Chapter 11

The sky had darkened, and in the girl’s eyes flickered the reflection of two flames, her eyes curved with anticipation and joy.

Yan Shi paused slightly and said, “Perhaps.”

Li Mianyu had been waiting for those words. She immediately nestled close to him, her gaze shifting as she said, “Once we settle in Chen Family Village in Longxi, you should go to the Military Governor’s Office to inquire. If Cui Yunqi is there, I want to write him a letter, asking him to come to Chen Family Village to take me.”

There were, in truth, many uncertainties—would the Military Governor’s Office accept a letter from someone with an unknown background? Would Lu Sanzhong harbor ill intentions upon learning the whereabouts of the Princess of Ningguo?

Yet Li Mianyu gave no thought to these concerns. In her heart, as long as Cui Yunqi was there, everything would be as it had been before.

She was a princess, and Cui Yunqi was the imperial grandfather’s proclaimed husband to her. He would resolve all her troubles.

Yan Shi looked at her and nodded. “Very well.”

Li Mianyu smiled at him, but her gaze soon drifted away. She turned her face toward the small tent’s entrance and the sky beyond, becoming quiet. Her profile was both innocent and elegant, graceful in every way. Softly, she whispered, “Yan Shi, I miss Cui Yunqi.”

By the end of her words, her voice trembled slightly.

Yan Shi followed her gaze outside.

The night was quiet, the crescent moon cold and clear, much like Li Mianyu’s mood. She spoke with a hint of grievance and blame. “I haven’t seen him for so long. When I was in the palace, he wrote to me every day, and every few days he would come to visit me.”

Yan Shi said nothing, so silent it was as if he did not even breathe.

Li Mianyu did not mind his silence and leaned closer. Her voice was soft, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I’ve been missing for so long; Cui Yunqi must be worried. He’s very fond of me. It was he who petitioned the imperial grandfather to let me come down!”

Her tone was sweet and coquettish, a mixture of shyness and pride.

Perhaps it was Chen Xiu’e’s mention of the Cui family that stirred her thoughts, for Li Mianyu spoke at length about Cui Yunqi. She began with his childhood achievements and then recounted how they first met.

“Cui Yunqi could read at three, recite poetry at five. He was a prodigy known far and wide—versed in astronomy and geography, especially skilled in numerology, helping his mother with accounts as early as seven.”

“When Cui Yunqi passed the imperial examination and entered the palace, I first saw him in the imperial grandfather’s study. He wore the scholar’s cap and robe, with a flower pinned to his hat, standing there with rosy lips and fair skin, gentle as jade. His voice was soft and slow. I couldn’t help but glance at him once… just once! But he caught sight of me immediately, his face flushing red. The imperial grandfather even laughed at him!” The girl’s voice was shy yet joyous.

“The imperial grandfather adored him, thinking that despite his youth, he had a delicate heart. He made an exception and kept him close as a secretary in the imperial library. I often saw him... every time he saw me, he would speak to me and later often brought me gifts from outside... Yan Shi! Are you listening?”

Yan Shi’s eyes were half-closed, drowsy.

Li Mianyu glanced to the side and saw that her dark-guard’s eyes were nearly shut. Immediately displeased, she raised her voice and shook his arm.

Yan Shi opened his eyes to look at her. She puffed out her cheeks and glared. “What did I just say?”

“...”

The boy did not answer right away. His dark eyes, like two black mercury beads in the night, reflected the nearby firelight.

Li Mianyu hesitated as she met those eyes.

Yan Shi quickly looked away. “You said Cui Yunqi could read at three.”

Li Mianyu continued to puff her cheeks. “And what else?”

Yan Shi drew a soft sword from his waist and lightly wiped it with his sleeve.

Li Mianyu, puzzled, instinctively leaned closer to see the sword. “Why are you suddenly wiping your sword?”

His tone was calm. “I started martial arts at three, learned boxing at five, could wield a sword at seven, and could kill at eleven.”

Li Mianyu was speechless. After a long pause, she stammered, “Well, you’re pretty impressive.”

Yan Shi said nothing, but his silence seemed to imply agreement.

Lost in thought, Li Mianyu’s mind was filled with the image of Yan Shi having killed at eleven, and she suddenly fell silent, forgetting about Cui Yunqi’s stories.

After a while, she felt sleepy, rubbed her tear-streaked eyes, and was about to call Yan Shi to lie down when she caught sight of a stick hanging at his waist. Curious, she looked down.

Seeing it was just an ordinary wooden stick, she muttered, “It’s just a plain stick, and you won’t even let me touch it.”

Yan Shi lowered his head. In the night, his face was indistinct, but he reached out, took the stick from his waist, and handed it to Li Mianyu. “You can touch this stick.”

---

Li Mianyu heard no hidden meaning and, hearing Yan Shi allow her to touch it again, her previous displeasure vanished entirely. A proud smile tugged at her lips. “But didn’t you say I couldn’t touch it? I won’t.”

Yan Shi handed the stick firmly to her again, his voice low. “This one you may touch.”

Li Mianyu feigned refusal, secretly pleased, emphasizing, “You’re the one begging me to touch it.”

Yan Shi nodded.

Only then did Li Mianyu take the short staff, running her slender, pale fingers over it, though she found no particular secret. She tossed it back into his arms. “You can’t keep it at your waist when you sleep. It’s so uncomfortable.”

Yan Shi said nothing but placed the stick aside within her sight.

Feeling at ease, Li Mianyu patted the ground beside her, signaling Yan Shi to lie down first.

He obeyed, his arm naturally resting across as before. Li Mianyu lay down, resting her head on Yan Shi’s shoulder, and closed her eyes comfortably.

Now, even out in the wild, she could fall asleep quickly, her breathing growing steady and long, ignoring the insects and frogs in the forest.

Yan Shi glanced down, only seeing her curled lashes and peaceful repose.

He withdrew his gaze, looking up at the night sky outside the tent, listening carefully to the sounds of the wandering refugees nearby before slowly closing his eyes.

---

The next day, Li Mianyu awoke to find Yan Shi’s side empty. She pouted in displeasure. Since the day she touched the stick, he had been waking early, causing her to rise early as well.

Stepping from the tent, she saw Yan Shi and Zhu Dacheng harnessing horses to the wooden cart.

The cart belonged to Zhu Dacheng and Chen Xiu’e.

Li Mianyu did not immediately approach but went to the stream. First, she used a willow twig Yan Shi had soaked to deftly clean her teeth, rinsed her mouth, then cupped water to wash her face. After tidying herself, she stood up.

Turning back, Yan Shi was already behind her. She naturally pulled out her hair tie, letting her thick black hair fall down, then turned her back.

Yan Shi stood behind her, shielding her from the curious gazes of the wandering refugees. His fingers grasped her silky hair, combing it before tying it up.

She then looked up at Yan Shi. He said nothing, leading her into the woods.

When they emerged, Li Mianyu’s face was still flushed.

After washing her hands by the stream, she saw Chen Xiu’e waving from afar. Yan Shi lowered his head and told her, “Zhu Dacheng searched the woods this morning and found some sweet potatoes. They’ve been roasted; that’s breakfast.”

By now, Li Mianyu knew what sweet potatoes were and nodded, blushing.

“After breakfast, we continue on the road,” Yan Shi said.

Mornings were always the most bashful time for Li Mianyu; she nodded coyly.

Yan Shi glanced at her twice, then looked away.

After eating, the group packed their belongings. Yan Shi helped Li Mianyu onto the cart.

It was her first time riding one. Unlike a horse carriage, this cart was bumpy and open on all sides, making her nervous. She clutched Yan Shi’s sleeve tightly.

Chen Xiu’e sat beside her, laughing as she held her. “Don’t be afraid. This cart is sturdy; you won’t fall off.”

Li Mianyu hesitated but loosened her grip on Yan Shi’s sleeve. Just as Zhu Dacheng tugged the horses forward, the cart jolted, and she instinctively grabbed Yan Shi’s sleeve again.

Zhu Dacheng chuckled and called back, “Little Yan, you should get on too. The horse is strong and can pull us easily.”

Yan Shi hesitated.

Chen Xiu’e smiled and said, “You siblings both get on. Dacheng has good legs. Let him walk alone, and we’ll all ride the cart.” She spoke proudly.

Li Mianyu gently tugged Yan Shi’s sleeve, looking at him beseechingly.

Yan Shi no longer hesitated and nimbly climbed up like a cat, settling beside Li Mianyu. She immediately leaned against him, clutching his arm for comfort.

Chen Xiu’e smiled quietly at the sight of the two children so close together.

As Zhu Dacheng started pulling the horses along the mountain path, wandering refugees resting in the woods the previous night tried to catch up. Yan Shi raised his head, his dark eyes flashing fiercely, and swept them with a sharp gaze.

The refugees shivered again, hesitating and no longer daring to follow.

The cart rocked on the mountain path, heading toward Longxi.

---

The day they entered the boundaries of Longxi was drizzly, and the road was crowded with refugees.

Li Mianyu sat on the cart, wearing a rough linen shirt over her head as a cover, and a square cloth over her face. Clinging close to Yan Shi, she looked at the pale, gaunt, ragged refugees around her, feeling somewhat downhearted.

Along the way, she heard many complaints about the foolish and incompetent Emperor of the Great Zhou, who had allowed rebels to seize the capital easily. She felt sorrow and anger and wanted to defend the imperial grandfather’s diligent governance but could only hold back her words.

By the time they reached Longxi, her spirits were low.

Shortly after entering Longxi, the cart was jolted by a heavy bump, and Li Mianyu nearly slipped off. Yan Shi caught her in his arms, and she hastily held his arm.

“There’s a porridge station ahead,” Zhu Dacheng’s voice suddenly called out, accompanied by the chaotic sound of refugees rushing forward.

Li Mianyu knew well what a porridge station was—during disasters, the government or wealthy nobles would set up shelters to cook porridge to distribute to refugees.

Such stations were usually built outside city gates, but they had only just entered Longxi, far from the city. How could there be a porridge station here?

Curious, Li Mianyu leaned from Yan Shi’s embrace to look ahead. About forty yards away stood a courier station, with several porridge shelters set up in front, crowded with people rushing toward them.

“Chen Family Village is just a courier station. Taking the fork ahead leads into the forest. But reaching the village will take until nightfall. Having a bowl of porridge now is just right,” Chen Xiu’e said, peering ahead.

Li Mianyu did not want to jostle with the refugees for a bowl of porridge and shook her head. “I won’t go.”

Yan Shi naturally would not go either, helping Li Mianyu down from the cart.

Zhu Dacheng pushed the cart to the roadside and squeezed forward with Chen Xiu’e.

Li Mianyu rubbed her aching waist, standing aside. Looking up at Yan Shi, her eyes glistened again as she softly asked, “Yan Shi, do you think I can see my grandfather again?”

“Yes.”

Whenever Yan Shi said this, her mood brightened a little.

Just then, the harsh voice of soldiers shouting rang out, accompanied by the neighing of horses. The refugees, who had been crowding forward, were driven to the sides of the road.

Yan Shi moved swiftly, lifting Li Mianyu and stepping back two paces, narrowly avoiding falling refugees. He concealed them behind the crowd and watched ahead warily.

Startled, Li Mianyu clung to Yan Shi’s chest, glaring ahead with resentment.

Unlike the ragged refugees, a splendid carriage came riding down the road’s end. Its four corners were hung with tassels, beneath which jingling bells swayed. Four fine steeds trotted side by side, their saddles inlaid with jewels. As the wheels passed, the bells rang crisply, and a fragrant scent wafted out.

Li Mianyu had not seen such a luxurious carriage in a long time. For a moment, she was dazed, thinking this carriage was no less grand than the one she had as a princess.

The fine rain misted softly, the wind fluttering the curtains of the carriage. Inside sat two figures, one leaning against the window wearing a moon-white robe.

“Who are those people?” Li Mianyu furrowed her brows as she watched the carriage disappear and asked Yan Shi.

Only then did Yan Shi withdraw his gaze from the carriage and shake his head. “I don’t know.”

Li Mianyu did not ask further. She glanced at the carriage, then at her own tattered appearance, and felt a sting in her nose, her mood truly gloomy.

Just then, Zhu Dacheng returned, escorting Chen Xiu’e.

“The porridge is all gone. You were lucky not to go. It was so crowded, someone fell and was trampled; they probably won’t get up again,” Chen Xiu’e said, pausing as if recalling Li Mianyu’s delicate nature. She quickly changed her tone, “It was the birthday of the Military Governor’s daughter in Longxi, and she’s just been betrothed. They were joyful, and because she is kind-hearted, they set up porridge stations all the way here.”

Li Mianyu nodded absentmindedly. “I see.”

Seeing her lack of interest, Chen Xiu’e tried to cheer her up with a smile. “Little Yu, you and Little Yan are also betrothed cousins, aren’t you? When we reach Chen Family Village, we must arrange the gifts properly.”