Chapter 17 (Notice of Official Serialization)

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The forest glade was cool, the shadows of the trees swaying gently. Li Mianyu knelt amidst the flowers, holding a bloom in her hands. Thoughts of not seeing Cui Yunqi stirred a profound sadness within her, but her gaze quickly shifted, lifting to the young covert guard standing in the stream with his pant legs rolled up. A faint, reserved smile curved her lips. “Every year on my birthday, Aunt Qingling would prepare a gift for me,” she said, then fell silent, looking only at Yan Shi.

Yan Shi slipped two shrimp into the fish basket, his dark eyes fixed on her. “What does the princess wish for?”

Li Mianyu parted her lips, then remembered that the only money they had now was the few pieces of silver and copper coins in Yan Shi’s small pouch. She sighed softly. “That’s for you to figure out.”

Yan Shi studied her quietly, said nothing, and bent down to pick two more shrimp.

Li Mianyu, tired from squatting, stood and took a few steps. Yan Shi watched her but did not intervene.

Over the past month, Li Mianyu’s mood had only just begun to settle, allowing her some leisure to enjoy the mountain scenery. But after only a brief glance into the distance, a wave of melancholy returned. The forest was silent, no voices echoed, and tomorrow’s coming-of-age ceremony would have no guests to offer congratulations.

Her coming-of-age ceremony would be unbearably lonely — something she had never imagined.

She thought again of her imperial grandfather; on the day she became an adult, he would not be able to come.

And then there was Cui Yunqi... They had planned to marry as soon as she came of age.

The young girl’s heart brimmed with sorrow and worry. Furrowing her brow, she bent to pluck another flower. As she straightened, she noticed a clump of Jian orchids nearby, their blossoms delicate and elegant. Suddenly delighted, she called out softly, “Yan Shi, come quickly! There are Jian orchids here!”

Hearing the urgency, Yan Shi tensed, fearing she had encountered snakes or insects. He was about to dash over but relaxed when he heard her mention orchids. He dropped the handful of clams into the waist basket and stepped ashore.

But just as his right foot touched the ground, his expression sharpened abruptly. The soft, peaceful aura about him shifted, becoming sharp and fierce as he looked toward the left front.

“Yan Shi, could you use your sharp soft sword to carefully dig up this little orchid and bring it back? We don’t have a flowerpot, but tomorrow when we go to town for business, can you buy one? Orchids are delicate; you must be gentle when digging.”

Li Mianyu was still crouched, pondering the best angle to dig when suddenly a rough hand gripped her arm. Startled, she loosened her hold, scattering the flowers. Just as she was about to scold Yan Shi, a strong arm encircled her waist, pressing her back against his warm chest. She froze and fell silent.

Only when Yan Shi held her behind a large rock did she slowly regain her composure. She remembered the last time he had carried her away without warning and felt a surge of nervousness. In a low voice, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yan Shi lowered his head, whispering, “To the left.”

Warm breath brushed her ear, tickling. Instinctively, Li Mianyu wanted to rub her ear but restrained herself and looked in that direction.

She squinted, holding her breath, and after a long moment murmured, “I can’t see anything.”

Yan Shi was silent.

He recalled that Li Mianyu’s eyes, though bright, were not keen, especially in the dim forest shadows.

“There are people. Officials, it seems.”

At this, Li Mianyu immediately ducked her head, no longer daring to look, pressing close into Yan Shi’s embrace. Her voice trembled. “How can there be officials here? Are they looking for me?”

The imperial throne was no longer held by the Li family in the capital; the land was rife with contenders. These officials were not those of the former Great Zhou dynasty and would not bow before her.

Though no official notices had been seen seeking her, Li Mianyu knew someone was searching.

Yan Shi whispered, “I don’t know.”

Li Mianyu had her own thoughts, connecting the dots: the officials had found her again, and she and Yan Shi must flee once more.

Her eyes drifted back to the little orchid, then to the scattered flowers, and to the large bath bucket Yan Shi had cleaned for her. Her mood sank, tears pricking her eyes. She murmured, “Without imperial grandfather, there is no safe place for me in this world.”

Her voice choked with sadness, fragile and pitiful.

Yan Shi glanced around, then leaning slightly on her, leapt nimbly onto a nearby tall tree.

Li Mianyu’s tears and sniffles froze halfway; her body stiffened instantly. Yan Shi whispered nonsense in her ear: “Wait here. I’ll go check.”

“Here?!” Her lips quivered as she realized he was about to fly away, clutching his waist tightly.

Her legs felt like soft noodles, trembling uncontrollably. She couldn’t bear being left alone so high up. “How dare you!”

It was simply outrageous!

But she was a princess; she would never admit to fear. She just hoped her covert guard had some insight.

Yan Shi did not move.

After a long moment, his voice rang clear like clinking jade: “Hold me tight.”

Li Mianyu was already holding him tightly, thinking he was going to fly down with her. She nodded eagerly and clung to him. But the next moment, a breeze swept past her ear as Yan Shi leapt, landing on another branch.

The young covert guard was as light as a cat, even carrying Li Mianyu. Her heart raced, and she dared not utter a sound.

Before she could recover, Yan Shi leapt twice more, holding her firmly as they descended.

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Li Mianyu had no strength left to scold him; she wished she could wrap her legs around his waist and bite her lip tight.

Yan Shi raised his hand silently, pointing ahead. Li Mianyu glared at him irritably but held her breath as she looked.

Below a rocky cliff, three to five men clad in black tight clothing, swords and knives at their waists, held various tools. Some crouched, some leaned against the cliff, scrutinizing and searching. One held a map, marking it before moving forward.

Curious, Li Mianyu momentarily forgot her fear and whispered to Yan Shi, “What are they doing?”

Yan Shi seemed thoughtful but said nothing, following the group with several leaps while holding Li Mianyu.

The mountain grew darker faster than outside, and Li Mianyu soon lost clear sight. She was about to ask again when Yan Shi whispered in her ear, “They’re prospecting.”

“Prospecting?” she murmured.

Yan Shi leaned in closer, voice low. “There are many lightning-struck trees on this mountain. They’re searching for exposed ochre stones, beneath which lie iron ore.”

Li Mianyu immediately recalled a phrase from her readings: “Where there is ochre above, there is iron below.” Excitement stirred, but then she thought of how the Great Zhou kingdom had been plundered by traitors, and her spirits sank again.

Especially when she considered that the usurpers would use this iron to forge weapons against her imperial grandfather, her heart ached even more.

As she sighed in sorrow, Yan Shi’s quiet voice floated near, “Should we kill them all?”

Her breath caught. “Kill them all?”

His voice was cold, merciless. “Kill them all.”

Why did her covert guard speak of murder as casually as slicing melons?

Li Mianyu was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and leaned close to whisper, “If we kill them, others will come. You alone can’t kill them all.”

They must not alert the snakes before the grass is stirred.

Yan Shi said nothing, watching the men below a while longer before looking at her. His dark eyes shone softly as he gazed for some time.

Li Mianyu’s mood darkened; she did not notice.

On the way back, she remained silent. Yan Shi carried her to the place with the Jian orchids.

Here the tree shadows were less dense. The little orchid trembled delicately in the crevice of a rock, beautiful and resilient. Seeing it, Li Mianyu’s spirits lifted. She crouched down, beckoning Yan Shi.

He squatted, ready to dig, but she caught his hand. He looked up at her as she lowered her gaze to the flower.

“Let it grow here,” she murmured. “We live here. I can see it every day. We won’t take it away.”

A faint smile touched her lips, her pure, radiant face softened by the dusk.

“Everyone says Cui Yunqi is like an orchid—noble and pure,” she sighed unexpectedly.

Yan Shi’s gaze lingered on her expression, then he pointed quietly at the scattered flowers on the ground. “What about these flowers?”

Li Mianyu’s lofty mood shattered. Her cheeks flushed red as she fixed her gaze on Yan Shi and retorted softly, “Orchids are for looking at. These fragrant flowers are for bathing.”

Curious, Yan Shi leaned closer. “Then which do you like better?”

Without hesitation, Li Mianyu said, “Of course, the orchid!”

She opened her mouth to expound on the orchid’s beauty and purity, but Yan Shi swiftly gathered the scattered flowers and stood, heading to the dilapidated house.

Afraid of the dark, Li Mianyu grabbed his sleeve. “Wait for me!”

Yan Shi didn’t move until she caught hold, then he lifted his leg.

—

Night had fallen completely; the forest was dark and quiet.

Cheng Quan glanced at the mountain hollow, suppressing the surge of excitement in his heart. He lowered his head and slipped a small piece of ochre stone into his waist pouch, then turned to the equally excited men behind him. “We stop here today. Let’s return to report to the young master.”

The others, all experts in geology, understood the importance and nodded, gathering their tools.

The group quietly left the mountain hollow near Chen family village as they had come.

Cheng Quan’s swift steed raced ahead to the county seat of Longxi.

He entered the Cui residence directly, heading to the south courtyard.

Inside, lamps burned brightly. Cui Yunqi sat at a desk, writing documents. Lu Yuanjun was bold and fierce, renowned in the military and respected for his achievements but disinclined to read. He entrusted many affairs to his cousin, Cui Yunqi.

“Master,” Cheng Quan knocked and entered, his voice trembling with excitement.

The young master, pale and frost-like, lifted his head. His phoenix-like eyes met Cheng Quan’s.

Cheng Quan bowed his head, speaking directly: “There is indeed iron ore in the northern mountains of Longxi county.” He produced the small ochre stone from his pouch and respectfully offered it.

Cui Yunqi set down his pen and examined the stone closely. After a long while, he asked, “Are there any villages nearby?”

Cheng Quan nodded. “There’s a small village of about a hundred households, called Chen family village. The nameless mountain is known by the villagers as Chen Mountain.”

In the dimness, moonlight filtered through the window, casting a pale glow on Cui Yunqi’s moon-white robe, giving him a ghostly pallor. He picked up the ochre stone again, speaking gently: “Tomorrow, I will visit it myself.”

Cheng Quan nodded again and then fell silent.

Cui Yunqi gazed at the ochre stone, his gentle eyes flickering with light.

“Yu’er... tomorrow you come of age. Where exactly are you?”

—

Below the mountain, all was still. A sliver of moonlight passed through the paper window, falling on the floor. The oil lamp flickered dimly, water murmuring softly inside.

Li Mianyu enjoyed the softest meal she had had in a month, then soaked comfortably in warm water, carefully scrubbing her hair with bath beans.

Though rough and coarse compared to the palace’s refined soaps, she felt joyful, believing she was soon to transform from a filthy thing back into the fragrant Princess of Ningguo.

Before the water cooled completely, she reluctantly rose, stepping onto a clean wooden plank beside the tub, wiping herself with a cotton towel.

The plank had been chopped by Yan Shi when he built the clean room earlier, placed next to the bath barrel atop a rough cloth.

Li Mianyu spent a long time drying her thick hair with the towel before setting it down. Beside her sat a long wooden bench on which lay her new clothes. She reached for them and, after putting on her bellyband, habitually went to get her underwear—but froze.

Suddenly she remembered... she had no new underwear.

Her joyful smile faded instantly.

Yan Shi had already washed and changed into clean undergarments with well water, waiting outside in the courtyard.

When the water stopped running inside and Li Mianyu did not call him in to help, he frowned slightly, puzzled.

After a long while, her trembling voice came from the room: “Yan Shi, come in.”

Yan Shi turned and pushed open the door, peering inside.

Li Mianyu sat upright at the edge of the kang platform, her hair half-wet and loose. She wore a delicate red cloth skirt neatly, her right hand holding scissors, the left clutching half a bolt of fabric. Her expression was hesitant, nervous, and unsure as she gestured.

Seeing Yan Shi enter, her dark eyes met his. Her face slowly flushed, lashes trembling. She stammered, “Yan Shi...”

His gaze fell on the scissors in her hand.

Delicate, unfamiliar.

Li Mianyu’s mind was blank holding the scissors. Underwear seemed simple — just a few pieces of cloth sewn together — but she didn’t even know how to cut the fabric.

Yet she could not be without underwear, nor did she want to wear the dirty coarse underclothes again.

She hesitated, then composed herself with a modest, refined air. “Since childhood, I have studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and am skilled in horsemanship. But as the palace has embroidery maids, I have never learned needlework. So...” She paused, then, unable to hold back, looked at her capable covert guard with hopeful eyes. “Yan Shi, do you know how to sew?”

Yan Shi was silent.

The youth, clad in a thin undershirt with a loose collar revealing smooth skin that gleamed honey-gold in the lamp light, looked steadily at Li Mianyu. His lashes fluttered but he said nothing.

Li Mianyu took this as assent, cheeks flushing. Her voice was light yet coquettish. “Please help me sew two pairs of underwear. No embroidery, just plain... I need them for my coming-of-age ceremony!”

She waited a long moment without a response, then frowned and beckoned to him, “Come here.”

Yan Shi slowly approached. Li Mianyu grabbed his sleeve and settled him beside her.

Side by side, their legs touching, clothes brushing.

Yan Shi lowered his head, dark eyes locking on Li Mianyu. His voice was strained. “I’ve never seen women’s underwear before.”

Water still clung to Li Mianyu’s cheeks, making them rosy. Her lashes trembled as she looked up at him and swiftly gestured on her own leg.

Yan Shi seemed puzzled, leaning closer to see.

As Li Mianyu finished her gesture and looked up, Yan Shi bent down—

Soft, damp lips, carrying the fresh scent of youth, met hers unexpectedly, perfectly.

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