The Eighth Year of Shenchu
Red Lips Sucking Blood
She had already prepared herself to spar with this strategist of Xie Fuchen, but unexpectedly, the other party agreed readily, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Yan Ye continued to write: Only by letting you see that our relationship with that Xie Taihang is different, and by properly hosting your mother, will you put your heart into your work. Master Xie had thought of this long ago. Five days ago, your mother was already taken to temporarily reside in the neighboring county, just waiting for your arrival.
Zhen Wenjun’s hands, holding the basket, trembled, almost making her drop it.
When! Where!
Zhen Wenjun quickly wrote.
Yan Ye maintained his own pace, writing horizontally and vertically with perfect neatness, as if practicing calligraphy: By then, you will naturally understand, young lady. On this return to Suichuan, be sure to conceal your identity well so as not to be recognized by the Wei bandits. Once in Suichuan, someone will contact you. That is all.
After writing, Yan Ye smoothed the rice in the basket, took the empty bowl Zhen Wenjun had finished eating from, and hunched over as he stood up. After coughing twice, he said, “…What you said is very true, young lady. Life in this world is like duckweed; this old servant should think more openly and cherish each stolen day.” With that, he pushed the door open and went out. Sure enough, Wei Tingxu’s guard was standing by the door, indifferent to whether the people inside noticed him eavesdropping. Yan Ye walked past him slowly, sighing constantly. Zhen Wenjun, holding her belly, said to the guard, “Rest early,” yawned, and went back to her room.
After knocking, Lingbi came to open the door.
“Why so long?” Lingbi asked casually. Zhen Wenjun noticed she was holding a dagger and only put it back under the pillow after confirming there was nothing unusual. She asked, “What did you eat?”
“I had a bowl of soup noodles. Happened to meet an old man and chatted with him for a bit.”
“Eat your fill and then sleep. I’ve already slept once over.” Lingbi yawned, lay back down on the bed, and did not suspect anything.
Zhen Wenjun responded with an “Eh,” then took off her shoes and socks, and with only her undergarments on, climbed into her own quilt. The fatigue and tension accumulated over the past few days gradually eased, leaving her dizzy and uncomfortable, yet still sleepless.
Tonight, a strategist from the Dongchun Xie family, much more benevolent than the Suichuan Xie family, suddenly appeared to say so much to her and even promised to let her see her mother. This was something she had never expected. She was originally sent by the Xie family to assassinate Wei Tingxu. Xie Fuchen could have continued to use her mother’s life to coerce her into working for him, but Xie Fuchen’s approach of lowering his stance and then using inducements was indeed much more sophisticated than Xie Taihang’s methods. At least at this moment, she had no reason to hate Xie Fuchen; instead, she should feel grateful.
However, the more pleasing Yan Ye’s words were, the more vigilant she became towards Xie Fuchen. This person could stand toe-to-toe with the Wei family, indicating he was a deeply scheming individual. She feared that more unexpected changes would occur in the future and that he would be difficult to deal with. She needed to provide him with genuinely useful information to keep him stable.
Lingbi fell asleep very peacefully, without any snoring, and even her breathing was no different from when she was awake, making it hard to tell whether she was asleep or awake in the night.
Zhen Wenjun turned over, her eyes bright as snow in the darkness.
Although the Qingliu faction was a group of hypocrites who used benevolence and morality to justify their oppressive actions, she had finally entered the most advantageous situation for herself.
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Fight, let the Wei and Xie families fight, let the Eldest Princess and the Emperor fight! As long as the struggle continues, her value will only increase. One day, she would make sure Wei Tingxu could not do without her.
The next morning, before the slightest hint of light, Wei Tingxu and his entourage had already prepared the carriages and horses, ready to set off.
Traveling at night and resting during the day was Wei Tingxu’s usual practice. Zhen Wenjun, who had barely slept, was nonetheless full of energy. She grabbed Yun Zhong Feixue, intending to try riding for a while.
Wei Tingxu was helped onto the carriage by Xiaohua and sat steadily. By the light of the torches around the carriage, she saw Zhen Wenjun clumsily mount a horse.
“My little sister seldom rides horses. Be extra careful on such a dark and windy night.”
Zhen Wenjun turned her head and smiled, her breath forming white puffs in the air. “Don’t worry, sister. Let me try this fine horse! I’ll go ahead and scout the way for you!”
Xiaohua glanced covertly at Wei Tingxu, seemingly waiting for her to give the order to stop Zhen Wenjun. But Wei Tingxu didn’t look at her and instead raised her voice, saying, “Little monkey, slow down a bit.”
Wei Tingxu’s words were like a big hand pushing Zhen Wenjun from behind. She kicked the horse’s belly with her legs, cracked the long whip, and the white horse immediately galloped off. The horse’s hooves pounded the ground, causing the surrounding bare trees to tremble, and in the blink of an eye, it disappeared from Wei Tingxu’s sight.
“Miss…” Xiaohua was slightly worried about her whereabouts, but Wei Tingxu paid it no mind and ordered the torches extinguished, setting off in the dark.
At dawn, Zhen Wenjun returned on horseback, covered in hot sweat from the ride, with all her wounds itching. She reined in the horse, her hair disheveled by the wind, but her face bore an excited smile. She shouted to Wei Tingxu’s carriage, “Thank you, sister, for the horse! Yun Zhong Feixue is indeed a rare and magnificent steed! I have scouted the road ahead; it is safe and clear. Sister can proceed without worry!”
Hearing her voice, Wei Tingxu lifted the curtain of the carriage.
In the morning light, the girl on the white horse stood before her.
The horse’s hooves tapped the ground repeatedly, and the girl, backlit by the light, swayed unsteadily on the horse, clumsily controlling its movements, smiling at her with pure innocence. Strands of her messy black hair glinted gold in the sunlight, like a restless little lion cub eager to leave its mother and hunt on its own.
In a year’s time, Zhen Wenjun had grown significantly. Her height had increased rapidly, her legs becoming long and slender, and her once round, ink-black eyes gradually became more almond-shaped. Occasionally, she would reveal a mischievous expression reminiscent of a child, a vitality that Wei Tingxu most yearned for.
Zhen Wenjun slowly rode her horse towards Wei Tingxu, holding the reins with one hand while the other hand was placed behind her back.
The closer she got, the more vigilant Xiaohua became, and even Lingbi subtly lowered her hand to her waist, looking puzzled and uneasy. If this child approached any further, not only would her soft blade and Xiaohua’s iron fist be ready, but the shadow guards on either side of the road would also swiftly strike and tear her to pieces.
“Wenjun!” Lingbi called out to her softly, attempting to stop her. Zhen Wenjun’s lips curled slightly upwards. Harboring a scheme she was certain would succeed, she resolutely advanced towards Wei Tingxu. Wei Tingxu’s gaze also remained fixed on her, engaging in a silent confrontation.
When she reached the front of the carriage, just three steps away from Wei Tingxu, she suddenly extended her hand from behind her back, presenting a slender object to Wei Tingxu. The soft blade and iron fist were already poised for action, and the shadow guards had their crossbows ready. However, Wei Tingxu’s expression froze slightly, and a burst of floral fragrance filled the air.
Zhen Wenjun held in her hand a delicate yet vibrant wandering flower.
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“When I was scouting the road earlier, I saw this flower and remembered that sister seems to like them, so I picked one for you. It’s probably the first wandering flower of early spring, a bit wilted but still very beautiful.” Facing the abrupt halt of Lingbi and Xiaohua’s attack, she seemed accustomed to being doubted, showing no sign of retreat. Holding the long stem of the wandering flower by its end, she brought the blossom close to Wei Tingxu’s face and asked expectantly, “Does sister still like it?”
Wei Tingxu softly said “Thank you” as she took the wandering flower, and all the guards quietly withdrew.
When Wei Tingxu accepted the flower, Zhen Wenjun’s smile grew even brighter. She promised, “If sister likes it, I’ll pick flowers for you every season.” With that, she turned her horse and rode to the side of Wei Tingxu’s carriage, assuming the posture of a personal guard.
Lingbi gave her a glare, resenting her for always causing such strange disturbances and startling everyone. Zhen Wenjun, completely at ease, ignored her and continued forward, heading into the morning mist.
Xiaohua wanted to examine the flower for anything unusual, but Wei Tingxu shook her head, and she wisely stepped back.
Wei Tingxu looked at the wandering flower; the delicate petals were still adorned with morning dew, just the way she liked them. A slight stir in her heart was followed by a sharp pain at her fingertips. As she frowned, a drop of blood quickly welled up from the prick on her finger caused by a thorn on the stem.
“Miss!” Xiaohua immediately took out a handkerchief to bandage her.
Zhen Wenjun swiftly dismounted, took Wei Tingxu’s hand, and threw the handkerchief Xiaohua had just wrapped aside. She earnestly sucked on the bleeding fingertip.
Waves of slight pain traveled from her fingertip to her heart. Wei Tingxu’s eyelids twitched as she watched Zhen Wenjun spit the blood to the side and then take the finger back into her mouth. After repeating this several times, Zhen Wenjun finally seemed reassured. When she looked up at Wei Tingxu, her lips were still covered with a thin, shiny layer of blood.
“A flower growing in the wild forests might be poisonous. It’s better to suck out the dirty blood,” Zhen Wenjun earnestly explained.
Wei Tingxu’s fingertip brushed faintly across Zhen Wenjun’s lips, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Zhen Wenjun wasn’t sure. Her gaze followed Wei Tingxu fervently, but Wei Tingxu deftly avoided it.
“A small wound is no big deal.” Wei Tingxu held the wandering flower under her nose, inhaling its scent with a hint of intoxication. She thought about the warm, moist sensation of Zhen Wenjun’s little tongue deliberately hooking around her fingertip earlier, and a smile slowly emerged on her lips. This smile was conveniently hidden by the delicate flower.
A subtle atmosphere floated between Zhen Wenjun and Wei Tingxu, and neither spoke. It wasn’t until the sound of horse hooves came from a distance, likely from a lost caravan struggling out of the wild path, that their attention was diverted.
The caravan finally found the main road and began chatting and sighing in relief.
The outermost circle of the Wei family’s convoy consisted of guards on fast horses, specifically tasked with scouting and protecting. They wore mourning clothes and funeral caps, and their horses were adorned with coarse hemp, making the entire group appear to be a funeral procession, which common people generally avoided as inauspicious. The guards carried bags on their backs that seemed to hold water but actually concealed weapons and blades. If anyone approached with suspicious intent, they and the shadow guards would jointly attack.
As soon as the caravan appeared, Xiaohua immediately pulled the four-wheel cart back, lowering the curtain to isolate Wei Tingxu from the outside world. The guards pretended to organize the carriages and horses, but were actually keeping a close watch on this caravan that had appeared out of nowhere.
Before passing through the forest, the caravan had seen the funeral procession and did not immediately step onto the main road. Instead, they naturally detoured before entering the flat main road.
Zhen Wenjun, riding her horse, watched the caravan along with the guards, her observant gaze blending in seamlessly.
She had ridden furiously early in the morning precisely for this moment.
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Yan Ye agreed to let her see her mother but did not specify when or where, intending to create a seemingly coincidental encounter that would not arouse Wei Tingxu’s suspicion. Zhen Wenjun planned to pretend to be very interested in riding horses and not return to the carriage, hoping that when her mother suddenly appeared, they could have a good look at each other and confirm that both were well.
As the caravan detoured around the forest, her heart pounded, eagerly trying to spot her mother among the group.
She thought her mother might be disguised or altered in appearance but would leave some clues for her to discover. While Zhen Wenjun was nervously searching for hints in the figures and clothing details, her mother’s face suddenly entered her field of vision, causing a great shock in her heart, and she nearly jumped off her horse to run towards her.
It was her mother, absolutely her mother!
Her mother was sitting in the middle of the caravan on a donkey cart, without any disguise. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, her shoulders drooped powerlessly, and her body swayed weakly with the jolting of the cart. Her face was sallow, her eye sockets deeply sunken, and her hair hastily combed, showing clear signs of neglect. What broke Zhen Wenjun’s heart even more was seeing her mother’s temples already white. In the two years they hadn’t seen each other, her mother, who was not yet forty, had turned gray and looked like an old woman. Even more unsettling was her mother’s expressionless face, as if she had no awareness of her surroundings. Despite their past hardships and poverty, her mother had always maintained her dignity and kept both of them clean and tidy, never allowing herself to appear disheveled.
Who knows what methods the Xie family used to bring her mother to this state…
Zhen Wenjun’s heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.
As the caravan moved farther away, Zhen Wenjun remained seated on her horse, gripping the reins so tightly her knuckles turned white. Despite her long-held yearning, her mother was just within reach, but with her wings still unformed and surrounded by wolves, she could only watch helplessly as her mother slipped through her fingers.