After breakfast, everyone went back to their rooms and packed their bags. Jinxia carried a small bag, and she was about to go downstairs when someone stopped her.
“I dropped my fan inside, come and find it for me.”
Lu Yi was standing in front of the door. After finishing his words, he turned and went back to his room, not giving Jinxia a chance to refuse. Jinxia scanned her surroundings, realizing that she was the only one there, then she sighed.
Dropped his fan?
Jinxia walked in the direction to his room, and a thought came to her, ‘I never saw Daren carrying a fan before, where did this fan come from?’
As she entered Lu Yi’s room, she heard the sound of the door being closed behind her. Before she could react or turn around, she felt Lu Yi’s breath on her face and her whole body being entrapped in his embrace. Then his lips were pressing on hers, warm and soft…The feeling was completely different from last night…
He gripped her waist tightly, making her lean against the door. The bag in her hands suddenly fell to the ground. Jinxia wasn’t able to think straight, and she instinctively put her hands on his shoulders. She felt Lu Yi gripping her body even tighter and, through the robe, the tight muscles on his body.
After a while, Jinxia was losing her breath… Only then did Lu Yi slowly let her go, still lightly kissing her lips, then he moved his mouth near her ear and said in a whisper, “This thing that you worried I would forget, is it this?”
With her heart still racing, Jinxia was panting while shaking her head.
“Then what?”
They were so close, enough to hear each other’s breaths and feel each other’s warmth.
Jinxia raised her head, hesitated for a while, then asked, “You said you wanted to marry me, were you being serious?”
“I’ve never said such a thing to anyone.” Lu Yi looked at her and added, “I never had such thoughts with another lady.”
Jinxia stared at him for a long time. She finally got the answer to the question that she was pulling her hair out for last night. The corners of her eyes and eyebrows involuntarily raised. She smiled, “I was surprised, how could you… Of course, I know, I am quite a good person, but why would you like me?”
“I haven’t figured it out yet, what do I see in you? Let me think about it…”
Lu Yi stepped back, amused, thinking about her question and examining her. Jinxia immediately felt worried.
“Forget it, better not to think about it.” After a while, Jinxia said sincerely, “This ‘love’ matter is always so confusing, it’s better not to think about it. The important thing is you found something good in me, that’s enough.”
Lu Yi listened to her and nodded his head, then asked back, “Then, are there good things about me?”
“Of course! I always felt that Daren is very good at government affairs and in war, a rare talent, mother would really like you…” All of a sudden, she stopped talking, then said frantically, “Ugh, my mother is arranging a marriage for me and the third son of the Yi family, how do I stop her?”
“It’s not a difficult matter, it’s just – who are you going to marry?”
Lu Yi lowered his head and smoothed the edge of his sleeves, hiding his anxious and worried face.
“I want to…” At this time, Jinxia was sure of herself; her heart was full of sweetness. She smiled, “Marry you.”
Lu Yi immediately raised his head, his eyes full of brightness. He was trying his best to remain calm, but still let out a loud laugh, “Well then, you don’t have to worry, I will handle this.”
“You will handle it?” Jinxia was happy, but felt worried upon hearing his words. She reminded him, “Brother, you’re not going to take the third son of the Yi family to Beizhen prison, aren’t you?”
“Why are you worrying about other people? After all, do I look like someone who would do whatever he pleases?” Lu Yi gave her a quick glance.
“I’m just saying….”
Before she could finish her words, they heard people knocking on the door.
“Young Master, the horse carriage is ready according to your order, we can leave now.” It was Cen Fu’s voice.
Lu Yi replied, “Alright.”
Then, Cen Fu’s footsteps faded as he left.
Jinxia bent over to pick up her bag on the ground, put it on her shoulder and started to walk, “Time to go.”
Even before her hand touched the door, she was pulled back by Lu Yi, “Wait, no need to hurry, finish what you were saying.” He lowered his gaze to look at her.
“What was I saying? Don’t take the third son to Beizhen prison?”
“No.” Lu Yi said slowly, “About the person you want to marry.”
Jinxia was silent for a moment, then said, “You want to marry me, I am very happy because I also want to marry you.”
Seeing her smiling face, Lu Yi couldn’t help but lower his, about to go in for another kiss, when unexpectedly she stepped closer to him and kissed him hard on the lips.
“I can do that, right?” She smiled and lowered her eyes.
“Mhm…” Lu Yi tilted his head to look at her, “You’ve been thinking about it for a while, haven’t you? Since that time at Mrs. Shen’s house?”
Jinxia smiled at him for a moment, then turned around and walked out.
***
Because of yesterday’s incident, everyone was afraid YangYue would hit A’Rui again, so Cen Shou had exchanged carriage with YangYue, riding the one filled with gifts and A’Rui, while YangYue was riding on the one with the old maid and other servants.
Jinxia, who was sitting in front of the carriage, looked at Lu Yi’s figure ahead of them; the more she looked at him, the more her heart blossomed.
After some time had passed, Cen Shou, who was sitting beside her, couldn’t take it anymore and narrowed his eyes looking at her suspiciously, “Why are you giggling?”
“The mountains and the rivers are beautiful, this master is happy to enjoy this scene.”
Jinxia sharply replied back.
“What kind of lady always says ‘master, master’, it doesn’t fit you at all.” Cen Shou looked at her uncomfortably.
“What? My job is to go out and solve cases, people don’t care if I’m a lady or not,” Jinxia looked away, “After all, in LiuShanmen, everything a man can do, I can also do it. I’m as good as them.”
After saying that, Lu Yi who was walking a bit far before her, turned to look back for a moment: the happiness on his face was obvious.
Jinxia was in a very good mood, remembering Lu Yi’s face, even when she was arguing with Cen Shou. She felt like she was in heaven. She continued talking to him, “Brother, your punch was pretty strong yesterday, where did you learn it?”
“Even if I tell you, you won’t understand.” Cen Shou said coldly.
Luckily, Jinxia wasn’t too interested in knowing from the start, hence she changed the subject, “Your Young Master practiced kung fu since he was young, right?”
Cen Shou turned to look at her for a moment, then asked, “Why are you suddenly asking about the Young Master, what for?”
“Curious, I’m curious.” Jinxia’s face was sincere.
“Hm, why should I tell you?” Cen Shou was being really difficult to approach, “In the Capital, our Young Master have a lot of admirers, I can’t tell them one by one.”
Jinxia shook her head, silently thinking, ‘You don’t want to tell me, nevermind, I can ask him myself, your master’s temperament is better than yours.’
Inside the horse carriage, A’Rui coughed.
Not waiting for Cen Shou’s reaction, Jinxia had already lifted the curtain and walked inside.
Not sure whether it was because of the influence of the remaining poison, even though the wounds on A’Rui’s body have started to heal and there were no more signs of rotting, ever since he had regained his consciousness, his hands and feet had been completely powerless. He didn’t even have the strength to eat. Lu Yi had already checked his pulse, aside from it being weak, there was nothing else.
Most importantly, it seemed like A’Rui had absolutely no intention of living anymore. After having been provoked by YangYue, he hadn’t talked anymore.
When someone fed him, he would eat as if he was anesthetized; when no one was feeding him, he didn’t show signs of hunger or thirst at all.
He just laid there like someone drugged, either closing his eyes for sleeping, or staring blankly up the roof. No one understood what he was thinking.
In the past, A’Rui was like a sword that was ready to be drawn anytime, now, he was like a rotting tree that is half embedded in the ground.
Jinxia shook her head while looking at him; his position had remained the same as before, not moving at all.
“Do you want a drink?” Jinixa asked.
As if she was invisible, A’Rui’s eyes did not move at all, still fixed at the roof of the carriage.
Because he didn’t reply, Jinxia didn’t force him either. She approached and examined the wounds on his face, muttering to herself, ‘You’re looking like this, wait until you meet Shangguan Sister, see if she can still recognize you or not.’
Upon hearing Shangguan Xi’s name was mentioned, his eyes slightly moved and Jinxia noticed it right away.
“Don’t you want to go home and meet her?” She continued, deliberately sighing, “But, it’s a pity, you’re like a crippled person, you can’t even go home, even if you go back to Yangzhou, you won’t be able to see her.”
As soon as she finished talking, A’Rui turned his head to face her, his eyes were full of anger and hatred.
“She, she…Why?” His voice was horse and rough, but it seemed that he was trying his best to speak.
Jinxia didn’t answer, instead she just sat down to talk to him, “Shangguan Sister turned out to be a student of the Southern Shaolin Temple, did you know that?”
Not waiting for him to reply, she continued to say, “Along the coastline, pirates are rampant, similar to how it was in Yangzhou. That’s right, at that time, you even got hurt to protect Shangguan Sister…Your body was poisoned by the Japanese weapons, who hurt you?”
A’Rui looked at her coldly, not saying a word.
“You don’t want to talk about it, but I can already guess, even though you killed Ms. Zhai, in that person’s eyes, you two are no different, you’re only a piece of his chess game, so was Ms. Zhai.” Jinxia slowly said.
Upon hearing this, A’Rui’s lower jaw was slightly tightened and he gritted his teeth.
“Oh, Shangguan Sister rushed to Zhejiang to fight against the Japanese pirates. I don’t know if it’s dangerous, if she becomes like you, not sure how it will turn out…What are you glaring at me for?”
“Don’t jinx her!” His voice was full of anger.
Finally, Jinxia looked at him sincerely and said, “The Great Commander Hi invited the Southern Shaolin monks to help with the battle, he wrote a letter inviting all of his students to join them. Aside from Shangguan Sister, there is also Xie Xiao. I had a farewell dinner at the Xie’s family…What kind of person is Shangguan Sister, don’t you already know? What is she doing and what are you doing? You’re just thinking about her pointlessly? You should get up and help her block those swords and spears!”
While her lips were tightly pressed together, A’Rui’s eyes were full of questions and doubt. She stopped talking.
After breakfast, everyone went back to their rooms and packed their bags. Jinxia carried a small bag, and she was about to go downstairs when someone stopped her.
“I dropped my fan inside, come and find it for me.”
Lu Yi was standing in front of the door. After finishing his words, he turned and went back to his room, not giving Jinxia a chance to refuse. Jinxia scanned her surroundings, realizing that she was the only one there, then she sighed.
Dropped his fan?
Jinxia walked in the direction to his room, and a thought came to her, ‘I never saw Daren carrying a fan before, where did this fan come from?’
As she entered Lu Yi’s room, she heard the sound of the door being closed behind her. Before she could react or turn around, she felt Lu Yi’s breath on her face and her whole body being entrapped in his embrace. Then his lips were pressing on hers, warm and soft…The feeling was completely different from last night…
He gripped her waist tightly, making her lean against the door. The bag in her hands suddenly fell to the ground. Jinxia wasn’t able to think straight, and she instinctively put her hands on his shoulders. She felt Lu Yi gripping her body even tighter and, through the robe, the tight muscles on his body.
After a while, Jinxia was losing her breath… Only then did Lu Yi slowly let her go, still lightly kissing her lips, then he moved his mouth near her ear and said in a whisper, “This thing that you worried I would forget, is it this?”
With her heart still racing, Jinxia was panting while shaking her head.
“Then what?”
They were so close, enough to hear each other’s breaths and feel each other’s warmth.
Jinxia raised her head, hesitated for a while, then asked, “You said you wanted to marry me, were you being serious?”
“I’ve never said such a thing to anyone.” Lu Yi looked at her and added, “I never had such thoughts with another lady.”
Jinxia stared at him for a long time. She finally got the answer to the question that she was pulling her hair out for last night. The corners of her eyes and eyebrows involuntarily raised. She smiled, “I was surprised, how could you… Of course, I know, I am quite a good person, but why would you like me?”
“I haven’t figured it out yet, what do I see in you? Let me think about it…”
Lu Yi stepped back, amused, thinking about her question and examining her. Jinxia immediately felt worried.
“Forget it, better not to think about it.” After a while, Jinxia said sincerely, “This ‘love’ matter is always so confusing, it’s better not to think about it. The important thing is you found something good in me, that’s enough.”
Lu Yi listened to her and nodded his head, then asked back, “Then, are there good things about me?”
“Of course! I always felt that Daren is very good at government affairs and in war, a rare talent, mother would really like you…” All of a sudden, she stopped talking, then said frantically, “Ugh, my mother is arranging a marriage for me and the third son of the Yi family, how do I stop her?”
“It’s not a difficult matter, it’s just – who are you going to marry?”
Lu Yi lowered his head and smoothed the edge of his sleeves, hiding his anxious and worried face.
“I want to…” At this time, Jinxia was sure of herself; her heart was full of sweetness. She smiled, “Marry you.”
Lu Yi immediately raised his head, his eyes full of brightness. He was trying his best to remain calm, but still let out a loud laugh, “Well then, you don’t have to worry, I will handle this.”
“You will handle it?” Jinxia was happy, but felt worried upon hearing his words. She reminded him, “Brother, you’re not going to take the third son of the Yi family to Beizhen prison, aren’t you?”
“Why are you worrying about other people? After all, do I look like someone who would do whatever he pleases?” Lu Yi gave her a quick glance.
“I’m just saying….”
Before she could finish her words, they heard people knocking on the door.
“Young Master, the horse carriage is ready according to your order, we can leave now.” It was Cen Fu’s voice.
Lu Yi replied, “Alright.”
Then, Cen Fu’s footsteps faded as he left.
Jinxia bent over to pick up her bag on the ground, put it on her shoulder and started to walk, “Time to go.”
Even before her hand touched the door, she was pulled back by Lu Yi, “Wait, no need to hurry, finish what you were saying.” He lowered his gaze to look at her.
“What was I saying? Don’t take the third son to Beizhen prison?”
“No.” Lu Yi said slowly, “About the person you want to marry.”
Jinxia was silent for a moment, then said, “You want to marry me, I am very happy because I also want to marry you.”
Seeing her smiling face, Lu Yi couldn’t help but lower his, about to go in for another kiss, when unexpectedly she stepped closer to him and kissed him hard on the lips.
“I can do that, right?” She smiled and lowered her eyes.
“Mhm…” Lu Yi tilted his head to look at her, “You’ve been thinking about it for a while, haven’t you? Since that time at Mrs. Shen’s house?”
Jinxia smiled at him for a moment, then turned around and walked out.
***
Because of yesterday’s incident, everyone was afraid YangYue would hit A’Rui again, so Cen Shou had exchanged carriage with YangYue, riding the one filled with gifts and A’Rui, while YangYue was riding on the one with the old maid and other servants.
Jinxia, who was sitting in front of the carriage, looked at Lu Yi’s figure ahead of them; the more she looked at him, the more her heart blossomed.
After some time had passed, Cen Shou, who was sitting beside her, couldn’t take it anymore and narrowed his eyes looking at her suspiciously, “Why are you giggling?”
“The mountains and the rivers are beautiful, this master is happy to enjoy this scene.”
Jinxia sharply replied back.
“What kind of lady always says ‘master, master’, it doesn’t fit you at all.” Cen Shou looked at her uncomfortably.
“What? My job is to go out and solve cases, people don’t care if I’m a lady or not,” Jinxia looked away, “After all, in LiuShanmen, everything a man can do, I can also do it. I’m as good as them.”
After saying that, Lu Yi who was walking a bit far before her, turned to look back for a moment: the happiness on his face was obvious.
Jinxia was in a very good mood, remembering Lu Yi’s face, even when she was arguing with Cen Shou. She felt like she was in heaven. She continued talking to him, “Brother, your punch was pretty strong yesterday, where did you learn it?”
“Even if I tell you, you won’t understand.” Cen Shou said coldly.
Luckily, Jinxia wasn’t too interested in knowing from the start, hence she changed the subject, “Your Young Master practiced kung fu since he was young, right?”
Cen Shou turned to look at her for a moment, then asked, “Why are you suddenly asking about the Young Master, what for?”
“Curious, I’m curious.” Jinxia’s face was sincere.
“Hm, why should I tell you?” Cen Shou was being really difficult to approach, “In the Capital, our Young Master have a lot of admirers, I can’t tell them one by one.”
Jinxia shook her head, silently thinking, ‘You don’t want to tell me, nevermind, I can ask him myself, your master’s temperament is better than yours.’
Inside the horse carriage, A’Rui coughed.
Not waiting for Cen Shou’s reaction, Jinxia had already lifted the curtain and walked inside.
Not sure whether it was because of the influence of the remaining poison, even though the wounds on A’Rui’s body have started to heal and there were no more signs of rotting, ever since he had regained his consciousness, his hands and feet had been completely powerless. He didn’t even have the strength to eat. Lu Yi had already checked his pulse, aside from it being weak, there was nothing else.
Most importantly, it seemed like A’Rui had absolutely no intention of living anymore. After having been provoked by YangYue, he hadn’t talked anymore.
When someone fed him, he would eat as if he was anesthetized; when no one was feeding him, he didn’t show signs of hunger or thirst at all.
He just laid there like someone drugged, either closing his eyes for sleeping, or staring blankly up the roof. No one understood what he was thinking.
In the past, A’Rui was like a sword that was ready to be drawn anytime, now, he was like a rotting tree that is half embedded in the ground.
Jinxia shook her head while looking at him; his position had remained the same as before, not moving at all.
“Do you want a drink?” Jinixa asked.
As if she was invisible, A’Rui’s eyes did not move at all, still fixed at the roof of the carriage.
Because he didn’t reply, Jinxia didn’t force him either. She approached and examined the wounds on his face, muttering to herself, ‘You’re looking like this, wait until you meet Shangguan Sister, see if she can still recognize you or not.’
Upon hearing Shangguan Xi’s name was mentioned, his eyes slightly moved and Jinxia noticed it right away.
“Don’t you want to go home and meet her?” She continued, deliberately sighing, “But, it’s a pity, you’re like a crippled person, you can’t even go home, even if you go back to Yangzhou, you won’t be able to see her.”
As soon as she finished talking, A’Rui turned his head to face her, his eyes were full of anger and hatred.
“She, she…Why?” His voice was horse and rough, but it seemed that he was trying his best to speak.
Jinxia didn’t answer, instead she just sat down to talk to him, “Shangguan Sister turned out to be a student of the Southern Shaolin Temple, did you know that?”
Not waiting for him to reply, she continued to say, “Along the coastline, pirates are rampant, similar to how it was in Yangzhou. That’s right, at that time, you even got hurt to protect Shangguan Sister…Your body was poisoned by the Japanese weapons, who hurt you?”
A’Rui looked at her coldly, not saying a word.
“You don’t want to talk about it, but I can already guess, even though you killed Ms. Zhai, in that person’s eyes, you two are no different, you’re only a piece of his chess game, so was Ms. Zhai.” Jinxia slowly said.
Upon hearing this, A’Rui’s lower jaw was slightly tightened and he gritted his teeth.
“Oh, Shangguan Sister rushed to Zhejiang to fight against the Japanese pirates. I don’t know if it’s dangerous, if she becomes like you, not sure how it will turn out…What are you glaring at me for?”
“Don’t jinx her!” His voice was full of anger.
Finally, Jinxia looked at him sincerely and said, “The Great Commander Hi invited the Southern Shaolin monks to help with the battle, he wrote a letter inviting all of his students to join them. Aside from Shangguan Sister, there is also Xie Xiao. I had a farewell dinner at the Xie’s family…What kind of person is Shangguan Sister, don’t you already know? What is she doing and what are you doing? You’re just thinking about her pointlessly? You should get up and help her block those swords and spears!”
While her lips were tightly pressed together, A’Rui’s eyes were full of questions and doubt. She stopped talking.
