The Lunar New Year was eight days away. Lanterns hung at the post station, and paper cuts adorned the windows.
After the Great Li's defeat in the border war against Lin Yuan, the Great Li envoys were surprisingly not anxious. Even if someone among them were to fall out of favor, it wouldn't be them; the one in trouble was the one currently residing in the main courtyard.
Their Seventh Prince, Yu Chengxuan.
Not all envoys who accompanied him to Lin Yuan were of the same mind. Apart from Ji Wu, a retainer of the Zhang family, everyone else was concerned only with their own survival. What's more, the mission from the very beginning seemed to be to get Yu Chengxuan killed in Lin Yuan.
Hence, there was no room for worry.
Now that the New Year would be spent in Lin Yuan, they took it in stride.
Hui'an noticed more than one official discussing the styles of window paper with their maids; some had even begun to decorate their rooms.
Hui'an scoffed.
They said Lin Yuan's imperial court had been in chaos for the past few years, mired in the power struggle between the Emperor and the Regent, appearing to be on the verge of collapse, its empire crumbling. But how much better was their Great Li? It was merely the pot calling the kettle black. Even though they were now in Lin Yuan, Great Li had suffered heavy losses in the border war. The warhorses they had painstakingly raised, their gradually recovered faith, and their sharpened edge were all extinguished in this battle. And Lin Yuan, the victor, demanded the annexation of twelve cities in Weicheng.
This was humiliation, and it was pain.
Yet, these pillars of the Great Li were currently acting as if relieved. What were they celebrating? That Great Li's defeat spared them from death?
"Imperial Sister."
Yu Chengxuan's voice reached Hui'an's ears. Before she could turn, she caught a pleasant fragrance.
Hui'an was slightly startled. She felt as if she had overlooked something, but she couldn't quite recall what. She frowned instinctively, then relaxed her brow as she turned to look at Yu Chengxuan.
Yu Chengxuan held a small flower, his slightly upturned lips forming a smile that held an indescribable sense of detachment and falsity. Hui'an had long grown accustomed to his "worldly detachment," his coldness and aloofness that distanced him from ordinary people. Hui'an believed that if he wanted to conceal his true emotions, even the most discerning person in the world wouldn't be able to see through him. But he simply disdained to do so, disdaining even to pretend.
This was why Hui'an told Nan Shiying that Yu Chengxuan was the person she feared most, so much so that she suspected he wasn't the original occupant but had been possessed.
"Imperial Brother, why are you so idle today?"
Hui'an wore a gentle smile. If one were not familiar with her, they would truly believe she was such a gentle and graceful type.
"When am I not idle?"
The curve of Yu Chengxuan's lips widened.
Hui'an actually had nothing to talk about with Yu Chengxuan. In Great Li, they were enemies who acted intimately on the surface but sought each other's demise behind the scenes. Changing places or identities wouldn't reconcile them.
"Imperial Brother, are you blaming me for not paying attention to you?"
"Imperial Sister worries too much; it was just a joke!"
They fell silent. A flicker of impatience flashed in Hui'an's eyes. Did he call her over just to exchange such trivial, inconsequential words?
"Imperial Sister, the envoys for the peace talks will arrive in Lin Yuan in a few days. You are close with the Princess Consort, haven't you thought about visiting the Prince's mansion in advance?" Yu Chengxuan gazed steadily at Hui'an, a knowing smile in his eyes. Hui'an was slightly taken aback, having never expected to hear such words from Yu Chengxuan.
What did he mean?
Asking her to visit Nan Shiying?
For what purpose!
To beg for mercy?
Was his mind addled or had he taken leave of his senses to utter such foolish words?
If she hadn't witnessed Yu Chengxuan's capabilities, she would have doubted if her own mind had been kicked by a donkey, to harbor apprehension towards such an idiotic creature.
Hui'an initially scoffed, but as mockery and sarcasm welled up in her heart, she felt something was not quite right.
The meaning of his words was far from the literal one.
His mention of a visit certainly wasn't about pleading.
Hui'an pursed her lips. She didn't ask Yu Chengxuan what he meant or what his intentions were. Meeting his gaze, she simply uttered two words: "Today?"
A question.
Yu Chengxuan nodded, emphasizing, "Today."
As he spoke, he glanced at the sky again and said casually, "Let's say three quarters past the hour of Shen."
Not only had he set a date, but he had also specified a time.
Hui'an stared at him, trying to decipher something from his face, but apart from that smile that disgusted her, she saw nothing.
Hui'an fell silent for a moment, then nodded to him. "The Princess Consort had a cold before. Now that I hear she has been recovered for some time, I should indeed pay her a visit."
"That would be most excellent!"
After lunch, just as they finished their fruit, Jia Huan reported that Hui'an had arrived.
Nan Shiying rolled in Ji Jinmo's embrace, lazily stretched out her arms, and yawned before slowly sitting up.
Ji Jinmo's expression was terrifyingly gloomy. If one were to speak of unfulfilled desires, he had more than made up for the loneliness he endured when she was away. One could only say that a blossoming iron tree needed extra nutrients; with a large capacity and frequent feeding, it could barely be satisfied. To be full, he might need to continue his efforts.
"What is she here for?"
The wedding between Nan Yu Jin and Hui'an was to take place after the New Year. Logically, she should have many things to do by now, such as making early arrangements for their move to Yuzhen Commandery after the marriage.
Nan Shiying felt only curiosity, not seeking an answer. She had Jia Huan bring her in.
After Jia Huan left, Nan Shiying turned to look at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo remained unmoved, as steady as a mountain.
The more she interacted with him, the more his persona crumbled.
His initial coldness and detachment, his noble purity and arrogance, had now shattered into pieces. Nan Shiying wondered if those who revered him as a god and feared him as a demon could still continue to hypnotize themselves into looking up to him, respecting him, and fearing him if they saw him like this.
Nan Shiying recalled their first meeting, when he exuded a murderous aura, as if he had stepped out of the Asura hell, wading through blood and bones, his body enveloped in sharp killing intent and malevolence. Compared to now, the contrast was stark. Looking at his current demeanor, Nan Shiying couldn't help but chuckle.
Ji Jinmo raised his hand to touch his face. If he wasn't mistaken, she was mocking him, wasn't she?
Seeing his confused yet faintly hurt gaze, Nan Shiying stopped laughing. She raised her hand, stroked his head, and said softly, "Hui'an will be nervous if you are here."
Ji Jinmo narrowed his eyes slightly, like a large dog enjoying its owner's caress, revealing contentment.
"I understand!"
Yet, his voice remained as cold and composed as ever.
The extreme contrast made Nan Shiying's heart flutter. How to put it, she was gradually falling in love with the feeling of stroking his head.