Jin wei pov
The training grounds smelled of steel and dust.
Below the platform, soldiers moved in harsh, controlled lines—every strike sharp, every movement disciplined. I watched in silence, arms folded behind my back.
A shadow stepped forward.
One of my **Black Guards**—silent, precise, and loyal only to me. He bowed with a fist pressed to his chest.
"General."
I gave a small nod. "The punishment I assigned to Yueran?"
"She kneeled the entire day exactly as you ordered," he replied steadily. "But…"
He hesitated.
My eyes narrowed. "Speak."
"There are… other rumors circulating. I happened to overhear them."
I said nothing, waiting.
He continued, "The young lady of the Yang family recited a rather controversial poem today. The girls believe it was directed at a certain someone."
I turned slightly.
"And who is this 'certain someone'?"
"You, General."
The faintest pause hung in the air.
"Repeat the poem," I ordered.
The Black Guard unfolded a small parchment and read with crisp clarity:
"Not a moment of peace comes to me,
Without you beside me.
Take away my heart, dear one—
I swear upon the heavens above…"
Down below, a soldier misstepped, breaking the formation with a harsh clang.
My gaze flicked toward him—sharp—before returning to the Black Guard.
My grip tightened around the hilt of my sword.
"And the academy believes this?" I asked flatly.
"Yes. They say she may be trying to earn your favor."
I stayed silent.
He added, "They also claim she is… bold. To confess through poetry in a place where even men do not voice their feelings so openly."
A pause.
*Audacious.*
But not in the way they think.
I know that's not for me. She did not confess to me. As far I remember She has always admired the Crown Prince. She would aim her affections there.
The Black Guard dipped his head. "Then… shall we shut the rumors down?"
I tore my gaze away from the sparring troops and looked toward the distant horizon.
"Rumors are wind," I said calmly. "Those who stand firm do not bend because of them."
"But if these whispers reach the court…" he pressed gently.
"They won't," I cut in. "And even if they do—"
My fingers flexed around the sword hilt.
"Let them wonder. Curiosity is often more powerful than truth."
The Black Guard bowed once, then melted back into the shadows.
I exhaled slowly.
*I don't know why… but this entire situation irritates me.*
Very few things ever do.
Strange indeed.
Xueyi pov
Today, after I had my desi breakfast I yearned for more.So I decided If this ancient world wouldn't give me chilies, potatoes, or even tomatoes, then fine—I would grow them myself.
With that mission in mind, I headed to the market with xiaomei.
The moment I stepped in, noise, chaos, and the scent of freshly steamed buns wrapped around me. Vendors shouted prices, women bargained aggressively, and children darted between stalls with sticky fingers.
I scanned every stall, hopeful.
Nothing.
No seeds. No vegetables. Just sadness.
I sighed—dramatically.
Then I saw him.
A tiny boy, too skinny for his age, quietly creeping toward a bun stall.
His clothes hung off him like they belonged to someone else. His arms were thin, his face pale, and his eyes… they carried the kind of hunger no child should know.
He stretched his hand—
**Swipe.**
One bun.
He turned to run.
But the stall owner was faster.
He grabbed the boy by the collar, lifting him almost off the ground.
"You again!" the man shouted. "Stealing from me every few days!"
The boy struggled weakly, fear taking over his features.
Before I realized it, I stepped forward.
"Let him go."
The owner frowned at me.
"Miss, he keeps stealing. I cannot keep losing food."
I met his eyes squarely.
"I'll pay."
He hesitated, then released the child.
The moment the boy was free, he didn't run. He just rubbed his sore neck and lowered his head, trembling.
I knelt down.
"Stealing is wrong," I said softly. "You know that, right?"
He nodded slowly, tears gathering.
"But… my sister…" His voice cracked. "She's younger than me. We… we didn't eat anything since yesterday…"
The way he said "sister" made my heart feel like someone squeezed it.
This wasn't a thief.
This was survival.
I stood up and turned to the stall owner.
"Pack ten buns."
The owner blinked, surprised, but quickly obeyed.
Then I went to another stall—bought fruits.
Another—warm dumplings.
Another—a tiny jar of sweet paste.
Basically, more food than the boy could carry.
When I handed the bundle to him, his hands trembled violently.
"F-For me?" he whispered.
"For both of you," I corrected gently. "Eat well. And next time, ask for help instead of stealing, okay?"
He nodded, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Big sister… thank you… thank you…"
I smiled and touched his hair lightly.
"Let me take you home. I want to make sure you reached home safely"
He walked beside me and xiaomei, clutching the food with both arms like someone might snatch it away.
We moved out of the crowded market and into narrower streets, where houses leaned tiredly against each other and dust covered everything.
He stopped in front of a tiny hut with a thin curtain instead of a door.
Inside, another little girl—only four or five—sat curled on a thin mat.
Her eyes widened when she saw the food.
The boy rushed to her and placed the buns in her lap.
"Big sister helped us…" he whispered, voice shaking.
The girl blinked at me shyly, then smiled—a small, pure smile.
I turned away to give them privacy, my chest warm and painfully full.
The boy ran to me again and bowed deeply.
"Big sister… you saved us today."
I gently lifted his head with my hand.
"Eat properly. And don't steal again and if need anything just come to hang residence, alright?"
He nodded firmly.
As I walked away, the sound of the two children eating softly behind me felt like the sweetest reward.
Today, I didn't find any seeds…
But maybe I planted something better.