang Zhiyi had told him, “Do I have to choose between you two?”

He had wrongfully suspected his brother all along. The one he should truly regard as an enemy was clearly the troublemaker he had personally brought in—Pei Zi Song.

“A minor wound like that doesn’t require Doctor Li’s attention,” Yuan Ce sneered softly. “Tomorrow, I’ll personally deal with him.”

The next morning, upstairs at the Qing Le Inn.

Yuan Ce and Pei Zi Song rolled up their sleeves, sitting across from each other at the ends of the table. Each extended a hand toward the other—

“I may not have control over my strength. Speak up if it hurts, Sir Pei.”

“... I’m fine. Young General Shen, feel free to proceed.”

Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Xueqing stood behind them respectively, watching the scene unfold with wide-eyed astonishment.

They saw Yuan Ce holding Pei Zi Song’s injured hand, shaking a bottle of medicine, and sprinkling the golden powder onto the wound on his hand. After Pei Zi Song endured the pain with a grimace, Yuan Ce picked up a clean roll of fine cloth and carefully wrapped it around his hand, securing it neatly and tucking in the excess edges meticulously.

Jiang Zhiyi, standing behind Yuan Ce, shivered involuntarily as goosebumps rose on her skin.

After the martial law lifted yesterday, travel within the city had returned to normal. This morning, immediately after breakfast, she came to visit Pei Zi Song. When she left, Yuan Ce clung to her like a sticky plaster, claiming he was simply passing by the Qing Le Inn on his way to the camp.

She thought Yuan Ce had come to cause trouble again, perhaps mocking Pei Zi Song for making a fuss over such a minor injury. However, upon entering the inn’s room, Yuan Ce volunteered to change Pei Zi Song’s bandages. His meticulous and gentle technique mirrored the way he had once bandaged her ankle, leaving her unable to find fault with anything.

... Had this man really changed?

Why did it make her feel so uneasy?

Across the table, although Pei Zi Song accepted Yuan Ce’s kindness, every finger on his hand stiffened awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable from head to toe.

Yuan Ce gently placed Pei Zi Song’s hand down and said to the slightly embarrassed man opposite him: “In ancient times, Guan Yu laughed and talked while having his bone scraped during surgery. Today, Sir Pei endures having his bandages changed without a sound. Truly, Sir Pei is a hero.”

Pei Zi Song shook his head humbly: “My small injury cannot compare to Guan Yu’s. I am deeply ashamed...”

Jiang Zhiyi opened her mouth, about to tell him not to be modest—

“If it weren’t for you,” Yuan Ce glanced at Jiang Zhiyi, “my wife might not have survived unscathed.”

... What? What wife?

Jiang Zhiyi’s ears tingled, and she physically trembled.

“One reason I came today was to change Sir Pei’s bandages. The second reason was to thank Sir Pei for saving my wife.” Yuan Ce stood up and gave a respectful bow to Pei Zi Song.

Pei Zi Song quickly stood up and returned an even deeper bow: “It was nothing, Young General Shen. Please don’t mention it—neither you nor your esteemed wife need to be so polite.”

Yuan Ce glanced at Pei Zi Song and bowed even lower.

Pei Zi Song hurriedly bowed even lower.

Jiang Zhiyi: “...”

Pei Xueqing: “...”

Watching the two bowing lower and lower, head to head, Jiang Zhiyi cleared her throat: “That’s enough, you two. You can get up now.”

Neither moved.

Jiang Zhiyi exchanged a glance with Pei Xueqing, then stepped forward and pulled each of them up.

Jiang Zhiyi pulled Yuan Ce aside and whispered, “What has gotten into you this morning…?”

Yuan Ce raised an eyebrow: “Isn’t it true that excessive politeness never offends?”

“When you’re overly polite, it’s strange! Don’t scare him!”

Yuan Ce cast a disapproving look at Jiang Zhiyi and continued addressing Pei Zi Song: “Sir Pei, please maintain a light diet in the coming days. Avoid letting your injured hand come into contact with water or engage in strenuous activities.”

“The army doctor has already explained everything, Young General Shen. Please rest assured.”

“After this round of changing the medicine, you can wait three days before changing it again. Based on the condition of the wound, there should be no need to wrap it with fine cloth afterward.”

“Thank you for your concern, Young General Shen.”

Yuan Ce turned to Jiang Zhiyi: “Is there anything else you want to tell Sir Pei?”

Jiang Zhiyi opened her mouth but realized there was nothing left to say.

Yuan Ce smiled: “Then we won’t disturb Sir Pei’s rest any longer?”

“You go ahead. Xue Qing and I agreed last time that next time we meet, we’ll fly kites together.”

“It’s still not safe outside the city. For now, don’t leave the city.” Yuan Ce glanced at Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Xueqing.

Pei Xueqing quickly said: “I was thinking the same thing. So we’ll just fly kites here in the inn. This inn is rented by my brother, so there are no outsiders, and the courtyard behind is fairly spacious.”

“Since Xue Qing has spoken, you have nothing more to say. Can we go now?” Jiang Zhiyi tilted her chin toward Yuan Ce.

Yuan Ce was silent for a moment, then turned to Pei Zi Song: “I suddenly remembered that Zi Song and I were classmates, yet we’ve never played chess together. How about we play a game today?”

Before Jiang Zhiyi could object to this suggestion that might strain his injured hand, Yuan Ce added: “You can use your uninjured hand.”

“If Brother Yuan has such an interest, Zi Song will gladly accompany you,” Pei Zi Song nodded. “Wait here for a moment while I fetch the chess set from the next room. Xue Qing, come help me?”

Pei Xueqing hesitated for a moment but saw the subtle hint in her brother’s eyes and followed him out.

Entering the adjacent room, she watched as her brother closed the door behind him, looking troubled and hesitant to speak. Pei Xueqing took the initiative: “Brother, do you have something to say to me?”

Fetching the chess set hardly required her help. Besides, her brother had always been meticulous with etiquette and would never leave guests unattended without reason.

“Xue Qing, I know you’re not one to act impulsively, so when you said you wanted to come to Hedong, I accompanied you without asking why. But now—” Pei Zi Song sighed deeply, “I can’t bear to see you continue like this. Regardless of your background, even ordinary girls wouldn’t willingly become concubines. Do you understand?”

“...”

Pei Xueqing hastily shook her head: “Brother, you misunderstand me, and you misunderstand Young General Shen...”

“Young General Shen is usually so unrestrained, yet he treated me with such courtesy today. Could it not be to win over me as an elder brother to propose taking you as a concubine? He might bring this up during their chess match later. I’m letting you know beforehand; don’t blame me, but I absolutely cannot agree.”

Pei Xueqing was both amused and frustrated, unable to explain clearly: “Brother, it’s really not like that!”

“If not, then why did you come to Hedong? And what exactly is Young General Shen planning today?”

“I can’t tell you why I came to Hedong, but I think I know why Young General Shen acted this way—” Pei Xueqing thought for a moment, “Brother, have you ever had an extraordinary relationship with the young mistress? From what I observed today, it seems Young General Shen is clearly jealous, asserting his relationship with the young mistress.”

Pei Zi Song was taken aback and stammered: “I—I have no extraordinary relationship with the young mistress!”

“Today, Sister Zhiyi came to visit your injury, but Young General Shen took the lead, saying everything she intended to say and fulfilling every courtesy. He didn’t want her to exchange another word with you...” Pei Xueqing paused. “While you’re questioning me, I have to ask you—do you have any feelings for the young mistress?”

“Absolutely not!” Pei Zi Song’s ears turned red. “... I only regard her as a classmate and friend. I have no inappropriate thoughts whatsoever!”

In the next room, Jiang Zhiyi sat glaring at Yuan Ce: “See? I told you you scared them. They’re definitely whispering about it in the other room.”

“If they’re innocent, they have nothing to fear. Let them talk.” Yuan Ce lounged beside her, seemingly unconcerned.

Jiang Zhiyi huffed: “Aren’t you delaying my kite-flying?”

“So—” Yuan Ce turned his head toward her, “do you really like flying kites?”

Jiang Zhiyi blinked, puzzled: “What do you mean by ‘really’?”

“You said it yourself—during the second month of spring, when grass grows and orioles fly, your kite accidentally got stuck in a tree. I stood behind you to help retrieve it, and then you turned your head, I lowered mine, and we—”

Jiang Zhiyi froze for a long moment, finally realizing what he was quoting. She abruptly lunged forward to cover Yuan Ce’s mouth with her hands.

Leaning back in his chair, Yuan Ce smirked, looking down at her: “Covering my mouth won’t change what’s written in black and white.”

Jiang Zhiyi reluctantly released him and sat upright again: “That story is fake, completely made up. Are you really going to take it as if it happened between us?”

“Then you should be even less willing to imagine it happening between you and—” Yuan Ce omitted “my brother” aloud.

... Being the tallest among dwarfs doesn’t make one honorable.

Fortunately, the storybook wasn’t with them now. If he read the entire volume, who knows if he’d recite it to her every day.

Jiang Zhiyi didn’t feel like arguing with him. Just then, the Pei siblings returned from the other room. She let Yuan Ce and Pei Zi Song play their chess match slowly and went off to fly kites with Pei Xueqing.

In the inn’s courtyard, under the vast sky of early spring, the azure expanse shimmered brilliantly.

Pei Xueqing held two handmade kites for Jiang Zhiyi to choose from, asking which one she preferred.

Jiang Zhiyi was wearing a green skirt with a golden waistband today, so she picked the emerald-green kite that matched her outfit. She sighed to Pei Xueqing: “Actually, I haven’t flown a kite in a long time. Elder Sister Baojia doesn’t like such trifles, and I don’t have any close friends. Flying kites alone always feels silly and not much fun.”

“If you like it, we can fly kites together every spring in the future.”

Jiang Zhiyi envisioned the future and nodded: “By next spring, I’ll surely be in Chang’an.”

Since Jiang Zhiyi hadn’t flown kites in years, she was somewhat out of practice. Pei Xueqing took advantage of the eastern breeze to launch her kite into the air first, then handed the reel to her. All Jiang Zhiyi needed to do was gently guide it.

Holding the reel in one hand and pulling the string with the other, Jiang Zhiyi happily ran around in circles, chatting idly with Pei Xueqing: “By the way, I noticed your brother’s face was flushed when he returned earlier. Why was that?”

Pei Xueqing launched her own kite into the sky and sighed with a smile: “Brother truly misunderstood my relationship with Young General Shen. We argued briefly, but I’ve already clarified everything. It’s all fine now.”

“You barely exchanged glances with Young General Shen. Brother must be overthinking things!” Jiang Zhiyi suddenly remembered something and leaned closer to whisper in Pei Xueqing’s ear: “... Speaking of which, I noticed you rarely look at him when talking to him. Is it strange to look at him?”

They couldn’t mention sensitive topics directly, so they spoke in riddles only they understood. Pei Xueqing nodded: “Of course. I’m afraid of staring too much and offending him unintentionally.”

“But why—” Jiang Zhiyi absentmindedly fiddled with the reel in her hand, “why don’t I feel that way when I look at him?”

“Young General Shen is already so close to you. When you look at him, how could you possibly think of anyone else?”

“He and I aren’t close at all...” At most, it was a false closeness. Jiang Zhiyi muttered, absentmindedly standing still for too long. When the wind stopped, the kite plummeted straight down, getting caught on a ten-foot-tall peach tree in the courtyard.

“Oh no...” The two rushed forward, tugging at the string to retrieve the kite, but the thin line was tangled in the branches and wouldn’t come loose.

Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Xueqing were the same height, and even on tiptoes, neither could reach the branch.

“I really haven’t flown a kite in too long...” Jiang Zhiyi pouted, standing beneath the tree.

“Don’t worry. Kites getting stuck in trees is common. I’ll fetch a stool.” Pei Xueqing turned and headed inside.

Left alone under the tree, Jiang Zhiyi thought about how Yuan Ce’s words earlier had jinxed her. Thanks to his recitation of the storybook, her kite had indeed gotten stuck in a tree—though it wasn’t February, it was March; not an apricot tree, but a peach tree. Her kite was now perched atop a branch.

Jiang Zhiyi glared at the upstairs window, as if trying to bore a hole through it, silently cursing Yuan Ce in her heart. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. A shadow fell over her, and in her line of sight appeared a narrow sleeve and the hand of a young man.

The hand gently flicked its fingertips, causing the pale pink petals above to flutter and fall. Her kite was plucked from the branch.

However, the person behind her didn’t speak after retrieving the kite. He simply stood there silently, not handing it to her.

The sweet fragrance of peach blossoms mingled with the familiar scent of soap, creating a dizzying, intoxicating aura.

As if sensing what was about to happen, Jiang Zhiyi stood frozen under the tree, her heart pounding wildly. Her head began to spin and grow warm.

The breeze brushed past her face, lifting strands of hair. Hesitating, trembling, she slowly turned her head.

The person behind her bent his neck and lowered his head.

Jiang Zhiyi shivered and instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.

Yuan Ce gazed down at her, bringing his nose close to hers, slowly descending until he lightly brushed her lips, delivering a kiss like a rabbit waiting patiently by a tree—

“Now,” he murmured, “the story has come true.”