Chapter 14

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Last night, Lianyu Li slept very well. When she opened her eyes at dawn, listening to the chirping birds, she saw that Yan Shi, lying beside her, was still asleep. She was momentarily startled, then couldn’t hide her happiness and smiled at him. “Yan Shi, why haven’t you gotten up yet today?”

Her voice was soft, slightly hoarse from just waking, gentle and light.

Yan Shi turned his head to look at her. The youthful face, as pure as jade, was so close that in his dark eyes she could clearly see her face framed by clouds of black hair. His breath mingled with hers.

Lianyu Li was stunned for a moment, only then realizing that every day they slept so intimately and closely together.

She looked at her handsome bodyguard’s face and felt a flush rise to her cheeks. Her face slowly warmed; the confident commands she had issued the night before suddenly seemed excessive.

She finally grasped that she had a fiancé, and could not be so intimate with anyone else.

Even if it was her bodyguard.

But then Lianyu Li quickly reasoned that Yan Shi was the bodyguard given to her by the Imperial Grandfather. Isn’t the purpose of having a bodyguard so he would do whatever she wished?

“Whatever,” Yan Shi’s voice was low as his gaze shifted away.

Lianyu Li snapped back to herself, realizing she was almost leaning on him. Embarrassed, she hastily withdrew her limbs, sat on the earthen bed, and looked at him shyly.

Yan Shi lay still for a long while, eyes downcast.

Her gaze naturally fell on her bodyguard’s chest. Perhaps because of the way she had slept, his robe had come undone slightly, revealing a powerful chest. A straight collarbone lay embedded in his shoulder, muscles and sinews clearly defined. His usually tied-up hair was now disheveled, tangled around his neck with strands of black, white, and red.

For some reason, she couldn’t help but stare, entranced. When she came back to herself, Yan Shi opened his eyes and met her gaze.

Lianyu Li’s cheeks instantly burned crimson, her breath caught. She hadn’t been sneaking a look—it was just a casual glance—but she felt the guilty tension of being caught spying. Stammering, she said, “Um… how are your wounds?”

Yan Shi looked at her, sat up, and his ink-black hair fell loose down his back.

Lianyu Li had never seen him like this before. Her bodyguard always tied his hair high, never letting it hang loose. His already handsome face now looked even more delicate.

Yan Shi lowered his head, loosened his robe, and took off his clothes before looking back at her.

Blushing fiercely, Lianyu Li’s voice trembled, “Why are you taking off your clothes?”

“Didn’t you ask about my wounds?” Yan Shi’s eyes were dark and serene, his tone calm.

…He wasn’t wrong, but still, there was no need to undress!

“You just need to tell me if they’re healed or not!” Lianyu Li was at a loss for words. “We’re lying on the same bed… the earthen bed, and you undressing like that isn’t proper if someone sees!”

The young man was silent a moment before quietly asking, “Then will you look at my wounds or not?”

Lianyu Li was speechless.

She opened her mouth, her mind in turmoil. When she heard the word “wounds,” she recalled her previous question and hesitantly looked back at him.

The young bodyguard was tall and imposing, broad-shouldered with a lean waist. Several scars crisscrossed his torso… yes, she was here to check his wounds! Gathering her composure, Lianyu Li focused on the scars. Many were old, but some recent ones from when he had protected her still had scabs and weren’t fully healed.

She couldn’t help but lean closer, gently pressing her fingertips on the deepest and longest wound on his shoulder, recalling that night’s perilous situation. Her eyes grew moist. “Why hasn’t it healed yet? It must hurt a lot.”

Yan Shi watched her, muscles tensing, and after a long pause, he softly said, “I can endure it.”

Lianyu Li lowered her lashes, feeling a bit downhearted. “I didn’t even know your wounds weren’t healed. Do you still have medicine for them?”

After speaking, she raised her head, feeling something soft brush against her forehead. She was startled, her gaze first falling on Yan Shi’s crimson lips, then rising to meet his dark eyes.

“Knock, knock—” a knock came from outside, accompanied by the voice of Chen Xiu’e. “Xiaoyu, are you both awake?”

Lianyu Li suddenly snapped awake, springing from the earthen bed to jump down. But when her eyes caught the dark floor, she hurriedly pulled back her foot, hurriedly putting on her shoes and running to open the door.

The countryside house was a simple square room, with the door facing the earthen bed. When Chen Xiu’e saw the door open, she noticed Lianyu Li’s flushed and nervous cheeks. Her gaze swept over and saw Yan Shi sitting on the bed, silently dressing, his bare chest faintly visible.

Chen Xiu’e, a woman who had borne two children, suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and wondered if she had come at an awkward time. She did not speak immediately.

Lianyu Li blocked her gaze and raised her voice, “Madam Chen, what brings you here so early?”

Chen Xiu’e remembered her role and wiped her swollen eyes. “I went to the village chief. My second brother is no longer in the village, and there are only two empty houses here now. Da Cheng and I plan to fix one up to live in. I came to ask about your plans.”

She explained the situation to Lianyu Li in detail.

Not long after Chen Xiu’e left home, Qian Zhaodi, wife of Chen Gaozhu, disliked Chen You Shu, her second brother, for occupying land at home. She badmouthed him and, while pregnant, forced him out to start her own household.

The Chen family parents were simple farmers and, with Chen Xiu’e’s mother’s frail health, had no strength to oppose the pregnant new wife. Chen You Shu left home and disappeared. After the youngest son left, the new wife treated the parents coldly; within two years, they passed away, buried without even a coffin, wrapped in straw mats.

After hearing this, Lianyu Li could not help but be furious. “Chen Gaozhu is truly… truly an animal! No, animals are ashamed to be compared to him! He’s worse than pigs and dogs—his wickedness is infamous, unworthy of heaven and earth! Yan Shi, later you must go to Chen Gaozhu’s house and give him a good beating to vent this anger!”

Chen Xiu’e said, “No need to go that far. Just sever ties. Besides, Chen Gaozhu has already broken some ribs and is lying there, moaning endlessly.”

Lianyu Li turned around to see Yan Shi had tied his hair and dressed, silently walking behind her. His calm eyes scanned Chen Xiu’e.

Chen Xiu’e felt nervous under Yan Shi’s dark, curved gaze… Could he be blaming her for coming at a bad time?

Yan Shi went out to draw water by the well.

Lianyu Li spoke a few more words with Chen Xiu’e. Chen Xiu’e’s eyes reddened, full of apology. “I wanted you to come to the village to have land to live on. I didn’t expect things to be like this.”

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“No matter. My brother can repair the house.” Lianyu Li had never encountered someone so unscrupulous. Though angry, her voice softened near the end. “We have nowhere else to go now. I just don’t know if the village chief will allow us to stay temporarily?”

Chen Xiu’e wiped her eyes and said, “The village chief is old but kindhearted. It shouldn’t be a problem. Da Cheng will go to town soon to buy some rice, flour, and daily necessities. Will Xiao Yan come with him?”

Lianyu Li blinked and immediately nodded, “Yes, I want to go!”

“Da Cheng will leave soon. We’ll borrow the village chief’s ox cart to carry more goods,” Chen Xiu’e added.

Lianyu Li agreed and nodded. “I’ll have my brother come over later.”

Chen Xiu’e spoke briefly and left.

After she left, Lianyu Li walked over to Yan Shi’s side and naturally squatted down, putting her hand into the bucket of clean water he had prepared to wash her face. She rinsed her mouth, then took from him the willow twig he had soaked for brushing teeth.

After raising her wet face, she cursed Chen Gaozhu once more, then looked brightly at Yan Shi. “Yan Shi, later you and Zhu Da Cheng will go to town. I have many things for you to buy—first, paper, inkstone, brush, and ink. I want to write a letter to Cui Yunqi!”

Yan Shi squatted waiting for her to finish washing, expression unmoved. He looked at her, then lowered his eyes and washed his face with the water she had used.

Lianyu Li began her daily necessary words again, “I really miss Imperial Grandfather.”

For the first time, Yan Shi looked up and asked, “Then why don’t you write to His Majesty?”

The young man’s striking, sharp face was also wet, water dripping down his cheeks from his brows. The morning light shimmered on the droplets, sparkling like tiny stars. His eyes seemed to shine as well.

Lianyu Li pursed her lips, smiling proudly. “Are you stupid? Imperial Grandfather’s whereabouts are secret and impossible to find. Even I can only wait for him to find me. But Cui Yunqi is different; he doesn’t have to hide from the world. I can guess where he might be, so writing a letter gives me a chance to find him. Besides, if I find Cui Yunqi, he’ll handle everything for me. Even finding Imperial Grandfather—he’ll find a way. He’s very capable.”

Yan Shi looked at her, then after a moment shook the water off his face.

Lianyu Li was splashed with water and stopped mid-praise for Cui Yunqi, softly exclaiming, “Yan Shi, are you a puppy? Shaking off water like that!”

Yan Shi then lowered his head, taking a worn pouch from his waist and handing it to Lianyu Li.

Though puzzled, she instinctively opened it and saw some silver fragments and a few copper coins. She blinked in confusion and looked back at him.

Yan Shi’s clear voice said, “Paper, ink, brush, and inkstone are expensive. I can’t afford them.”

Lianyu Li was stunned; she had never considered this. Along the way, Yan Shi had prepared dry food, and she never worried about money. She stammered, “Imperial Grandfather… didn’t give you money?”

Yan Shi quietly looked at her, voice low, “There was no time—only enough to summon me back to the palace to find you.”

Lianyu Li couldn’t believe it. “You… you used your own money all this way?”

Yan Shi remained silent.

Her face flushed bright red as she hurried to say, “Aunt Qingling packed some valuables for me—you’ve seen them—those golden hairpins and ornaments… maybe we can melt them down.”

She trailed off, knowing palace jewelry would attract attention if worn outside, so melting them was the only option for money.

Yan Shi said, “Many places now suffer from disasters and wars. There are many refugees. Not everyone can afford so much gold and jewels.”

Lianyu Li understood, her eyes moistening. She thought of the coarse clothes rubbing her chest, the hard-to-swallow food, and felt downcast.

She handed the pouch back to Yan Shi, her mind foggy and numb, thinking of Imperial Grandfather again. If only he were here…

She was hazy, but with Imperial Grandfather absent and no money, how could she support herself and her bodyguard?

She began to consider what skills she had.

She couldn’t sew, and her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were average. But she was literate and wrote beautiful small script. She knew how to write memorials. Imperial Grandfather praised her for the memorials she wrote for her father and mother. Perhaps she could write memorials for others to earn money, but that required many deaths to make a profit…

Yan Shi took the pouch and stood up briskly, then turned to look at Lianyu Li.

The young bodyguard glanced toward the small forest behind them, silent but questioning with his eyes.

Lianyu Li came back to herself and met his dark eyes. Thinking of something, her face flushed slowly. She suddenly remembered the paper in the bags on the horse. She hurried over to check and found there was still some paper left, but without brushes or ink, how could she write a letter?

Besides, that paper was for changing clothes.

If she couldn’t afford paper in the future, how would she change clothes?

Lianyu Li grew increasingly worried and wandered into the small forest in a daze.

After tidying herself up, her flushed face washed, she said to Yan Shi, “When you return, you must build me a clean room. It must be tidy and neat, with clean water nearby at all times, and preferably some incense burning.”

She spoke softly but firmly, “That’s the minimum requirement.”

Yan Shi glanced at her and nodded in agreement.

Lianyu Li looked at him but was too shy to continue.

Yet Yan Shi surprisingly spoke, “How should I address the princess from now on?”

Lianyu Li thought it a bit late for him to ask but realized he was taciturn and had never called her anything in front of Chen Xiu’e and her husband. She said, “I told Chen Xiu’e and her husband that you are my brother. From now on, in front of others, you call me Xiaoyu or Yu’er, and I’ll call you brother. From today on, I’ll call you Yan Yu, and you still call yourself Yan Shi.”

Yan Shi’s dark eyes looked at her to confirm, “Xiaoyu? Yan Yu?”

Lianyu Li smiled faintly, as if bestowing a gift on her bodyguard. “I approve.”

—

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From Chen’s village to the nearest Changxing town, a round trip by ox cart took at least two hours. Even if Yan Shi rode a horse and came back ahead, it would take over an hour.

Yan Shi hadn’t expected it to take so long.

Lianyu Li hadn’t expected it either. She followed Yan Shi to Chen Xiu’e’s place and looked longingly at him, wanting to go to town with him.

Chen Xiu’e saw these two young souls unwilling to part even for a short while and pulled Zhu Da Cheng aside to talk.

Lianyu Li’s face was full of worry. She knew following them would delay things, but having not separated from Yan Shi for over a month in such an unfamiliar place, she didn’t want to be apart now.

But she was a princess of Ningguo, how could she be so timid?

It was only an hour or two, and she could think of two memorials in that time.

When she looked up again, her expression was solemn like a guardian princess. She patted Yan Shi’s arm. “You go ahead. I will wait here for your return.”

Yan Shi swallowed the words he had wanted to say, looking at her with a pause. “Really?”

Lianyu Li nodded, lowering her voice. “I am a princess. I never lie.”

Yan Shi was silent for a moment before nodding. “I’ll wait for your return.”

Though she spoke boldly, watching Yan Shi and Zhu Da Cheng depart, she felt reluctant. She and Chen Xiu’e stood beneath a tree at the village entrance, watching Yan Shi’s tall, slender, and lean back on horseback. She wanted to step forward.

Yan Shi seemed aware and turned to look back.

It was strange—though they were far apart, Lianyu Li could feel his dark, calm eyes on her. She hurriedly waved and made a cheerful face.

Zhu Da Cheng, driving the ox cart, laughed seeing Yan Shi look back repeatedly. “Don’t worry. Madam E will take good care of Xiaoyu.”

Yan Shi frowned all the way to town.

Upon arrival, he parted ways with Zhu Da Cheng and first went to the government office area. After blending into the crowd to check the latest official notices, he went to a clothing shop.

At the shop, Yan Shi saw the dazzling array of garments. Touching his pouch, his calm eyes scanned the items and pointed to three fine cloth dresses hanging and two pairs of layered-soled shoes suitable for walking.

The shopkeeper was a woman in her thirties. Though Yan Shi wore coarse cloth martial robes, he was tall and handsome, and she greeted him with a smile, taking down the three dresses and wrapping them. “Young master, anything else?”

Yan Shi said nothing, his gaze sweeping around. Not finding any undershirts, he asked, “No stomachers?”

The shopkeeper immediately covered her mouth, laughing. “Those aren’t displayed outside. Young master, please come inside.”

Yan Shi gave her a look and followed her into the back room.

The shopkeeper opened a drawer and said, “Young master, do you know the young lady’s figure? The underclothes must fit well. We have all sizes here; you can choose freely.”

Yan Shi’s eyelashes lowered, his ears quickly reddened, but he expressionlessly stepped forward to select three pieces.

Carrying the wrapped clothes out of the shop, he took out his pouch and felt inside.

Should he take a few assassination jobs?

—

After Yan Shi and Zhu Da Cheng left, Chen Xiu’e accompanied Lianyu Li to the village outskirts.

After walking halfway, Chen Xiu’e suddenly reached to rub her belly, her brows knitting in discomfort.

Lianyu Li noticed and worried, “Madam Chen, are you not feeling well?”

Chen Xiu’e blushed and whispered, “I think I’m pregnant again.”

Lianyu Li, still a young girl, was confused. “Pregnant again?”

Chen Xiu’e looked at the girl’s puzzled face and smiled. “Here, there’s another child.” She lightly touched her belly.

Lianyu Li understood and curiously looked at the woman’s flat stomach. “How do you know?”

Chen Xiu’e covered her mouth. “Since escaping from the capital, my monthly cycle hasn’t come. I’ve had two children before; I know. This means I’m with child.”

Lianyu Li suddenly clutched her own belly, a cold sweat breaking out. Her voice faltered, “Why does missing the cycle mean pregnancy? Maybe the cycle is irregular?”

Chen Xiu’e thought some things were best learned at marriage. She took the girl’s curiosity lightly and said vaguely, “Da Cheng and I are husband and wife, close and always together. If the cycle doesn’t come when it should, probably pregnant. If husband and wife are apart, the cycle might be irregular.”

Lianyu Li was shocked, silent for a long moment, clutching her belly as her mind became a chaotic fog of fear and panic. Her soul seemed to drift away.

…She had delayed her cycle for so long because she was pregnant.

Thinking of Imperial Grandfather’s many consorts and children, she suddenly understood yet felt utterly confused. She still didn’t know how a child could enter her womb… but she and Yan Shi had slept together every day for over a month during their escape…

She was pregnant by her bodyguard… Her coming-of-age ceremony was tomorrow, and she already had a child…

How should she tell Cui Yunqi? Would he accept this child?