This was Jiang Xingyan’s first time truly experiencing the feeling of being drunk.
Her entire soul seemed to float, her steps light and bouncy as if she were walking on cotton.
Everything around her blurred and spun, making her dizzy.
Yet, one tall, slender figure stood there, steady and unwavering, his sleeves fluttering slightly as he reached out a hand to her. “Young Mistress.”
It was Yun Ge.
She drifted over, and the moment her fingers touched his, she was pulled into his embrace.
The crisp, cool scent of snow pine filled her nostrils.
Yun Ge held her tightly—this was the first time he had ever overstepped so brazenly.
It felt as if he might lose her the very next second.
Jiang Xingyan only then realized how tall Yun Ge had grown; she had to stand on her tiptoes just to reach his shoulders.
His body trembled slightly, as if he was try best to endure something with great effort.
“Young Mistress.”
He called out to her, over and over again, confirming that she was still there.
“This time, let Yun Ge protect the Young Mistress, alright?”
Jiang Xingyan looked up in a daze. Gazing at Yun Ge, who was always so cool and self-possessed, she saw tears now welling in his eyes, the pain within them having brewed for a long, long time.
As long as two lifetimes.
Suddenly, she understood. “It was you, Yun Ge! It was you who saved me and Xiao Ya?”
“That I could come back to life, use Huo Ci’s body to save Xiao Ya, defy the heavens and change fate—it was all your doing! You—”
Jiang Xingyan reached out and touched Yun Chunfeng’s eyes.
“I should have realized sooner. Praying for rain to save the people brings immense merit; how could it possibly incur divine punishment?”
“Your eyes… it was for me. It was all for me!”
Yun Chunfeng’s tears finally fell.
He caught the hand she had placed against his eyes and gently pressed his cheek against it, like a large, loyal dog finally receiving its master’s touch, sinking completely into the sensation.
“Young Mistress, Yun Ge only hates that he arrived too late.”
Tears fell from Jiang Xingyan’s eyes like broken strings of pearls.
Some people would rather trust her mother’s old servant than believe her.
Yet, there was someone who, for her sake, would bring her back even if it meant enduring heavenly punishment.
“Did it hurt terribly?”
Yun Chunfeng shook his head.
His cheek rubbed against her palm, causing a flutter of emotion.
“As long as the Young Mistress lives well, Yun Ge would gladly accept any hardship.”
Yun Chunfeng looked at Jiang Xingyan with tender concern. “It’s getting late, Young Mistress. You should return now.”
“No—”
This was the first time Jiang Xingyan felt such resistance to returning to Huo Ci’s body.
If only she were truly herself.
She would definitely, truly, hold Yun Ge properly.
Yun Chunfeng used his fingertips to wipe away the remaining tears at the corners of his eyes.
His Young Mistress was as clever as ever.
It was just a pity that now was still not the time for her to know everything.
With a light wave of his feathered fan, Jiang Xingyan fell into a deep sleep. He gently kissed her forehead once more.
“Young Mistress, Yun Ge will be waiting for you.”
————-
“Young Mistress, wake up. It’s time for the morning court session.”
Jiang Xingyan was groggily helped up by Qiu Yan, who brought a bowl of sobering soup to her lips.
She closed her eyes and drank it all in one go.
The aftermath of the hangover brought a sharp, throbbing pain to her head.
It’s all Xin Zhui’s fault for buying such bad wine, she thought. That wine Grandfather bought back then never gave me any trouble the next day.
Memories slowly trickled back. Jiang Xingyan clearly remembered what had happened the night before.
She had almost strangled Xin Zhui to death.
After such a scene, anyone who wasn’t a fool could guess who she truly was.
If Xin Zhui dared to cause trouble for her again, she would show no mercy.
Jiang Xingyan rubbed her throbbing temples. She felt like she had forgotten something important.
A vague feeling told her it was related to last night’s dream.
She had dreamed of Yun Ge again.
Yun Ge had held her tightly, giving her immense comfort.
He had pulled her out of those agonizing memories.
Yun Ge is good.
Huo Ci, who caused all those painful memories, is bad.
Chun Xue brought Xiao Ya over to Jiang Xingyan, who had finally managed to open her eyes. Xiao Ya sweetly called out “Mother!” and gave her a big hug.
A flower seemed to bloom instantly in Jiang Xingyan’s troubled and complicated heart.
Her little Ya Ya was still the most adorable.
Carrying Xiao Ya, she walked out of the tent. Yun Chunfeng had already been waiting outside for a long time.
Having dreamed of him two days in a row, and dreams of an intimate nature at that, Jiang Xingyan felt rather embarrassed.
Yun Chunfeng, however, remained composed as ever, a slight smile playing on his lips, looking vibrant and full of energy—a complete contrast to his distraught appearance yesterday.
Jiang Xingyan suddenly remembered the strange tales her maternal grandfather had told her when she was a child.
The spirits and monsters in the mountains loved to drain mortals of their essence to maintain their own youth.
Did Yun Ge go out to suck someone’s blood last night?
She quickly shook her head, dispelling the inappropriate thought.
Xiao Ya was already stretching out her little hands, wanting Yun Chunfeng to hold her.
Ever since she started riding the simple carriage to the court sessions, Xiao Ya could no longer stand being strapped inside the cramped armor.
Resigned, Jiang Xingyan handed her over.
Yun Chunfeng turned his wrist, and a piece of candy lay in his palm.
Jiang Xingyan couldn’t help but laugh.
He was still so good at coaxing children.
When she was three and he was nine, among all her playmates, she would pester him to play with her every day.
When they arrived at the front of the military camp, Xin Zhui was waiting with the horse.
The moment he saw Jiang Xingyan emerge, he immediately lowered his head, looking utterly ashamed and dejected.
If circumstances had allowed, he might have buried his head in the ground.
“P-please mount up, General.”
Jiang Xingyan completely ignored him. She deftly helped Yun Chunfeng, who was holding Xiao Ya, into the carriage, settled the simple wheelchair, then climbed in herself and waved to the driver. “Let’s go.”
Xin Zhui grew anxious, hurrying after them a few steps. “General, I—”
Jiang Xingyan lifted the carriage curtain and looked at him coldly. “I am not your General.”
Xin Zhui stood there, stunned and speechless, not knowing what to say.
“Xin Zhui, you know now?”
A soft, delicate female voice sounded from behind him.
Xin Zhui whirled around to see the General’s wife, “Jiang Xingyan,” standing at the camp entrance, her face full of distress and panic.
“G-General?”