Chapter 024

Chapter 24

The coldest winter in his memory was when he was thirteen, when a brutal snowstorm swept the northern region, claiming countless lives of both humans and livestock. The military's supplies were running dangerously low, and the young boy accompanied his father to the palace to meet the emperor.

It was his first time entering the palace, and the young lad was filled with curiosity about everything around him, completely forgetting his father's instructions to speak sparingly and avoid staring, for the palace rules were strict and errors could not be afforded. Following closely behind his father, the slender youth held himself with an air of scholarly refinement, though his eyes couldn't help but wander, taking in all the sights of the imperial compound.

Passing by the Royal Garden, the girl's sweet and soft voice came, as sweet as a silver bell.The boy turned his head and saw a girl in a pink cloak playing in the snow. There were two snowmen piled next to her. One was wearing a silver coat and the other was wearing a pink cloak. They seemed to be a pair.Beside the snowman, there is a boy painting eyes on the snowman.

"Second Cousin, do you like the ones I made?"

The girl turned her youthful face, radiant and bright, "They're lovely, but why are their clothes different?"

"This one is me, and that one is you; naturally, we make a pair."

The young Zhao Yunzhou gazed at her, mesmerized, then said, "Second Cousin, when you grow up, will you marry me?"

Yu Xi tilted her head in thought. Her cousin had always been kind to her; marrying him didn't seem like a bad idea. So, she nodded, agreeing, "Alright."

Overjoyed, Zhao Yunzhou broke into a grin and ran excitedly around in the snow. Upon stopping, he caught sight of General Fu entering the palace, followed by the youth trailing behind him.

Fu Mingyang stepped forward, greeting with a bow, "Greetings, Princess."

At that time, Yu Xi was precisely ten years old, a playful and energetic age. After frolicking in the snow, her nose was flushed red, incredibly endearing.

"Is General Fu visiting the palace to see our Father Emperor?" she asked, casting a curious glance behind him.

"That's correct," Fu Mingyang replied with a smile, noticing her scrutiny. "This is my son."

Oh, so he is the son of General Fu. Rumor has it that his son, at such a young age, excels in both literature and martial arts. It must be him. Yu Xi began to examine him, her bright eyes brimming with curiosity.

He lifted his gaze, meeting her pure eyes without any trace of inferiority or arrogance. For a moment, he was captivated. Yu Xi smiled at him, a bloom as radiant as a flower, her grin akin to the warm winter sun, melting all the snow around them.

She smiled sweetly and gracefully, then turned to Zhao Yunzhou, "Cousin, let's go play."

With a joyful laugh, Yu Xi ran off, and he followed his father to meet the emperor. Halfway there, he couldn't help but look back, her charming face etched in his heart like the luminous moon in the sky, unforgettable.

-

The fire flickered, its crimson flames dancing at his feet. Fu Anian snapped back to reality, using a branch to stir the ashes, causing the fire to glow brighter.

With a self-deprecating smile curving his lips, he returned from his reminiscence. Zhao Yunzhou and Yu Xi had grown up together, their childhood affection deep and sincere. If not for the emperor's decree of marriage, they might have indeed tied the knot.

The playful promises from their childhood, Fu Anyian had never taken them seriously. However, after their marriage, their correspondence was frequent, filled with longing and anticipation for each other's return. This made him ponder more deeply.

Adding to that, her attitude made it clearer to him.

Upon this realization, Fu Anyian's expression turned solemn. Since the topic had been broached, he felt compelled to remind her.

"You were going to say something, why are you silent?" she urged him.

Without looking at her, the man struggled to utter the words, "Have you forgotten about Zhao Yunzhou?"

Yu Xi crouched down, her face perplexed. What did her cousin have to do with this?

"What's wrong with my cousin? How does he relate to this?"

Fu Anyian turned to look at her, his demeanor earnest and sincere, "Didn't you promise to marry him when we were young?"

Yu Xi's gaze shifted upward, attempting to recall the memory. Yes, she did have a good relationship with her cousin, but had she really promised to marry him?

After a long moment of thought, Yu Xi's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes darting away, revealing a hint of guilt. It seemed she had indeed made such a promise, but those were just childhood whims, not to be taken seriously. Yet, this man held onto it so tightly, proving himself to be rather petty.

"Really? I don't recall." She lifted her head to avoid his gaze. "Even if it's true, it was just from our childhood. It doesn't count."

Childhood words held no weight, and who would remember what they said back then? Not her, at least.

Fu Anyian twisted his wrist, feeling the bloodied arm stick to his clothes. He covered it with one hand, numbing the pain.

"But if childhood doesn't count, what about after our marriage when our correspondence was frequent, filled with longing and affectionate tones? Isn't that enough?"

Although he criticized her, the jealousy hidden in his words was unnoticed by him.

Yu Xi opened her mouth, silent for a moment. Fu Anyian assumed she was reflecting on herself and didn't speak further. However, Yu Xi's line of thought was unusual. Blushing, she asked, "How did you know the content of the letters? You were reading my private letters."

His eyelashes fluttered, a hint of discomfort flashing across his eyes. "I happened to see them."

If he spied, then he spied. No need to sugarcoat it.

Yu Xi glanced at him, then sat down again, hugging her knees. "Don't think I'll believe you just because you say so. When I get back, I'll find those letters and see if you're telling the truth."

As she finished, the man chuckled softly, his chest rising and falling. "In the past, you were always cautious, burning every letter you read. Where would you even find them?"

Hearing this, Yu Xi couldn't help but feel puzzled. When had she developed such a habit? It was an undesirable habit, and she didn't like burning letters. Moreover, why would one destroy letters exchanged between family members?

Gazing at Fu Anyian, she suddenly leaned in, her crimson lips close to his cheek, her warm breath lingering on his face and neck, creating an intimate atmosphere.

"You must have done something to betray me, haven't you? That's why I'm being so cautious around you."

"Fiona..."

Fu Anyian turned to meet her gaze, momentarily speechless. How did she come up with these ideas? She truly had an active imagination.

Silent, he didn't attempt to explain. In truth, ever since Yu Xi lost her parents' protection, she had changed. Becoming cautious and reserved, she kept a three-pointed guard against everyone except Song Mingyin, fearing that others might harm her.

Fu Anyian sighed, retracting his gaze and shifting slightly away. "I've told you what you wanted to know. Believe it or not is up to you."

Believe it? She didn't believe a word of it.

Straightening her posture, Yu Xi maintained a neutral expression. "I'll talk to my cousin when I return. I'll clear things up. It definitely isn't what you think."

He had misinterpreted the situation.

If she truly wished to marry her cousin, why then did she not have any feelings for him now?

Her true intentions were known only to herself; others could only speculate.

This was also the case for Fu Anyian.

Yu Xi knitted her brows in silence, contemplating deeply with a stern expression. Hence, their divorce was due to Fu Anyian assuming that she had feelings for her cousin and wanted to unite them. She felt that there was more to it than that.

She pouted, temporarily unable to grasp the full picture. Well, she would seek answers from her cousin before drawing any conclusions.

Yuxi yawned and leaned against the side, sitting quietly for a while. Her eyelids began to uncontrollably flutter. After a day and night of exhaustion, even a man's body would be drained, let alone hers as a weak woman.

After half a day's journey up the mountain, her body had reached its limits. However, no matter how tired she was, the thought of those people potentially chasing after them kept her on high alert.

Her head nodded slightly, but she didn't fall asleep. Her eyes were half-closed, her consciousness drifting.

Observing her for a moment, Fu Anyian's thin lips curved slightly. "Lie down and sleep. It's not comfortable to sleep sitting up."

She strained to keep her eyes open, instantly lying down at his suggestion, but not forgetting to remind him, "Don't abandon me while I'm sleeping."

His voice echoed softly within the cavern, "No."

Never.

Yu Xi felt reassured and closed her eyes, drifting off into a peaceful slumber with gentle breaths.

After a moment, Fu Anyian rose from his position and sat beside her. The flickering firelight cast a tender glow on her face. She was slightly tilted to one side, revealing only half of her face, with a lock of hair brushing against her cheek. Perhaps it was ticklish, for she scratched at it.

Observing this, the man reached out, his long and slender fingers with distinct knuckles—beautiful to behold. He gently hooked her hair behind her ear, and the sleeping woman became still once more.

Her face was still dirty, but it did nothing to detract from her beauty; instead, it added a touch of vulnerability that evoked pity.

Fu Anyian gazed at her for a long while, then sighed softly. He examined her up and down before pulling up her sleeve, exposing her fair arm. Sensing the exposure, she instinctively shrank back.

He moved cautiously, waiting until she was still before he leaned in to inspect her arm. There were some abrasions, small cuts that were not severe. Back at the palace, with some medicine applied, they would heal in three or five days.

But how would her body fare after being exposed to the elements? She seemed exhausted after just one day in the wilderness. Would she fall ill if it were to continue for three or four days? She had never endured hardship since childhood, with delicate skin and tender flesh. If she could persevere today, there was no telling if she might shed tears tomorrow.

With this thought, Fu Anyian sighed and gazed at the cave entrance, wondering if those people were still searching for them.

If they were, they would have to be even more cautious.

He pulled down his sleeve and removed his outer robe, draping it over her to keep her warm.

Then, he leaned against a rock slightly outside the cave, closing his eyes to rest.

The mountain air was chilly, and despite the fire, the cold was still biting. A draft blew into the cave, extinguishing the flames.

Under the cloak, Yu Xi felt no coldness and slept soundly, while Fu Anian, hugging his arms tightly, still felt somewhat chilled.

After an unknown duration of sleep, the man suddenly frowned, awakened by the pain in his arm. The wound had been inflicted the previous night, and after a full day and night, it had become infected, sticking his bloodied clothes to his skin, causing excruciating discomfort that he had endured for too long.

Fu Anyian let out a pained groan, his face turning paler. He opened his eyes, all traces of sleepiness gone, and inspected his arm. The cloth was darker in color and emitted a distinct stench.

Gazing at the sleeping figure, he gently moved his fingers, slowly removing the clothing. Though he was a scholar, his father had forced him to train in martial arts from a young age, making his physique stronger and more toned than others. His abdominal and shoulder muscles formed smooth lines, exuding a compelling beauty.

The play of light on his back highlighted the undulating muscles, evoking a sense of allure.

Fu Anyian discarded his garment aside and fixed his gaze on the knife wound. It wasn't too deep; in the past, with some medicine and a few days of rest, it would have healed. But in these extraordinary times, without medicine, he had no choice but to endure the pain and bandage it roughly.

He tore off a piece of his inner shirt and wrapped the wound tightly around his arm, securing it with a knot.

Perhaps due to the delay in treatment, the bandaging now caused a stinging sensation. He gritted his teeth, suppressing a groan so that only a faint sound escaped his throat.

Yu Xi woke up in the middle of the night, half-asleep and dreaming she was being hunted down. The blade was dangerously close, aiming straight for her neck. Terrified, she instinctively raised her hand to block it, and then jolted awake.

Her vision was blurred, and the flame from the lamp slightly dazzled her eyes. She took a moment to adjust before opening them. Through the dim light, the man's skin appeared honey-colored, his broad shoulders contrasting with his narrow waist, and his well-defined muscles spoke of strength and power without being overly bulky. His veins were visible on his arms, and his abdominal muscles were distinct, exuding both sensuality and allure.

Yu Xi swallowed, her face flushing red. A wave of heat spread from her cheeks throughout her body, leaving her burning with unusual intensity. She gently kicked off her outer robe to cool herself down.

With bashful fingers entwined, her eyes, which should have been closed, widened upon seeing the bandaged arm, instantly disregarding all notions of propriety.

Yu Xi scrambled to her feet and hurried to him, crouching down. "You're injured? When did this happen?"

Seeing her wake up, Fu Anyian was startled at first. Then, he regained his composure. Realizing he was currently shirtless, he turned to fetch his garment, only to find that his inner shirt lay at her feet, trodden upon by her.

The man tugged gently, looking slightly helpless. "Your clothes."

Yu Xi grabbed his arm and looked down, quickly moving her foot away. "Oh, sorry, I didn't see."

Fu Anyian put on his inner robe unhurriedly, then gazed at her hand, his eyes gradually drifting to her blushing cheeks.

Her concern was evident on her face, sincere and not feigned.

"How serious is your injury?"

The man felt secretly pleased but maintained a composed expression. "I'm not that fragile. It'll heal in a couple of days."

Despite his words, Yu Xi still furrowed her brows with worry. This injury was definitely sustained while saving her. Sigh, Fu Anyian had a bad temper and was petty, but he could be truly kind to her at times.

Lowering her gaze, she held his arm to inspect the wound. Unconsciously, her eyes wandered to his chest and abdominal muscles. She had to admit, not only was this man handsome, but his physique was exceptional too.

With such thoughts, her cheeks grew even warmer.

"Look not upon that which should not be seen." Sensing her overly direct gaze, the man spoke up instantly. "Has the princess never heard of this saying?"

Yu Xi lifted her head, her cheeks flushed like a sunset, averting her gaze as she said, "I was worried about you, checking if your wound is severe. What would I do if you were to die?"

Letting go of him, Fu Anyian began to slowly tidy his clothes, tying the straps in place.

There was, however, a tiny footprint on his chest, spoiling the appearance.

Yu Xi pouted, feeling particularly uncomfortable seeing his expression, as if she had been lusting after his beauty.

She sat down and muttered, "What kind of look is that? Haven't I seen it before?"

"..."

His voice was hoarse, as if he was parched, "Read fewer romantic novels."

The meaning behind those words...

Yu Xi's eyes widened, filled with shock and confusion. Could it be that she truly hadn't seen this side of him before?