Chapter 8: Then i’ll take care of you

The midday sun hung low, shining brightly over the small courtyard.

Cui Yunqi stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on the somewhat disheveled bedding.

He took a few steps forward, picked it up, and lowered his head to sniff beneath the loose shirt.

“Young Master!” a respectful voice called from outside.

Cui Yunqi set down the bedding, turned, and followed the voice to the back of the house, finally stopping outside a latrine.

A specially trained hunting dog crouched on the ground, panting, while a guard held a pole to retrieve the clothes inside.

“These are the princess’s clothes.”

Cui Yunqi looked down at a red dudou stained with filth lying on the ground.

His gentle, handsome face darkened instantly.

“Turn around.”

The guard immediately obeyed and faced away.

He lowered his eyes, a shadow falling over his eyelids.

He ordered a torch and dry wood brought over, piled them atop the clothes, and lit the fire.

Thick black smoke began to curl up through the courtyard, and the sky seemed to grow dimmer.

“Young Master, it’s time to leave. We can’t stay here any longer. The best men were sent to find the princess; they’ll surely locate her. Perhaps we’ll encounter her along the way…The New Emperor in the Capital has already sent people looking for you. If you don’t leave now, it’ll be too late.”

Cui Yunqi kept his gaze on the burning clothes, ignoring the guard.

The guard swallowed his hesitation and added, “The Prime Minister has urged you several times to get to Longxi quickly. Don’t fall behind the Prime Minister too long,” he whispered.

Cui Yunqi asked, “Have you found out who was following Xiaosi yet?”

“… We can only trace it back to someone sent by the Emperor. None of the names on the Order of the Secret Guards match.”

Cui Yunqi’s refined face showed no expression.

He said nothing more.

Only after the fire had completely turned to ash did he finally leave.

Dark clouds covered the sun, and a sudden summer downpour fell like a cascading waterfall.

Rain battered the leaves amid rolling thunder.

A fast horse carrying two people galloped through the storm.

Li Mianyu was barely wet, nestled against Yan Shi’s chest.

Whenever she wanted to lift her head and see where they had arrived, all she could see was a rain-blurred world, nothing clear.

So she buried herself deeper into her Dark Guard’s embrace.

Though Yan Shi neither wore a bamboo hat nor held an umbrella, not a drop of rain touched him.

Li Mianyu pressed close, her body hardly dampened.

Along the road, some carriages moved slowly; mounted travelers sought shelter from the rain.

But Yan Shi urged his horse forward at full speed.

Li Mianyu’s heart ached for Great Zhou’s current plight, tears gathering in her eyes.

Gradually, she couldn’t help but study Yan Shi, reaching out to touch his arm, then pinch his shoulder.

Yan Shi gave no reaction; his muscles tensed further.

Finally, Li Mianyu spoke, “Yan Shi, why aren’t you wet?”

“Because I’m projecting my Qigong outward.”

“Qigong?”

“… Martial artists cultivate internal strength every day until it becomes Qigong.”

“What’s internal strength?”

“… The practice of martial arts’ heart methods—breathing and circulating energy into the Xia Dantian, filling the meridians and strengthening the lungs.”

“Where is the Xia Dantian?”

“Three inches below the navel.”

Li Mianyu secretly touched her own navel, then slid her fingers three fingers’ width downward, rubbing gently.

She tried to inhale and exhale but felt nothing enter her Dantian.

Yan Shi caught the movement out of the corner of his eye but pretended not to notice.

She let go casually and asked, “What Martial Arts Manual do you practice? Can I learn it?”

If she could be as strong as Yan Shi…the last time they ran through the woods, he seemed almost able to fly.

If she were that powerful, she wouldn’t need protection and could protect others instead.

If she had been this strong from the start, she could have carried Aunt Qingling and flown freely in the palace long ago.

Yan Shi thought for a moment, then nodded, “Yes.”

Li Mianyu’s heart leapt; her excited voice cracked, “Really?”

“Really.”

The young Dark Guard’s voice was calm.

She began to imagine leaping across rooftops.

Her tearful eyes shone brightly.

She asked, “Could I become even stronger than you?”

The youth was silent for a long while before replying, “No.”

Li Mianyu: “…………”

Her joyful mood halted, brows furrowed.

“What do you mean? Are you saying I’m weaker than you?”

His voice was clear: “I started martial arts at three years old. I’m eighteen now and have practiced internal strength for fifteen years to reach this level. The princess is only fourteen…”

“In a month, I’ll be fifteen!”

Li Mianyu corrected, frowning.

The coming-of-age ceremony was important for a girl; it meant maturity.

She wouldn’t allow Yan Shi to call her fourteen.

Yan Shi seemed indifferent to whether she was fourteen or fifteen.

He stated matter-of-factly, “The princess will be fifteen soon. Even if you start training now, it will take fifteen years to catch up to me. But in fifteen years, my internal strength will have grown stronger, unless I’m dead.”

Li Mianyu: She wanted to become stronger than Yan Shi but had never wished for him to die.

She was at a loss for words and remained silent for a long moment before changing the subject.

“You’re only eighteen, why are your feet so big? Even Cui Yunqi’s feet aren’t as large as yours.”

Yan Shi: Thinking of Cui Yunqi, Li Mianyu’s spirits dipped again.

She leaned against Yan Shi’s chest, looking down from beneath his armpit at the muddy road, then gradually glanced upward into the torrential rain.

“You haven’t found any news of Cui Yunqi, right?”

Delivery of messages.

Soon, she heard a confirming hum from Yan Shi.

Li Mianyu whispered, “He must be anxious and will definitely come looking for me. When he finds me, I want to ask why he didn’t give me…”

Yan Shi clearly didn’t understand what she meant and remained silent, eyes fixed ahead, legs gripping the horse’s sides as he rode.

Li Mianyu proudly said, “The Cui Clan is a centuries-old noble family that produced several Prime Ministers. They are not traitorous villains. Cui Yunqi is brilliant—he became the Zhuangyuan at sixteen, then entered the Central Secretariat, and is now the Shilang!”

Yan Shi wondered silently, What is a Shilang?

Is it higher than the Sulong Army leader?

Li Mianyu wanted to say more, but suddenly a muffled thunderclap struck a tree by the roadside, splitting it in two.

The tree crashed across the road.

Startled, Li Mianyu clung tightly to Yan Shi’s waist.

Yan Shi glanced left and right, then suddenly urged the horse faster.

Mud splattered beneath them.

Li Mianyu felt the sticky dirt cling to her skirt.

Though the rain didn’t touch her, the sounds of wind, rain, thunder, and Yan Shi’s heartbeat swirled in her ears.

She grew nervous and widened her eyes, turning her head to look at the fallen tree blocking the road.

Her voice rose several tones.

“Slow down! Yan Shi, slow down!”

Her heart pounded like thunder, fearing the horse would crash into the tree and knock them both into the mud.

But just before the horse hit the tree, Yan Shi suddenly lowered his body, holding her close against his back.

She almost bumped into the horse’s neck.

Li Mianyu’s face stiffened and flushed red, contorted for a moment.

Just as she was about to scold Yan Shi in anger, the horse leapt.

Its front hooves rose high.

In her peripheral vision, the surrounding trees suddenly seemed shorter.

She hugged Yan Shi tightly and looked down.

The old tree blocking the road grew small in the distance.

In the blink of an eye, the horse landed with a neigh.

She jolted heavily in Yan Shi’s arms, but he pressed her down, keeping her steady on the saddle.

Her heart was still racing wildly, and she felt dazed when she heard a short, light laugh beside her.

She snapped back to reality and looked up at Yan Shi.

His pale face faintly brightened as the corners of his eyes curved upwards.

His dark, clear eyes briefly glimmered.

This was the first time Li Mianyu had seen him smile since they had left.

She stared a moment longer, but the smile vanished as quickly as it appeared, his face returning to its usual calm, expressionless demeanor.

She blinked, doubting her own eyes.

She asked, “Did you just smile?”

Yan Shi glanced down at her but said nothing.

Li Mianyu didn’t press further, losing interest.

The rain poured on for a long time as they rode swiftly through it.

By evening, the horse grew tired, and they paused at a dilapidated temple by the roadside.

Yan Shi’s black horse belonged to a wealthy household—strong and well-fed.

In the saddlebag were black beans for the horse.

Yan Shi tidied the broken temple, built a fire, then went under the eaves to feed the horse.

Li Mianyu had been jolted for hours on the horse’s back.

Her waist and back ached, and her rear felt as if split in two.

Though her feet throbbed, she didn’t sit immediately but steadied herself against the wall and took small steps.

She peeked out to see Yan Shi feeding the horse.

Seeing she was out of sight, she awkwardly twisted her waist, hesitated, then rubbed her chest.

When the horse leapt over the fallen tree, her chest had hit the horse’s neck sharply, making her want to curse.

Li Mianyu whispered at her Dark Guard, “You reckless wildcat!”

After venting, she still felt no better.

The quiet around her made her think of her late grandfather.

She hadn’t finished the memorial text for her father and mother that she intended to burn for them.

And Aunt Qingling—she wondered how she was faring.

Yan Shi finished feeding the horse and returned to the temple. Just as he reached the door, he saw the girl leaning against the wall, head bowed, eyes red and brimming with tears, hands massaging her chest.

He blinked, turned his head away, and went back to feed the horse.

Under the gray sky, everything was hazy.

The boy lowered his head, sighed to the horse, whispering, “Crying again.”

He glanced at the rain outside and remembered the brook they had just passed.

He lifted his foot and stepped back into the downpour.

Li Mianyu dared not rub her chest too long, afraid Yan Shi would return and see.

She eased the swelling, then let go, wiping tears with her sleeve.

The rough fabric hurt her wet face, making her flinch and cover her face as tears streamed down.

When Yan Shi returned, his footsteps heavy, Li Mianyu hurriedly straightened herself and looked up.

Just as she was about to complain, she noticed he carried two fish.

Her eyes lit up immediately.

“Where did you get the fish?”

Yan Shi squatted by the fire, placing the two fish over the flames.

He glanced at her and said, “Picked them up on the road.”

Li Mianyu’s moist eyes brightened further.

She’d never heard of picking up fish by the roadside.

She straightened and looked out.

“Where? I didn’t see any!”

Yan Shi lowered his head and poked at the fire.

“Just two.”

Li Mianyu felt a little disappointed but was still very happy.

She squatted and clapped her hands.

“Good thing you found them! We can eat fish tonight!”

“Mm.”

Yan Shi pulled something else from his pouch and handed it to Li Mianyu.

She stared in surprise at the leaf-wrapped bundle held before her, taking it and asking, “What’s this?” as she unwrapped it.

Inside were mulberries, dark purple.

Li Mianyu smiled, pursing her lips, and popped one into her mouth.

“So sweet! Where did you pick these?”

“By the roadside.”

Yan Shi took out a cornbread from his bag and stuck it on a tree branch to roast.

Li Mianyu, her legs aching from squatting, carefully sat on a meditation cushion Yan Shi had found inside the temple.

She watched him roast the fish, noticing his complexion looked pale.

Remembering his injuries, she felt a bit ashamed and offered him some mulberries.

“You should eat some too.”

The young Dark Guard shook his head.

“I already ate.”

Li Mianyu nodded, thinking nothing more.

After a moment, she shyly asked, “Are your wounds healing well?”

Yan Shi flipped the fish.

“Just minor injuries.”

“Oh.”

That was reassuring.

She looked at him silently.

As the fish neared done, she grew inexplicably nervous, glancing outside from time to time.

She remembered last time by the brook, after the fish was cooked, the pursuers arrived.

Yan Shi looked up at her but said nothing. Instead, he handed her the fish and bread.

Li Mianyu, seeing only the sound of rain outside, relaxed and accepted the fish, attracted by its aroma.

But she didn’t know how to eat it, staring blankly at the fish skewered on the branch and looking at Yan Shi.

He was eating bread but noticed her gaze.

He looked up and saw her holding the fish, hesitating.

“I don’t know how to pick the bones…” she whispered.

Yan Shi said nothing, took the fish from her, placed it on the banana leaf that had held the mulberries, then pulled out two golden hairpins from his pouch.

Skillfully, he picked the bones for her and handed it back.

Li Mianyu: She had never imagined her golden hairpins could be used to pick fish bones.

After eating the fish and bread, the rain showed no sign of stopping.

Yan Shi stood at the door, watching the storm and the pooling water on the road, frowning deeply.

Darkness had fully fallen.

They would spend the night in the temple, which leaked in several places except for the fire area.

Yan Shi tidied up, brought the horse inside, tied it on the other side, and laid a piece of clothing on the floor, signaling Li Mianyu to sleep.

Aside from when Yan Shi was injured and used the floor as a bed, Li Mianyu had never slept on the ground.

She reluctantly lay down but felt uncomfortable everywhere.

No pillow, no soft bedding—nothing.

She turned to look at Yan Shi, who leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed as if asleep.

She frowned and nudged him with her foot.

“Yan Shi!”

He opened his eyes and looked at her.

“I can’t sleep.”

Li Mianyu pouted, her voice low and aggrieved.

“My waist and back ache. The ground is so hard and cold.”

Yan Shi sat upright, his dark eyes fixed on her.

Li Mianyu hesitated but then thought: this Dark Guard was entrusted to her by her grandfather.

She was a princess and could do as she pleased.

So she said, “Lie down beside me.”

Yan Shi didn’t ask why.

He lay flat next to her.

Li Mianyu grabbed his arm to use as a pillow and nestled close to his warm body.

The ground didn’t feel so cold anymore, and she felt much more comfortable.

She closed her eyes, thinking, No wonder my grandfather raised Dark Guards.

They’re really useful when traveling!

She thought a moment longer, then opened her eyes and said seriously, “When I find grandfather, I’ll officially keep you by my side. Then it’ll be my turn to take care of you.”

Li Mianyu: I will take good care of my Dark Guard!

Yan Shi: 0.0