Chapter 4: Going Up the Mountain
The rain had stopped by the next day, leaving behind a clear and sunny sky. The bluestones in the courtyard were warmed by the sun, their surfaces gleaming with a lush green hue.
He Yan woke at the third crow of the rooster. When Qingmei awoke and found her missing from the bed, she was startled and hurriedly searched around, only to sigh in relief upon spotting He Yan sitting motionless on a stone stool in the courtyard.
"Young Mistress, why are you up so early? Was the bedding too thin and cold?" Qingmei asked.
"It's nothing. I just couldn't sleep," He Yan replied.
She had never been one to laze in bed. In the military camp, there had been no moment of relaxation—even at night, they had to remain vigilant against enemy ambushes. Since her youth, she had trained in martial arts, truly rising at the rooster's crow to practice. Even after marrying into the Xu family, she couldn’t shake the habit, though it earned her ridicule behind her back. After losing her sight, however, she no longer rose so early—day and night made no difference to her. She still woke at the rooster’s call but waited until the household stirred before getting up,
so as not to stand out too much.
"Where’s Father?" she asked.
"The master has already gone to the training grounds. Young Master just woke up as well. Young Mistress, please change your clothes and come eat," Qingmei said before scurrying off to the kitchen.
With only one maidservant in the household, there was always more work than hands could manage.
By the time He Yan reached the main hall, He Yunsheng was already seated at the table, eating.
The young man was dressed as plainly as the day before, his attire resembling that of a common laborer. When he saw He Yan, he merely glanced at her before looking away and lifting his bowl to drink his porridge.
The meal was simple—plain congee with pickled vegetables. Given the family’s modest means, they couldn’t afford anything more refined. Even so, there was a plate of pastries on the table, though they looked rather crude and smelled unrefined—clearly prepared by He Sui especially for his daughter.
He Yan also picked up her bowl and drank the porridge quickly, surprising both Qingmei and He Yunsheng. The old He Yan had been picky and reluctant to eat properly, dragging out a single bowl of porridge for ages. Nothing like today—she finished it swiftly. Yet she didn’t immediately reach for the pastries—those were meant for her, and neither Qingmei nor He Yunsheng would touch them.
He Yunsheng set his bowl down and stood up. He Yan looked up and asked, "Where are you going?"
He Yunsheng frowned. "What’s it to you?" He was about to snap impatiently when his gaze caught the marks on He Yan’s palm, and his words faltered.
He had expected her to complain to He Sui about yesterday’s incident, but the morning had passed peacefully—it seemed she hadn’t stirred trouble, and He Sui remained unaware of her injury.
His tone softened slightly. "Going up the mountain to gather firewood."
In He Yunsheng’s mind, He Yan would have lost interest at this point, retreating to her room to fiddle with her cosmetics before dressing up and heading out for a leisurely stroll. Instead, her eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
"Really? I’ll come with you."
Before He Yunsheng could respond, Qingmei interjected, "Young Mistress, why would you go? The mountain paths are slippery after the rain, covered in mud. What if you fall?"
"Exactly," He Yunsheng chimed in, relieved that at least someone in the house was sensible. "Don’t go looking for trouble."Both of them thought He Yan was just acting on a whim, but she turned to Qingmei and said, "Father is at the training ground during the day and only comes home at night. Qingmei, you have so much work to do and can't follow me all the time. He Yun Sheng." She called his name, making He Yun Sheng jolt. "If you don't take me with you, I'll go by myself."
"Hey!" He Yun Sheng was furious.
"Is there a third person in this house who can control me?" she asked leisurely.
He Yun Sheng was speechless. There wasn't just no third person—there was no one in the house who could rein in He Yan's temperament. Thanks to He Sui's doting, He Yan listened to no one—well, except for that Young Master Fan.
"Fine, go if you want," the young man snapped. "But if you fall halfway and cry to go home, don't expect me to bring you back."
He Yan shrugged.
He Yun Sheng stormed off, baffled. After falling ill, He Yan had somehow become even more insufferable. If the old He Yan had been a spoiled young lady, the current He Yan had an added layer of shamelessness, making her even harder to deal with.
She really was his nemesis!
...
The path up Dragon Ring Peak was rugged and treacherous, mostly frequented by poor woodcutters and herb gatherers.
Unknown wildflowers dotted the roadside, brightening the grass with their colors. But this was no leisurely stroll—the rocks underfoot clung to the cliffside, and a glance downward was enough to make one's legs tremble.
He Yun Sheng had walked this path countless times and knew how difficult the climb was. He waited to hear He Yan's complaints and tears, but from start to finish, she didn't utter a single word of protest.
Unable to resist, He Yun Sheng turned around and was shocked to find that He Yan wasn't far behind—she was practically keeping pace with him.
How was this possible?
Even men struggled on this path, let alone a delicate young lady like He Yan, who used to rub her knees after walking too far. Since when had her stamina improved so much?
"Why are you staring at me?" He Yan asked, puzzled. "Aren't we moving forward?"
Without a word, He Yun Sheng turned back and continued climbing.
She must be faking it. She’ll collapse any moment now!
He Yan sighed as she looked at her legs.
Her leg strength was pitifully weak. Walking this stretch with He Yun Sheng had left her uncharacteristically exhausted. It seemed she still had a long way to go.
"This is far enough," He Yun Sheng said, stopping and pulling an axe from his waist.
The area was thick with scrubby trees, and He Yun Sheng chose the thinner ones for easier chopping. He pointed to a nearby rock and told He Yan, "Just sit here for a while. I'll be chopping for about an hour."
"Here?" He Yan nodded and took off the cloth bag she was carrying.
He Yun Sheng watched in disbelief as she pulled out an axe from the bag.
"Wh-what are you doing?" He Yun Sheng stammered, his mind blank.
He had assumed her bag held a water flask, but instead, she had brought an axe? She had carried an axe all this way without falling behind? He wondered if he was dreaming.
What happened next only convinced him further that he was.He saw his delicate sister, He Yan, who usually complained about the weight of a teacup, effortlessly swing the axe in front of her. With one swift motion, she chopped off a cluster of branches as if she had done it a thousand times before.
She said, "Let me help you. It'll be quick."
(End of Chapter)
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