"What is that?" Gu Yi couldn't help but exclaim in shock. This woman was simply too formidable. Just moments ago, when he had been cornered by the wolf pack with no way out, she had taken down the alpha wolf with a single move—it was truly terrifying. His heart was filled with both astonishment and doubt. None of the noble daughters he knew were said to have such remarkable skills, and her courage was no less impressive.
His surprised expression was unmistakable, prompting Jin San to laugh. "You looked quite adorable just now, especially when you fell off the horse—like a wooden club."
Gu Yi: "..."
......
Unlike Gu Yi's leisurely demeanor, Jiang Xin Zhi and Zhao Jin were facing a far more perilous situation. A massive black bear stood tall on its hind legs, its towering frame resembling a small mountain, while drool dripped from its grotesquely gaping maw.
Zhao Jin was so frantic that she forgot all about keeping her distance from Jiang Xin Zhi. In her panic, her usual resolve crumbled. "Ah, what do we do now? That bear doesn't look easy to deal with. Should we just run?"
"You won't outrun it unless you climb a tree, but the trees here are all too thin. If you climb up, it'll just snap the branches, and you'll still end up as its meal," Jiang Xin Zhi explained calmly, unhurried.
Zhao Jin grew exasperated at his words. "Then what? You don't have your bow, and I lost mine while running. Neither of us has any weapons—are we just supposed to sit here and wait to die? Fine, I'll stay. You run first. You're the Great General, after all—you can't just get eaten by a bear."
At this, Jiang Xin Zhi's gaze flickered as he looked at her. "I should run first?"
"Yeah, better one person dies than two. I still have two older brothers at home, but if you die, Ruan Meimei will be left all alone. You should go. If we're lucky, you might find someone to come back and save me. That'd be my fate, I guess."
Jiang Xin Zhi cut her off. "You've been avoiding me ever since that night, acting like you despise me. Why are you trying to save me now?"
"I... I don't despise you!" Zhao Jin was frustrated. A few nights ago, she had gotten drunk and, unbeknownst to her family, sneaked out. Outside the General's Residence, she had bumped into Jiang Xin Zhi. When he held her back, Zhao Jin, in a moment of reckless impulse, had blurted out her feelings for him under the influence of alcohol. By the time she sobered up, she was mortified, feeling too ashamed to face him again, so she hid away. Never did she expect Jiang Xin Zhi to seek her out during today's hunt. And now, faced with such a dire situation, Zhao Jin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was this what Lin Zixiang had called "born from the same mother, destined to die in the same hole"?
"With the bear right in front of us, let's focus on what to do now," Zhao Jin said, averting her gaze. The massive creature was enough to make anyone tremble. No matter how brave she was, she was still just a girl—fear was inevitable. The thought of dying under the bear's jaws was horrifying.
The corners of Jiang Xin Zhi's lips seemed to quirk slightly as he looked at her. Suddenly, he asked, "Zhao Jin, do you like me?"
Caught off guard by the question, Zhao Jin instinctively nodded. "You're so annoying. If I didn't like you, why would I be willing to die for you?"As soon as Zhao Jin spoke, she knew she had said the wrong thing. Regret filled her heart, and she couldn’t bear to meet Jiang Xin Zhi’s gaze. No matter how brave and fearless a girl might be, she would always feel a hint of shyness in front of the one she loved. But now, with the situation and the place all wrong, Zhao Jin almost felt like crying. She fixed her bright eyes on the enormous black bear and said, “Anyway, it’s too late to say anything now. You can just treat my feelings for you as a story. After you return today, go back to being your great general. There are countless noble ladies in the capital who want to marry you—like fish swimming across a river. You’ll surely find one who suits your heart’s desire. Then you can grow old together with her, living in perfect harmony…”
She, who had never been fond of studying and detested flowery phrases, had just used two such idioms in a row. Perhaps even she found her own words unbearably sentimental, but the more she thought about it, the more her heart ached. Since Jiang Xin Zhi had been appointed as a general, he had become one of the most outstanding young talents in the court—so young, handsome, and gentle. Countless women dreamed of marrying him. She had once subtly asked her two elder brothers what kind of women men generally liked. Both had said: gentle, graceful, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and preferably with a touch of delicate vulnerability. Zhao Jin thought of herself, standing in the courtyard with a spear, stabbing through straw dummies in one thrust, and felt even more disheartened. Right now, her intention had been to persuade Jiang Xin Zhi to leave quickly, but the thought of him truly spending his life with some delicate, lovely woman made her heart sour. She sniffled, her eyes instantly reddening, but stubbornly lifted her head, forcing back the tears. “Since we are fated to have no future in this life, it’s better to turn my feelings for you into the affection between friends. I have no regrets dying for a great general like you. We’ve spent time together in the Eastern Barbarian Country’s camp, and now we’re facing this situation side by side. We can be considered life-and-death comrades, can’t we?”
Jiang Xin Zhi had initially softened at Zhao Jin’s words, his heart aching when he saw her reddened eyes. But the moment she uttered that last sentence, his face darkened again. What kind of talk was this? Turning her feelings into friendship? The way she spoke made it sound like a battlefield comrade protecting his lord. He had originally waited for this girl to realize things on her own, but now it seemed that, given her way of thinking, she might never understand even if he waited a lifetime. Fine. Since he was the man, he might as well take the initiative.
“You should get on the horse first,” Jiang Xin Zhi said, suddenly pulling her onto his own steed. Zhao Jin’s horse had long been injured by the bear and couldn’t move, but Jiang Xin Zhi’s “injured” horse had miraculously recovered and could run again. Zhao Jin was slightly startled when Jiang Xin Zhi abruptly drew the soft sword from his waist and slashed through the thicket of thorns ahead, clearing a path just wide enough for the two of them and the horse to gallop through.
The massive black bear, though its fur was tough, was helpless against the knife-sharp thorns and could only roar furiously from behind. The horse sped away swiftly, and Zhao Jin finally snapped out of her daze, gaping in disbelief. “How is the horse running again? Wasn’t it injured?”
“It’s healed now,” Jiang Xin Zhi replied."Then your arrows are gone..." Zhao Jin was held in front of him, leaning against Jiang Xin Zhi's chest. It was her first time being this close to a man's body. Her previous interactions with men had either been martial contests or fights—never anything this gentle.
"If arrows are gone, there's still the sword," Jiang Xin Zhi replied.
Even someone as oblivious as Zhao Jin sensed something amiss. She abruptly sat up straight and stared at Jiang Xin Zhi in shock. "You lied to me?"
The horse had run a fair distance by now, likely reaching safety as it slowed its pace. Only then did Jiang Xin Zhi have the leisure to look at Zhao Jin. "Why do you think I lied to you?" he asked.
Zhao Jin was straightforward by nature, disliking roundabout talk and despising being deceived or manipulated above all else. Initially furious upon realizing Jiang Xin Zhi had tricked her, his question momentarily distracted her from her anger, leaving her puzzled. "Why?" she asked.
"I just saved you," Jiang Xin Zhi said. "How will you repay me?"
Zhao Jin stared at him blankly, not understanding his meaning. Jiang Xin Zhi had been acting strangely all day, saying things that made little sense. Still, she answered honestly, "I'll have my brother pick out a few good weapons for you. If you don't like those, I can send silver notes later..."
Her earnestness was almost too much. Jiang Xin Zhi found himself torn between laughter and exasperation, suddenly baffled by how someone older than Jiang Ruan could be so lacking in her sharpness, astonishingly dense in certain matters.
"None of that," Jiang Xin Zhi cut her off. "Just marry me."
Zhao Jin blinked, her mind momentarily blank. This made no sense—marry him? Marry him?! The thought jolted her, sending her imagination spiraling out of control. She stammered, "Th-that... back at the Eastern Barbarian Country's camp, I saved you too..."
"Fine then," Jiang Xin Zhi finally lost patience. He pulled her close, leaning down to kiss her. "I'll marry you."
...
The campfire crackled softly as it burned. Jiang Ruan and the others sat around it, their tents already set up—three in total: one for Ye Pei, one for Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan, and one for the Brocade-clad Guards. Ye Pei's guards weren't so fortunate, left to rest against nearby trees.
Jiang Ruan nudged Xiao Shao. "How's my brother doing?" Given the abundance of wild beasts in the hunting grounds—seemingly not just to frighten the noble youths—there had to be deeper implications, though they wouldn't know until tomorrow. Still, she couldn't help worrying about Jiang Xin Zhi.
"I've sent men to protect him. No need to worry," Xiao Shao reassured her, squeezing her hand.
Just then, Ye Pei suddenly wedged his head between the two of them, sitting himself squarely between Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao as if it were the most natural thing. He blinked at Jiang Ruan and said, "Princess Consort, I'm so scared."Fortunately, Ye Pei's guards were seated far enough away not to hear his words, or they would surely have been shocked out of their wits. Even so, the few Brocade-clad Guards who did hear Ye Pei's words widened their eyes in astonishment. This child, who usually appeared as composed as a second Xiao Shao and was the most inscrutable of all, was now showing such guileless vulnerability to Jiang Ruan... Where was the demeanor of a prince? It was more like a fledgling nestling against its mother.
Jiang Ruan was most susceptible to Ye Pei's tactics. Even though he had since changed how he addressed her, she still treated him as she had in her past life. She immediately reached out to ruffle his hair and said, "Don't be afraid. I'll stay right here with you, Your Highness."
The jaws of the Brocade-clad Guards dropped once more. Though Jiang Ruan usually appeared gentle, everyone knew she was not someone to be trifled with. Her outward softness was merely courtesy; in reality, she was as icy as their master. Even their master had never received such a tender smile from Jiang Ruan—one that could melt a person's heart. The affection in her gaze was so palpable it sent shivers down their spines. Jin San remarked, "The way the princess consort looks at His Highness isn't how one looks at a prince—it's how one looks at a son. When I was on a mission once, the aunt next door used to look at their Da Niu just like that."
"Perhaps His Highness has awakened her maternal instincts?" Jin Er rubbed his nose. "Maybe the princess consort wants a child of her own? The Thirteenth Prince is adorable, so it's natural she'd dote on him."
Jin Si shook his head. "No, no. Given the princess consort and our master's looks, any child they have would surely be even more beautiful than the Thirteenth Prince."
Jin Yi, who had been silently observing, finally chimed in drily, "That is, if they can have one."
After a moment of silence, Jin San sighed. "Seems our master still has work to do. Even for the princess consort's sake, he can't just sit back and do nothing. Ah, I'll mention it to Old Lin later—he'll surely have some ideas."
By the campfire, Jiang Ruan was blissfully unaware that her affectionate treatment of Ye Pei had, in the eyes of the Brocade-clad Guards, become evidence of Xiao Shao's... inadequacy. The deep bond between her and Ye Pei seemed perfectly natural to Xiao Shao. Since learning of Jiang Ruan's past, Xiao Shao had even softened his view of Ye Pei, sometimes going so far as to instruct the palace's shadow guards to look out for him.
However, Ye Pei clearly didn't appreciate his "stepfather's" well-intentioned efforts. Whenever he saw Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao close, he felt a pang of loss, as though something precious had been taken from him. So, noticing Xiao Shao's indifferent expression, he said, "Prince Xiao truly excels today. With such a bountiful hunt, you'll likely take tomorrow's prize. Have you thought about what reward you'll ask of His Majesty?"
Without waiting for Xiao Shao to respond, Ye Pei continued, "Will you ask for beauties? The palace recently recruited a new batch of them. Or perhaps the Cheng family's young miss? I hear she's quite taken with you—she happens to be here today. Why not seize the opportunity?" His tone was half-teasing, half-serious, making it hard to discern his true intent. The Brocade-clad Guards inwardly cursed the boy for being such a troublemaker, needlessly meddling in the couple's relationship. How infuriating.In the eyes of the Brocade-clad Guards, it seemed one way, but Jiang Ruan saw it differently. Having lived with Ye Pei for many years, she understood his thoughts perfectly. Ye Pei's question was merely forcing Xiao Shao to take a stance. Apparently, the matter concerning that young lady from the Cheng family had caused quite a stir, even alarming Ye Pei. He was standing up for her, afraid she might be bullied by Xiao Shao.
"Since the prize is mine to claim, what I say goes," Xiao Shao said coldly, his face like frost. "When the time comes, I shall request His Majesty to bestow a marriage between Your Highness and the young lady of the Cheng family."
"Hey!" Ye Pei jumped up in anger. "You want me to marry that old woman? How dare you!"
Xiao Shao remained silent, clearly provoking him.
Jiang Ruan felt a headache coming on. Whenever these two were together, they couldn’t seem to keep the peace. Cheng Niannian was, after all, one of the top beauties in the capital of the Da Jin Dynasty, barely seventeen or eighteen years old—though a bit older for Ye Pei, she hardly qualified as an "old woman." Still, the thought of Ye Pei marrying Cheng Niannian didn’t sit right with her. The Cheng family had recently set their sights on Xiao Shao, coveting her husband. If they were to become her son’s in-laws, she, as his mother, would never agree. But if Cheng Niannian really became Ye Pei’s consort, wouldn’t she have to call Jiang Ruan "mother"?
The mere thought of Cheng Niannian and Ye Pei addressing her as "mother" made Jiang Ruan’s expression twist strangely.
"What’s wrong with you?" Ye Pei noticed Jiang Ruan spacing out and nudged her hand. "I—this prince was only joking. The Princess Consort need not take it to heart. If Jinying Wang dares to act recklessly, this prince will never let him off. As for that so-called Miss Cheng—hmph, unless her father wants to lose his position at court."
"Why does the Thirteenth Prince seem like the Princess Consort’s family?" Jin San pondered, then suddenly paled. "Oh no, could it be that he covets the Princess Consort’s beauty and wants to meddle?" The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, and he tensely watched the group.
Jiang Ruan chuckled. Ye Pei was clearly agitated. She walked over to rummage through the baggage Xiao Shao had brought, hoping to find some snacks for Ye Pei. Instead, she discovered a yaozheng zither inside. The instrument looked exquisitely crafted and valuable, yet Xiao Shao had casually tossed it into his luggage. What surprised Jiang Ruan most was that he had brought it at all. "You actually carry a yaozheng with you?" she asked.
Xiao Shao’s lips twitched. "Butler Lin packed it." Jiang Ruan stared at the beautiful zither before her and suddenly realized Xiao Shao truly respected Old Lin from the bottom of his heart. If it were her, she would have had someone remove it long ago—who would bring such a refined instrument to a hunting ground? The Emperor would probably be furious if he found out, seeing it as a blatant disregard for the hunt. After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Ruan picked up the zither and walked over to Xiao Shao, smiling. "Since you’ve brought it anyway, why not play a tune? Can you play?"
Since they had nothing better to do, they might as well entertain themselves. Jiang Ruan was quite skilled at the yaozheng herself, but ever since her rebirth, her heart had been filled with resentment—how could she produce pleasant music? She avoided playing as much as possible to prevent her emotions from seeping into the notes. As a nobleman, Xiao Shao must have learned such arts in his household.Xiao Shao hadn't expected Jiang Ruan to make such a request. He glanced at Ye Pei before letting his gaze fall upon the Brocade-clad Guards not far away. Jin Er and the others quickly pretended to be admiring the flowers, avoiding his eyes. Xiao Shao cleared his throat lightly. "There are too many people here. We can discuss this after returning to the manor—"
"Could it be that Prince Xiao doesn't know how?" Ye Pei, ever the troublemaker, interjected. "Ah, what a rare occasion for the princess consort to be in such a mood. This prince has heard that Prince Xiao is accomplished in both civil and martial arts, excelling at everything. So it turns out he can't play the yao zither? Tsk tsk, what a pity. But if the princess consort truly wishes to hear it, this prince can play a tune for her. After all, not every man in this world is as omniscient as they appear."
Ye Pei had always been delicate and refined in appearance, though his youth still lent him a touch of childishness. In the palace, his speech and demeanor had been restrained, masking that immaturity. But in front of Jiang Ruan, he couldn't help but reveal a childlike playfulness, displaying the liveliness befitting his age. His words were articulate and carried an air of precocious wisdom.
Though they were undeniably provocative...
Xiao Shao ignored him, turning instead to Jiang Ruan, who watched the scene with undisguised amusement, her rare interest evident in her gaze.
Seeing this, he no longer refused. He simply brought the yao zither before him. The instrument, crafted from an unknown wood, bore distinct grain patterns and exuded a deep, lustrous sheen. Its fragrance was rich and refreshing, soothing to the soul. The zither alone was enough to captivate attention.
Jin Si rubbed his eyes. "Heavens, am I seeing this right? Our lord is actually going to play the yao zither. Since the prince and princess consort passed away, he hasn't touched it once. I thought he'd never play it again in this lifetime."
"It's been over a decade since we last heard our lord play," Jin Er mused. "Ah, do you all remember when he first learned to use this zither? Every day, countless people gathered outside the manor walls just to listen. Even women tried to climb over the walls to catch a glimpse of our lord's beauty. They say the music reflects the player—I've yet to hear a zither melody in this world that surpasses our lord's."
Indeed, it had been many years since Xiao Shao last touched the yao zither. Back then, before the Brocade Hero King Manor met with misfortune, before Xiao Shao was branded a Traitorous Subject, before he became as cold as he was now—he had merely been somewhat aloof. His striking beauty, paired with that detachment, only made him more exceptional. When he first learned the zither, his state of mind had been serene, and the melodies he played were enchanting. The walls of the manor couldn't contain the crowds that gathered to listen. Had he been a woman, every man in the Da Jin Dynasty would have been spellbound, and every courtesan would have paled in comparison.
Xiao Shao placed the yao zither across his lap. Under the open sky, unbound by formalities, he didn't bother with incense or hand-washing rituals. His left hand rested near the tuning pegs, his right poised over the strings. His movements were practiced, and his natural grace lent him a charm beyond that of ordinary noble youths.The melody flowed from his fingertips, dancing along the strings of the qin, its crisp notes echoing unusually clear across the snowy expanse. The music was ethereal and serene, like a small stream merging gently into the vast ocean, where waves and windblown sands were slowly embraced, leaving not a single ripple behind. It was the tranquility born of weathering life's storms—an unshakable strength emanating from the soul, a composure and peace that nothing could disturb. Behind this formidable presence, there seemed to linger a faint trace of tenderness, unwittingly spilling forth, lending a touch of warmth to the icy wilderness.
Jiang Ruan watched the young man quietly. The campfire cast his fair features in a glow reminiscent of an immortal from a painted scroll—his brows sharp as swords, eyes bright as stars, nose straight, lips thin. His gaze rested on the qin strings, and the flickering firelight softened his countenance, leaving only an air of mystery and gentleness. He was like the icy spring atop a mountain stream, or the solitary moonbeam slipping through an autumn-carved window—aloof yet captivating.
Beauty resembles a painting, and the painting resembles a scenic view. As Butler Lin had said, Xiao Shao, who was playing the zither, was indeed a feast for the eyes. Such a Femme Fatale would likely stir desire in anyone who laid eyes on him. Xiao Shao should be grateful he wasn’t born a woman. Jiang Ruan sighed softly and moved a little closer to him, suddenly reaching out to place her hands on the strings as well.
Before Xiao Shao could react, Jiang Ruan had already begun to pluck the strings. Her playing was slow and deliberate, a stark contrast to his style. If Xiao Shao’s melody was cold—like a solitary moon or frigid stars—hers was fire, passion, and scorching sunlight, vividly pulsating in the heart with an undeniable, dazzling intensity. Yet, in the collision of ice and fire, a strangely harmonious fusion emerged, blending their two melodies into one with an uncanny synergy.
The corners of Xiao Shao’s lips lifted slightly as his fingers continued to dance across the strings. Jiang Ruan smiled as well. She had always feared exposing her inner self and thus avoided playing the zither. Even now, she couldn’t claim her music was entirely serene, but compared to the fierce turbulence of the past, it had mellowed considerably. Perhaps it was because she had attained the same strength as Xiao Shao—strength enough to face life’s ups and downs with composure. Or perhaps it was simply because Xiao Shao was by her side.
(End of Chapter)
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