Everyone on the island believed Chu Dingjiang was not the type to be overly sentimental, yet it wasn’t until three days later that they began to grow anxious.
During those three days, he neither ate nor drank a single drop of water, sitting motionlessly by An Jiu’s bedside.
"Sir, please at least have a few bites," Li Qingzhi urged.
There was no response.
Undeterred, Li Qingzhi brought a cup of water to him. "Sir, have some water."
Still, silence.
After persisting for a while and seeing Chu Dingjiang remain utterly unmoved, Li Qingzhi had no choice but to leave.
The others were gathered in the courtyard. Zhu Pianxian asked, "Still refusing to eat?"
"Yes," Li Qingzhi replied with a pained expression. "I’ve never been good with words—how could I possibly say anything that would move him? Sir is sitting there like a statue, determined to stay rooted to that spot until Shi Si wakes up. He won’t budge otherwise!"
"He’s sharp as a ghost—what sweet talk could possibly deceive him?" Zhu Pianxian glanced at the tightly shut door. "You’re the most straightforward. Maybe he’d listen to you."
For three days, Li Qingzhi had delivered meals and repeated nearly the same words, only to receive the same silent response from Chu Dingjiang each time.
"It seems we underestimated Dingjiang’s feelings for Shi Si," Sheng Changying sighed.
A heavy silence fell over the courtyard until light footsteps sounded on the garden path.
Li Qingzhi tensed, but Zhu Pianxian said, "It’s Aunt Mei."
Moments later, Mei Yanran’s figure came into view.
"Why are you all gathered here?" Mei Yanran found it odd. The island’s residents weren’t particularly sociable and rarely congregated during the day unless something important had happened.
Li Qingzhi seized the opportunity as if grasping at a lifeline. "Shi Si has fallen into a coma, and Sir has been refusing to eat or drink while keeping vigil over her."
In the eyes of the others, An Jiu was Mei Yanran’s daughter. Perhaps sharing the burden of grief might lessen Chu Dingjiang’s stubborn resolve.
Zhu Pianxian shot Li Qingzhi a disapproving look. Couldn’t he have phrased it more delicately? Though the mother-daughter relationship was strained, they were still family.
"A coma?" Mei Yanran was taken aback.
"She’s inside," Li Qingzhi said.
After a brief pause, Mei Yanran entered the room.
Sunlight filled the chamber, yet the scene within felt frozen in time.
Mei Yanran approached the bed and gazed at the familiar face that seemed merely asleep. Her heart clenched slowly. Though she knew her daughter was at Hua Manor, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the one lying here was also her child.
"Take a rest," Mei Yanran said softly to Chu Dingjiang after a deep breath. "There’s a group from the Crane Control Army lingering by the plum grove on the lakeshore. They’re your subordinates, aren’t they? They wish to see you."
Chu Dingjiang stirred slightly, his voice hoarse. "The Second Prince won."
It was a statement, not a question. With the Crown Prince dead, though his remaining faction was sizable, it had only been a matter of bloody confrontation.
"Yes. The Second Prince has ascended the throne and chosen to hold his coronation ceremony in ten days," Mei Yanran elaborated. "All who contributed will be rewarded with titles and promotions. I don’t know what role you played in these events, but didn’t you dedicate yourself for this very outcome?"
No. It wasn’t for fame or fortune—only to prove his own existence. Achieving his ambitions had been the goal; the accompanying rewards were incidental. Now, claiming credit would only shackle him with new burdens.
Chu Dingjiang let out a quiet laugh but offered no explanation."Regardless, I must give my subordinates an explanation. She... is after all my daughter." Mei Yanran's voice choked up as she spoke these words, "Let me take care of her. What else are you worried about?"
Yes, this was her daughter. Even if another soul now inhabited this body, it was still a piece of flesh that had come from her own.
Mei Yanran finally understood why she felt so distressed—she couldn't bear to see the familiar eyes filled with loneliness and indifference. When she first learned the truth, her emotions had been complicated, filled with hatred for this wandering spirit that had taken over her daughter's body. But as time passed, she found it increasingly difficult to clearly distinguish between the soul and the shell.
Now, seeing An Jiu lying on the bed, Mei Yanran felt not only heartache but also sorrow. This child had always cautiously tried to get closer to her, and she hadn’t missed the hidden longing for maternal affection behind that cold exterior.
"I'll be back soon." For the first time in three days, Chu Dingjiang stood up.
Mei Yanran nodded and took his place by the bed to keep watch.
The people outside were overjoyed to see Chu Dingjiang emerge, but before they could even greet him, only a fleeting shadow remained.
In the plum grove.
Chu Dingjiang appeared silently where the black-clad monks were hiding.
"My lord." The men emerged and knelt on one knee before him.
Chu Dingjiang's gaze swept over each of them, finally settling on a man holding a blade.
The man felt an overwhelming pressure, as if his bones were about to shatter. He knew why, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to beg for mercy or admit fault.
"Su, I ordered you to lead the team to obstruct Elder Zhi. Why didn’t you act?" Chu Dingjiang's tone was calm, but the pressure he exerted felt like a mountain crashing down from the sky, making even the earth tremble.
Su's back was instantly drenched in sweat. Only when he sensed Chu Dingjiang's suppression ease slightly could he speak. "At the time, another archery master was confronting Elder Zhi. I thought the plan had changed."
"That’s no excuse. Tell me the truth." Chu Dingjiang's voice was icy.
They were all trained members of the Crane Control Army. Without orders to alter the battle plan, they were absolutely forbidden to act on their own—this rule was ingrained in their very bones.
Struggling under the pressure, Su roared, "Because of He Cai!"
Just as he was about to lead his men to ambush Elder Zhi, he saw He Cai sneaking alone toward the Crown Prince. He knew that whether she succeeded or not, she would surely die. So he changed the plan on his own, trying to save her.
Su gave up resisting and collapsed to the ground, looking utterly disheveled. "You know she likes you."
Chu Dingjiang raised an eyebrow. He truly hadn’t known He Cai had feelings for him. When he had asked for volunteers to protect An Jiu, He Cai had eagerly stepped forward. Beyond that, their interactions had been minimal—he hadn’t even shown his face to most of them.
"Because she likes you, she was willing to risk everything to help you achieve your goals." Su noticed the pressure on him lightening further and forced himself to sit up, looking up to study the man who led them.
By all appearances, Chu Dingjiang was indeed superior to him in every way.
"After meeting that woman, she agreed to return to our hometown with me." Su's cold, resolute gaze softened. "I followed you in the hopes that one day He Cai and I could lay down our blades and retire to the countryside. If she died, what would be the point of everything I’ve done?"Chu Dingjiang remained silent for a moment. "You may leave."
Su seemed taken aback, not expecting Chu Dingjiang to let him go so easily.
Chu said, "Those who wish to retire may leave now. Those who want to claim the reward can stay." (To be continued...)
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