Hidden Shadow

An Jiu's lips curled slightly, but the smile remained hidden beneath her veil, unseen by Mei Jiu.

"You've been talking about me all this time. How have you been?" Mei Jiu asked.

"I'm doing well," An Jiu paused before continuing, "I've joined the Crane Control Army now. Sooner or later, I’ll find out about your mother’s whereabouts. You..."

She suddenly didn’t know how to proceed. Should Mei Yanran even be told about this?

Tears welled up in Mei Jiu’s eyes. "Let’s not tell her for now. If you ever get the chance to leave, take her far away from all this trouble. Help take care of her for the rest of her life. Even if... your rebirth into my body was fate’s arrangement and you owe me nothing, this body was still a part of her flesh and blood."

"Do you understand your current situation?"

If she didn’t, Mei Jiu would surely have wanted to devote her life to filial piety toward Mei Yanran. She wouldn’t have made such a decision so readily.

"I was reborn into a shadow unit. If the Emperor hadn’t grown suspicious of the Hua Clan, I wouldn’t have been assigned here. And the Hua Clan might already know about it." Mei Jiu’s face grew paler as she spoke. She forced a smile. "But this is all just my speculation."

An Jiu studied her for a moment before sighing with some emotion. "So this is why some fools remain fools—they were never placed in the right time or position."

Mei Jiu sighed helplessly, long accustomed to her blunt way of speaking.

"What do you plan to do?" An Jiu suddenly wanted to know what path Mei Jiu would choose.

Mei Jiu replied, "I don’t want anything to do with the Crane Control Army. Since I’ve married him, he’ll be my husband for life. Where he goes, I follow, in life or death."

An Jiu sensed an eighth-rank martial arts master approaching stealthily and hesitated. "He won’t trust you."

"I know." Mei Jiu clenched the handkerchief in her hand—a habitual gesture when she was distressed. "But if I treat him with sincerity, one day he’ll believe me. I’m not one for schemes, and even if I were, I wouldn’t use them."

"Why?"

"If it comes to cunning, a hundred Mei Jius tied together couldn’t match Hua. Besides, you know me—scheming in matters of the heart would only hurt me more than it hurts others. I’d wound myself before I even touch them." Mei Jiu looked at her softly. "Am I very foolish?"

An Jiu shook her head. "No. I have a feeling this is the smartest moment of both your lifetimes combined."

At first glance, it sounded like praise, but the more one thought about it, the stranger it seemed...

Mei Jiu knew An Jiu had a habit of speaking harshly. That she could say something like this was already a rare concession. Mei Jiu didn’t dare ask for more.

"Since you understand everything in your heart, and I’ve said what I needed to say, you’ll have to weigh your options yourself." An Jiu stood. "I’m leaving."

Mei Jiu grabbed her hand. "Don’t go. An Jiu, stay and talk with me a little longer. Even though I’ve figured things out, I’m still terrified inside."

The timid nature Mei Jiu had cultivated since childhood was ingrained in her bones. It wouldn’t vanish just because she had a moment of clarity. She needed courage to keep moving forward, but when she found something to cling to, she couldn’t let go.

"Your path is yours to walk." An Jiu looked down at her. "I can’t help you."

"I know..." Mei Jiu murmured. "I just want you to talk with me sometimes."

"Do you know what my identity is now?" An Jiu asked.She was now a member of the Crane Control Army's shadow unit. If Hua Rongtian found out his wife frequently met with shadow operatives, what would he think? Their marriage had started off on the wrong foot, and such complications would only drive them further apart.

"To be honest, I don’t have high hopes for this marriage," An Jiu voiced her thoughts plainly to Mei Jiu. "But right now, you don’t have a better path to take, which is why I reluctantly agreed to let you take this gamble. The deadline is until I find your mother. If by then you decide to leave with me, I’ll take you away."

Mei Jiu released her hand and nodded, tears welling in her eyes.

An Jiu reached the doorway, then paused and turned back. "Actually, I don’t have high hopes for any marriage."

She added that last line mainly to soften the blow—to make it clear that this was just her personal opinion, hoping Mei Jiu wouldn’t be too affected by it.

Mei Jiu watched as An Jiu stepped into the glaring sunlight, her silhouette fading into the white brilliance before disappearing into the trees. After a moment of reflection, a faint smile touched Mei Jiu’s lips as she murmured, "You’ve changed too."

The spring breeze brushed against her face.

Once outside the Hua residence, An Jiu glanced back. Midway through their conversation, she had sensed an eighth-rank martial arts master lurking nearby. At the time, Mei Jiu had been speaking of her determination to stay with Hua Rongtian for life, so An Jiu had remained silent, letting her words carry.

In broad daylight, with the Hua estate heavily guarded, an eighth-rank master couldn’t come and go freely unless he belonged to the household. If he overheard Mei Jiu’s words, perhaps Hua Rongtian would feel a little more at ease.

"Yo!" Hua Rongjian’s voice called from atop the opposite wall.

An Jiu looked up to meet his radiant grin. "Looking back so fondly—can’t bear to leave me, eh?"

Pedestrians passed by on the street, barely sparing a glance at Hua Rongjian’s usual antics of teasing young women.

An Jiu ignored him and continued south.

Hua Rongjian leaped down from the wall, dusting himself off before following her. "Mei Shisi, what exactly did you say to my maid?"

"The truth," An Jiu replied.

"That girl is usually the liveliest and most cheerful. The moment she got back today, she locked herself in her room and cried her eyes out." Hua Rongjian wasn’t particularly worried about Chun Meng—just unbearably curious. "In the blink of an eye, how did you make her cry?"

"How is it my fault she cried?" An Jiu didn’t even glance at him. "I just said her name sounds like ‘spring dream’ or ‘spring stirrings.’ Wasn’t that name your doing?"

An Jiu knew the customs here—many maids’ names were chosen according to their masters’ whims, and this one was undoubtedly Hua the Second’s handiwork.

"Hah? That’s it? That girl’s had some schooling—she knows the original meaning and origin of her name! You must’ve said something else!" Hua Rongjian insisted.

"No," An Jiu stated flatly. "Even your maid doesn’t trust you. Speaks volumes about your character."

"My character’s flawed? Go ask around!" Hua Rongjian huffed. "Sure, I might be a bit unrestrained, but I’ve never stooped to stealing chickens, dogs, or garlic sprouts!"

"No need to ask." An Jiu quickened her pace as she entered a shadowed alley, leaving him behind. "Your reputation for lowering the moral standards of all Bianjing is common knowledge."Hua Er was panting heavily. Hearing those words, he wanted to rush forward and fight her, but couldn't even catch up. He silently cursed himself for being too idle lately, "Mei Shisi, stop right there!"

An Jiu spread her mental strength to confirm no one was around, then pulled off her outer skirt and tossed it at Hua Rongjian. Wearing only her close-fitting outfit, she swiftly vaulted over a high wall.

The skirt landed right on Hua Rongjian's face. Furious, he yanked it off and chased after her.

But when he climbed over the wall, he discovered it was actually a government office!

"Audacious troublemaker! How dare you trespass into government property!" A nearby officer shouted, charging forward with his sword drawn, reaching them in mere moments.

Hua Rongjian's foot slipped, causing him to fall off the wall. He quickly turned and fled, "Damn it! No wonder this wall was higher than the others!" (To be continued...)

PS: Seeing some readers voting for updates, others giving rewards, and even pink votes—thank you all for your generous support. I'll rest for a day or two before starting double updates.