The forest path narrowed into a worn dirt trail as they reached the outskirts of the cedar ridge.
The torch swung gently in the little boy's small hand, casting flickering light over the twisted roots and soggy leaves beneath their feet.
On Hai Feng's back, Ruyi stirred, her breath warm and fragile against his shoulder.
She murmured something before slipping back into unconsciousness.
"There," the boy whispered. He pointed ahead, through the cluster of trees. "That house…"
Hai Feng's eyes followed the gesture.
A run-down wooden cottage sat crooked under a sloping roof of moss-covered tiles. The gate, half-broken, leaning against the wall. There was no light.
Before they could take another step, a loud crash echoed from within the courtyard.
A man stumbled out, wine in hand, shouting curses that echoed through the night air.
"You wretched woman! You left me with nothing but shame!" he bellowed, kicking over a stool and dragging out a dust-covered wooden tablet.
"Here! You can have your precious son back!"
With a sickening crack, he threw the ancestral tablet to the ground, shattering it into splinters.
The firelight caught on the carved characters before it broke completely, Li Shi.
The child froze, trembling.
Hai Feng felt the boy's grip tighten around the folds of his robe. He pulled the boy behind him, hiding his face from the scene unfolding.
Tears fell quietly onto his sleeve.
Hai Feng said nothing.
He stood still for a long moment, eyes fixed on the drunkard now cursing the stars, hurling the remains of his grief into the mud.
Then he turned, adjusting Ruyi's weight gently on his back.
"Let's go," he said, his voice calm but final.
Behind them, the wind howled, until the man's voice was inaudible.
Ruyi stirred again, murmuring something soft before losing consciousness again.
A shout broke out in the distance.
The mountain path curved toward a shallow pass when they heard it, distant voices.
The little boy shouted. "Mister, Someone is coming!"
A woman's voice. Urgent. Breathless.
Then more followed, men's voices calling a name.
"Third Lady Cai! Third Lady Cai!"
"Young Miss!"
"Ruyi!"
Hai Feng slowed his steps, his eyes narrowing as the flicker of torches danced between the trunks.
That name rang a bell.
The identity of the woman he had just rescued was finally plain to him.
Cai Ruyi…
It had been a little over ten years.
He could remember her younger self crying under the rain on the steps to the palace library, her knee bleeding from cuts.
The light grew brighter until figures emerged from the forest gloom, soldiers in travel-worn armor, a young maid in a soaked cloak, and at the center…
"Ruwen?" Hai Feng muttered, recognizing the tall figure moving with military precision.
The moment Ruwen saw them, his expression contorted.
"Haifeng?!"
"General Liu?!" Some soldiers murmured among themselves.
He rushed forward, torchlight catching the sharp line of his jaw, soaked hair stuck to his forehead. But his eyes quickly shifted to the pale form slumped over Haifeng's back.
"Ruyi!" he cried, all composure vanishing in an instant.
Hai Feng bent slightly, letting Ruwen slide her gently into his arms.
The Commander held her carefully with fear in his eyes, her fever contrasting his cold clothes.
How did Ruwen know her? A relative? Or…?
"She's burning," Ruwen muttered under his breath, pressing a hand to her damp forehead. "How come? When did you come back?"
"There's no time for questions," Hai Feng said curtly. "She needs treatment. Take her to my manor."
Behind them, Hua sniffled as she came closer, her fingers clenched tightly in her sleeves. "Young Miss…"
"She'll be alright," Ruwen said, more to himself than anyone else, but his voice trembled. "She'll be fine."
The soldiers closed ranks as the group turned, Hai Feng leading them down the muddy slope.
All that mattered was getting her safe.
*************
"Young Miss!"
The voice cut through her subconscious. It was familiar, panicked and laced with tears.
Hua.
A breath escaped Ruyi's cracked lips, a faint exhale of relief.
She's safe... they didn't get her.
Another voice, deeper, desperate in a way it rarely ever was.
"Ruyi!"
That one... she thought hazily, as if recognizing a storm from its scent. That will be trouble.
Her dry lips parted, barely a whisper escaping. "Ge'..."
Hai Feng, standing at the corner of the room, away from sight stiffened.
"A'yi."
Her vision blurred, but she could just make out the outline of her brother rushing forward.
She blinked.
"Young Miss!"
Hua's sob tore through the quiet room as she knelt beside the bed. "We were so worried. I thought…when we couldn't find you…that something had happened…"
"I'm… alright..." Ruyi murmured, her voice paper-thin, her throat raw. "I'm… alright."
"You're not!" Hua cried, gripping the edge of the mattress, tears slipping freely down her cheeks.
"We searched the entire forest and when we found your shoe, I… I…"
"Hua." Ruyi's voice came out soft. "Did… did they hurt you?"
The maid shook her head frantically. "No, no. I'm fine. I just, I thought I lost you."
A faint smile ghosted Ruyi's lips. "I'm right here."
But even as she said the words, the world around her swam.
"The child…"
Ruwen stood beside her. She didn't need to see his face to know that he was furious.
"I'll kill them," he said under his breath. "Every last one of those bastards. How dare they lay a hand on you?"
He turned to her, his voice laced with quiet fury.
"I told you to go straight to the courtyard. Why didn't you listen, A'yi? Why did you jump into danger like that? Do you know what could have happened? What if…what if you'd died?"
"Ge'..." Her breath hitched. "I know. I'm sorry. Don't... please don't send me back."
"A'yi…"
He stared down at her, eyes hard, and then, something gave. The fire in his shoulders dimmed, replaced by weariness.
From behind them, a calm voice cut in.
"That's enough for now."
A middle-aged woman in white robes stepped forward from where she had been accessing Ruyi's pulse.
Her fingers bore the scent of medicinal oils; her sleeves were rolled past her elbows.
"She might be conscious now, but her body is still in shock. I need to clean her wounds and break the fever."
"She's awake," Hua said quickly, brushing Ruyi's hair back with trembling fingers. "She spoke to us. Just now…"
"Then she's strong," the physician said. "But we can't stress her body more. Everyone…" She gestured to the door with a small bow.
Ruwen opened his mouth to protest.
Physician Li said before he could speak. "I must remove what's left of the bandages, and the bruising around her ribs needs examination. Her pulse is faint."
Hai Feng gave a small nod.
"Let her do her work."
Hua hesitated, reluctant to let go of Ruyi's hand.
Ruyi's eyes, though heavy, found hers. "I'm alright, Hua'er... I'm..."
But before she could finish the thought, pain surged through her ankle as the physician manipulated it, knocking her unconscious.
Physician Li exhaled softly and began her work.
*************
The wooden door creaked open gently as a female physician in pale robes stepped into the corridor, bowing low.
"The lady is resting now. Her fever has gone down, and the wounds have been properly cleaned and dressed," she said softly.
"She'll recover, with time. I gave the maid the prescription already."
Cai Ruwen's shoulders finally dropped. He had stood tense by the doorway for what felt like hours. He exhaled slowly.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
She bowed again and turned to leave, giving a brief bow as another figure rounded the corridor's corner, clad in a dark green attire, his expression unreadable.
The eyes of the two men met, but neither spoke.
Haifeng stepped closer, his hands behind his back, the wind filling the silence between them.
Ruwen looked back towards the door, voice heavy with guilt.
"I should've been here," he murmured. "She may seem tough but… I know how fragile she truly is. It makes me wonder…how she even survived without me."
Haifeng's gaze dropped briefly.
Ruwen continued.
"You know the day I brought her here, they had her on her knees. They dared to lay hands on my A'yi. And my fear is that she has had to endure pain like that many times in my absence."
The whip marks Haifeng saw on her calves were more than he could say, new ones over healed ones.
But he said nothing.
Instead, he simply placed a firm hand on Ruwen's shoulder.
Ruwen looked away, biting the inside of his cheek.
Spending countless nights in the cold north had allowed the two men to rely on each other and exchange stories of their lives.
Yet Haifeng had ever only heard Ruwen mention his sister.
A'yi.
No other family.
Ruwen sighed.
"I left her for too long. I was so sure the capital was safe for her." He scoffed at that word. Safe
"No guards, no protection. Nothing. Instead, I come back to find out that my sister had been suffering all these years and she couldn't even tell me because she was more worried about me."
Then with a weak chuckle, he gripped the railings of the walkway.
"I should have known you would return when you sent Lao Ren a year ago. So are you staying for good?"
Haifeng glanced towards the garden wall, the overgrown branches swaying dangerously over the fence.
"I don't know yet."
"There've been more reports of bandits near the southern ridge," Ruwen said with a frown.
He found himself getting angrier thinking about the ordeal that had occurred that day. "I should assign some guards to watch her."
"They've grown bold, striking in the daytime. Be careful when you're out."
Haifeng shook his head. "Worry more about yourself."
Ruwen let out a dry laugh.
"Here I was trying to care about you. Well, Chuyang is with you. And you've always been better with a blade than most of us. If not for…" He cut himself shorter, bitterness in his tone. "You should be commander instead."
"Please, don't say that." Haifeng's face frowned like he drank bitter medicine. "And don't let other hear you."
Ruwen hesitated, then added, almost offhandedly, "The Emperor mentioned you when we went to the palace."
Haifeng didn't flinch. All he said was, "hm."
The answer seemed to irritate Ruwen.
"Everyone got something," he muttered, bitterness slipping through.
"A medal. A title. Land. Except you. Even mentioning your name felt like an abomination. It's been ten years. Ten years. You risked your life to safeguard the borders that protects all of them as they enjoy their carefree lives. We finally won and you are still not given your freedom."
Hai Feng looked down at his hands, long fingers marked faintly with old calluses, then up again.
"It's better this way," he said. "I didn't do it for the rewards but for the people of this country,"
There was silence between them.
Ruwen exhaled again, more at ease now.
"I'll have to trouble you for a while," he said, nodding towards the door.
"She can stay as long as she needs," Haifeng said calmly. "The house is barely even mine."
"True. Still," Ruwen muttered. "You've done more than enough. I don't know how to repay you."
"Excuse me from those meetings," he said with dryly, pushing off the railings, "and we'll be even."
Ruwen stared at him for a moment before a rare laugh slipped out, low and short.
Hai Feng's lips curved upwards in return.
********************
A few days later, the sunlight returned but without warmth. The air carried a hint of the coming spring, cool but not stinging.
Ruyi sat up on the bed as the female physician packed her things into her satchel.
"You may move about now, Lady Cai" the lady said gently. "But slowly. Nothing too streneous."
The lady suddenly added. "And let try not to see each other too often like this."
"I will try my best." Ruyi bowed her head. "Thank you."
When the door shut behind her, Ruyi finally exhaled.
More than half of her days here had been spent laying flat, staring at the ceiling beams like a prisoner.
Another bowl of rice porridge and I might actually start screaming.
Ruyi sighed.
Meat buns… lotus root stew…
Her mind drifted back to that night.
Did I really see His Highness? Or was it the pain playing tricks on me?
The question circled her thoughts, refusing to leave.
At that moment, Hua entered with a tray, the porcelain bowl of medicine at its center and some wrapped candies by the side.
"Your medicine, miss." She set it on the table beside Ruyi."It has cooled enough to drink."
Ruyi lifted the bowl to her mouth, took a sip and winced.
This is definitely my punishment. Definitely.
"So bitter," she muttered, then glanced at Hua, eyebrow slightly raised. "Who's been around the manor lately?"
Hua blinked, thinking. Ruyi took another reluctant sip, face twisting again.
"Well… Lao Ren, the usual servants, stable boys... Some soldiers here and there. The young master of course, but not today…"
Ruyi forced the rest of the medicine down in a single gulp and set the bowl down, shuddering.
She reached immediately for a candied fruit, unwrapped one and placed it in her mouth.
Just as Hua was about to lift the tray, Ruyi shifted slightly against the pillows, wincing as her ankle tugged beneath the bandages.
"Careful, miss." Hua said quickly.
"Hua'er."
The maid turned, tray in hand. "Yes, miss?"
Ruyi's brows knit together, as if grasping at the edge of a thought. "The child…" she said slowly. "How is he?"
Hua blinked in surprise.
"Did he make it home safely?" She stopped, her memory fuzzy. "Where is he now?"
Understanding dawned on Hua's face. "Ah… that boy. He's here, in the side quarters. The servants said he's been quiet. Barely speaks. Eats very little. But… he keeps asking about you."
A soft, guilty ache tugged in Ruyi's chest.
"I want to see him," she said at once, pushing her hands beneath her to rise.
Hua stepped forward in alarm. "Miss, no! You can't get up. Physician Li said you need to rest. You haven't even fully healed from the last—"
"I only want to check on him. He must be confused, alone…"
"Should I bring him here instead?" Hua said gently.
Ruyi slowly sank back into the pillows, biting the inside of her cheek. "No, no need."
Ruyi gave herself a look-over.
Not when I look like this…
However, she was quite confused as to why he wasn't taken home.
Hua answered relieved. "When you're better, you can talk to him yourself."
Ruyi rolled the candied fruit across her tongue.
"Hua…" She began slowly, "was I perhaps…was His Highness… there that…night?"
Hua tilted her head. "His Highness… Oh! You mean Liu Jiangjun."
"Liu…Jiangjun?" Ruyi repeated slowly.
Of course. Around soldiers, a general's title would be more natural. But still…
"Ah, Liu Jiangjun," Hua mentioned. "That's Lao ren told me to refer to him as. When I asked the others about 'His highness', they looked at me like I had gone mad."
Ruyi shifted the candy in her mouth thoughtfully. "Jiangjun…" she murmured.
"I haven't seen him much," Hua went on. "He comes and goes. Miss, do you know why no one calls him that? When I asked, it felt like they didn't understand what I was saying."
Ruyi hummed in reply, shaking her head. She also wondered.
Prehaps his identity was meant to remain a secret.
Does that mean no one in this manor knew his true identity?
Hua lifted the tray carefully. "I'll go prepare your lunch. Will you be alright, miss?"
Ruyi waved her off with a lazy hand. "I'll be fine. Go on."
Once the door closed behind Hua, Ruyi lingered in silence for a moment.
"Jiangjun…"
One afternoon, while she landed in bed beside the open window, her brush stopped mid-stroke. Voices drifted from outside.
"She's looking better, don't you think?" said a younger maid, her voice lowered but not careful enough.
"Back on her feet already. I thought she'd be bedridden for days."
"She is strong," answered another, wringing out a cloth with steady hands. "Most noble ladies would still be wailing about the cold and sore bones."
"I heard she rescued that child from the bandits. Very daring!"
"I suppose Liu Jiangjun likes that about her."
There was a low grunt from male voice. "Liu Jiangjun doesn't 'like' anyone," he said, without breaking stride.
"He must like someone. He took her in, didn't he?"
One of the females chuckled.
"You must be new. You'll soon learn. Liu Jiangjun doesn't do things out of liking or disliking. If he helps someone, it's because he believes it is right. The young lady is Commander Cai's sister."
"Ohhh…" The newcomer nods understandably.
"That's true," the male voice piped up. "You won't find a kinder man… but don't mistake that for warmth."
"Kind and cold?"
"He's like the northern snow," The older female said, rinsing the basin with a swish. "Beautiful, harsh, and quiet."
That drew a laugh, and even Ruyi smiled faintly, her brush forgotten.
"But no one knows much about his family," The older female continued thoughtfully.
"Only that Lao Ren's been with him since he was young. Most of us assume he served the Liu family long before Liu Jiangjun was even born."
"Must be decades now," The male added. "Lao Ren never says, of course."
"Of course he doesn't," muttered the older female.
"He doesn't say anything. I once tried to ask if Liu Jiangjun any other family, and he looked at me like I asked if I could bathe in the well. No one has ever met anyone else. Do you think they were all executed?"
Some gasps were heard.
"No one enters his courtyard. Only Lao Ren or under his supervision."
The new servant said in fear."I wouldn't want to go there."
"Aiya! You don't have to be scared," the older maid reassured, though there was still caution in her tone. "Liu Jiangjun just likes to keep that part of the manor private. Any other place is free to enter, but his courtyard."
"I heard he spent most of his life at the northern front," the assistant chimed in again.
"And when there was no battle, he'd leave the camps to treat wounded villagers, not just soldiers. Fought until his robes were soaked through, then came back with little more than a single cloak, his twin swords and a half-empty bag of medicinal roots."
"No wonder he's a general," the younger maid whispered, eyes wide.
"Some soldiers even say he's good enough to command his own battalion. But…"
A cough enters the conversation.
"Lao Ren!"
The group dispersed quickly, and Ruyi returned her gaze to the book on hand, lips pursed in thought.
Her fingers brushed the edge of the page. She couldn't wait to be free of bedrest.
Her heart yearned to do more than listen. To see, to learn, to step into the world he walked in.
He was still the same.
Each morning, Ruyi woke with the sun.
There was no need to.
No maids waiting on the other end of the door, no accounts demanding her review, no person to please or avoid.
She was just used to it. Even when she tried oversleeping, she just couldn't.
Breakfast came. Then the bitter medicine.
Then… silence
While she ate in silence by the window, watching the frost melt off the garden tiles.
There were no schemes to navigate.
So this is what peace feels like…? Strange. I like it. I like it very much.
Even her duties were more lax now. She could go a day without practicing her embroidery or reading, if she felt like it.
But she couldn't.
So, she tried to keep herself busy.
Every time she tried to reach for the account books to check the invoices, Hua stopped her.
"Miss, the physician said to rest."
When The weather finally warmed and she was permitted to leave her room again, she took it.
A week spent tucked in a quiet corner of the manor had made her feel like a guest trespassing.
But now… knowing whose manor this is… Her heart fluttered.
Anxious, yes. But also familiar.
She stepped outside and turned her eyes to the winding paths leading out of the courtyard.
It was time to see the rest of it.
Perhaps I'll see him…
Drawing her coat closer to herself, Ruyi offered the passing servants a small, graceful nod and kept walking, unsure of where she was going.
The path carried her between her courtyard and the herb stores before spilling into the main compound.
This place was larger and livelier. Servants scrubbed floors, carried buckets, chatters carried across the hallways.
She let her eyes linger only where doors were left open: a dining room, a general hall to receive visitors, a store of dried herbs, shelves lined with marked jars.
Then she saw the narrow path tucked behind the main hall. A door stood against a fence.
It wasn't locked.
Soon, she found herself in another courtyard, a smaller, quieter one.
There was barely anyone around.
Whose courtyard is this…? His?
Her eyes lifted to a wooden balcony on the second floor. It wouldn't hurt to look.
She found the staircase and climbed, her thighs aching slightly with each step.
At the top, her fingers brushed along the carved frame of an open doorway.
The room smelled of old parchment and dried herbs.
Books and scrolled lined the shelves. Instruments she had only seen in manuals sat tucked in corners and rested on tables.
It was like stepping into a physician's study.
One shelf held an assortment of porcelain jars, their labels written in elegant handwriting.
At the far end of the room, sunlight streamed in through the open screens leading to the balcony.
She took a few silent steps forward and then stopped.
There, seated on a low bench, was a man.
His back turned to her.
He sat with shoulders both upright and weary at once. One leg folded beneath him, the other balanced against the edge of the bench.
His sleeves were bound with a linen cord, exposing forearms as they worked the manual grinder.
He reached for a bundle of dried leaves from the tray on the floor.
Ruyi stopped breathing.
Hair wrapped in a black cloth, a few strands from the side fell carelessly across his cheek. The strong line of his nose. Shadow beneath his eyes.
Still, he seemed…
Handsome.
Her fingers curled against the carved doorframe, heart pounding against her ribs.
She had spent hours on his back, yet she hadn't been able to look at him properly.
That doesn't count. This… this is different.
Suddenly, the crank slowed. Stopped.
He didn't turn, but his voice broke the silence.
"Who's there?"
Ruyi froze.
A few heartbeats passed before he spoke again.
"I can hear you. Show yourself."
Her breath hitched. There was no use pretending. She had been caught. Running away now would only make her look foolish.
Gathering the edges of her robe, she stepped out from behind the doorframe.
The floor creaked under her feet.
She dipped into a low curtsy, her voice careful. "Your Highh… I mean, Liu Jiangjun."
He rose from the bench slowly, brushing off his hands before turning to face her.
Ruyi kept her gaze lowered, unwilling to meet his eyes.
She had practiced many times in her head how their first meeting would go and what she would say but right now...
Say something…
"I… wanted to say thank you," she managed, her fingers twisting together. "For saving my life… and for allowing me to stay here."
But he didn't speak, his hands folded across his chest.
She could feel his gaze on her. The silence stretched longer than it should have.
She shifted slightly on her feet, unsure. The words she had rehearsed over the years vanished from her mind.
Finally, she dared to lift her eyes.
"Jiangjun"
Haifeng's fist tightened at her voice.
"I will definitely repay…"
"You shouldn't be walking around," he interrupted.
"Oh." She blinked.
"Physician Lu said I could take short walks. So I saw the balcony and thought… the view…" Her voice trailed off, heat rising in her cheeks.
He didn't reply. Instead, he sat back down, turning slightly away.
Do you remember me?
She wanted to ask, but bit it back. Instead, her eyes darted to the tray beside him.
She moved closer.
"Is that… zicao?" Ruyi pointed at the pile of deep purple-red roots in the tray.
He nodded once.
Still not knowing why she didn't simply excuse herself and walk away, she stepped closer, leaning just enough to look at the contents.
"What are you make with it?"
"Salve for scars."
Ruyi hovered, hands clasped in front of her, watching the careful motion of his fingers.
"You know how to make medicine?" she whispered, then immediately tapped her forehead.
Of course he did. His study was full of herbs.
He glanced at her then. "You should return. The night air is cold."
It was a dismissal, she knew, one that she was actually glad for. If she stayed there longer, she might just embarrass herself more.
"Yes, Jiangjun," she whispered, bowing her head again.
Ruyi did not stop walking until she reached her own courtyard.
Her shoes dragged across the stone path, skirts clinging damply to her legs.
The moment she stepped into her room, she shut the door behind her and pressed her back against it, exhaling hard.
Heavens above… what was that?
Her palm flew up to cover her face, but they did nothing to erase the scene replaying in her head.
Liu Haifeng… Liu Jiangjun.
The thought alone sent heat flooding up her neck again.
She crossed to the bed, collapsed onto it, and buried her face into the nearest pillow.
"Uh…"
The door creaked open.
"Miss?" Hua's voice floated in, cautious. "Dinner is… Oh! Miss!"
Ruyi lifted her head half an inch, just in time for Hua to run over, eyes wide-opened.
"Miss, your face is so red! Is it your fever again?"
Before Ruyi could respond, Hua was already heading towards the door. "I'll fetch the physician…"
Ruyi caught her hand, mortified. "It's nothing! I'm fine, Hua."
Hua blinked, then leaned in, pressing the back of her hand to Ruyi's forehead… then to her own.
Once. Twice
"…No fever" she murmured confused.
Her eyes narrowed and drifted.
To Ruyi's cheek. To her ears. to the flush creeping all the way down her neck.
Then, her eyes widened.
"Oh?" Hua whispered. "Oh."
Ruyi froze. "Don't say it."
"Miss," Hua said in a whisper, "did you perhaps"
"I did not!" Ruyi cut her off so quickly that Hua nearly choked on her next breath.
The silence that followed was filled only by Ruyi's muffled groan as she covered her face with the pillow again.
The maid bit her lip to keep from smiling.
There was only one person who could make her miss this flustered, and she knew Ruyi was not one to show her emotions on her.
Ruyi groaned into the pillow.
Hua bowed, hands clasped neatly to hide her grin. "I'll bring dinner, Miss."
Ruyi peeked through her fingers, still flushed.
The next morning, the chill in the air bit through Ruyi's shawl, but she walked steadily down the stone corridor, her steps were careful, but her heart was unsettled.
A maid passing with a stack of folded linens startled when she saw her.
"Young Miss!" The girl bowed deeply, eyes wide.
"That's not necessary" Ruyi said softly, referring to the deep bow. "There's someone I'm looking for."
She drew a breath and clasped her hands to still their faint trembling.
"A little boy. Skinny. About this tall." She gestured with her hand. "He was with me when I returned."
Recognition flickered in the maid's eyes. "Oh!" she whispered. "The child…"
Ruyi took a step closer. "Where is he?"
The maid hesitated, then pointed toward the east wing's unused quarters.
"He stays near the old pottery shed. Refuses to sleep indoors. Won't eat unless someone leaves food and walks away. He… he's scared of everyone, miss. He screams when people get close. Won't let anyone near him."
Ruyi's heart clenched.
"I understand. Thank you."
She gave the maid a faint nod and turned toward the courtyard. But she didn't stop.
Was the child traumatized by the incident that happened that night?
She found the child just where the maid had described.
Curled up like a wounded animal in the far corner of the dusty old storage room, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees, his face hidden.
A bowl of untouched congee sat cold on the ground beside him.
She paused at the threshold.
The old wooden door creaked slightly as she shifted her weight, and the boy flinched.
"Go away!" he cried, not even looking. His voice cracked. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Ruyi didn't move back.
She said gently. "It's me."
The child slowly lifted his head, disbelieving.
Ruyi took a cautious step into the light. "See? I'm alright."
His eyes filled with tears at once, trembling hands covering his mouth.
"You…You weren't waking up. They said you were sick because of me."
She sank slowly to the floor, keeping a comfortable distance between them.
"That's not true."
He rubbed his eyes furiously. "The big angry man who carried you said it was my fault. That if you hadn't tried to protect me…"
Cai Ruwen…
Ruyi let out a soft sigh. "I'm alright."
She needed to have a word with her brother on his expression of anger.
The boy stared at her, blinking rapidly.
"You're not… You won't send me away?"
"I'm glad you're safe," she said simply. "No, I won't send you anywhere."
The tears returned in full force.
After the boy calmed down, Ruyi sighed at the state of the porridge.
"You need something better than this."
She rose, offered her hand and they both walked towards her courtyard, until they ran upon Hua, who was looking for her missing mistress.
"Miss, I have been looking for you. You shouldn't be–"
Hua stopped mid-scold as she noticed the tiny figure half-hidden behind Ruyi's skirt.
"Miss, there is a child hiding behind you."
Ruyi tapped on him to introduce himself to Hua.
"Go on. This is Hua jie-jie."
The boy remained hidden behind Ruyi. "My name's Xiao Xia (Little Shrimp)!"
There was a beat of silence, and then Hua burst into laughter.
"Xiao Xia?" Hua repeated through giggles. "Your parents named you after food?"
"So cute!"
The boy nodded, unoffended. "Mama said she always craved shrimp when she was carrying me."
Ruyi asked, biting the inside of her lip to stop herself from smiling. "Do you like shrimp then?"
He made a disgusted face. "No. When I eat it, it makes me itch."
This sent the two girls into a fresh round of laughter, drawing a few amused glances from nearby servants.
The remaining days passed like water.
Ruyi spent most of her time wandering the manor, mostly alone, sometimes with Hua and Xiao xia.
There were two libraries: one larger, in the west wing sharing the same courtyard with her, and the smaller one hidden inside the master's courtyard.
Naturally, she was drawn to the smaller one.
She told herself it was for privacy. But truthfully, it was for the chance to see him.
And those moments were rare, given that he was hardly present in the manor.
On very few occasions, she would catch sight of him through the open doors, he was bent over scrolls or dried leaves, sleeves rolled to his forearms, brows furrowed in thought.
When he was there, she read less.
She found herself flipping pages without seeing a single word.
Her eyes would lift, drawn to him again and again.
She felt embarrassed by that.
And still… She didn't stop. She couldn't.
Most of their time together was spent in silence. Ruyi didn't mind one bit.
She quickly realized that any form of conversations outside of questions about herbs, was met with either silence or one word replies.
One afternoon, Ruyi entered the room with a tray of greenish-brown leaves.
"Jiangjun, the perilla leaves are not drying properly in the storeroom. Ma I bring them here?"
"Mm."
Another day, she peered the open door, hands folded behind her back.
"I just bought some new flowers, Jiangjun. Would it be alright if I plant them around the manor?"
His hand paused over his notes. He glanced at her and returned to his writing.
"Mm."
Ruyi hid her smile behind the doorframe.
When he wasn't there, she found other ways to fill the day.
The young physician assistants took to her presence quickly. She helped sort herbs and label jars. It kept her hands busy and her mind calm.
"Third Lady Cai," one of them would bow, trying not to stumble over his own words as she tied a string of dried chrysanthemum.
"That's… for winter fevers. Careful… the scent is strong."
Her first few days moving about, she noticed how they all kept a safe distance from her, watching and observing.
Ruyi didn't blame them, the sudden insertion into their mundane life must have needed a bit of adjusting.
Also, given her rank and relationship with Commander Cai, it was safe to say they didn't want to get on the bad side of the young miss.
But, they quickly put their fears behind them when Ruyi took the first step to get closer to them and make them comfortable with her presence.
Xiao Xia's presence also helped. The moment the child realized he was safe, he treated the place like his playground, and it warmed the staff to see him so cheerful.
It was during one of those dusky afternoons, that she met Chuyang.
Ruyi was crouched beside a garden bed, sleeves pinned up as she scooped soil into a pot. Honeysuckle stems laid in bundles beside her.
She wanted to start a small flower garden in the courtyard, in preparation for sprin.
Constantly being around the gardens had fueled the gardener in her and the members of the manor were happy to help her learn.
She had asked Lao Ren for permission in the absence of the Lord of the House.
An unknown person suddenly helped her pick up the jar from the floor.
"Pardon me, Young Lady Cai," he said plainly.
Ruyi blinked, then offered a small nod, noting his unfamiliar face. Was he a new soldier who got transferred here?
She also recalled Hua mentioning something about the guard who answered directly to General Liu.
Could this be him?
Ruyi could recall that Hua also mentioned a name. Yang … She couldn't remember.
He straightened, posture exact.
"My name is Chuyang. I was sent to check the outer walls for signs of dampness. I… did not know you were here."
Of course. Chuyang
"Thank you," Ruyi replied with a half-smile. "But, you don't need to help me." She tried taking the pot from him.
Chuyang shook his head with the faintest furrow of confusion.
"Where do you need this to go, Third Lady Cai?"
"I'm taking it to my courtyard." She had one hand on her hip, while the other brushed sweat from her forehead.
They began walking toward that direction.
"It's good to finally meet you, Chuyang. Hua mentioned you."
Chuyang blinked.
He remembered the strange girl that was always watching him with suspicious eyes. "She said I looked like a tree."
Ruyi let out a surprised laugh.
"Did she? Well, trees are dependable. They don't talk too much, but they don't fall easily."
She could tell that despite his cold and distant exterior, he was quite blunt and open with his thoughts.
Chuyang looked like he wasn't sure whether that was praise or insult. "…Thank you."
There was an awkward pause before Ruyi decided to put him at ease.
"You're often away with General Liu, aren't you?"
"Yes. I guard him when he leaves the manor. And sometimes deliver messages."
"I see. Do you know where he always goes?."
He hesitated, then answered simply.
"I'm sorry, miss. I can't reveal that."
It was so blunt and sincere that Ruyi had to smile.
"I understand," she said lightly.
She realized that they had gotten to her garden already. Ruyi pointed at the spot she wanted the flower pot placed and he dropped it there.
Chuyang gave a small bow again, ready to take his leave.
"Thank you, Chuyang."
He gave no answer this time, only nodded and walked off in his usual silent, swift manner.
Ruyi stood for a moment, watching his back retreat through the corridor.
"Definitely a tree," she smiled to herself.
By the time the sun began to set, Ruyi would bathe, change into fresh robes, and wait for Hai Feng's return. He would sometimes come back around Hai hour.
The first time she asked if they could dine together, he refused without giving her a glance.
"Jiangjun, I would like to repay your kindness for saving me and giving me a place to stay. I helped make dinner…"
"There's no need," he said simply before walking away.
She didn't ask again. Maybe he didn't enjoy eating with others.
So every evening, she helped Hua prepare her dinner and ate alone, pretending not to listen for the sound of the front gate or the low murmur of Chuyang's voice outside.
Despite knowing that there was no chance he would join her, she still had Hua set an extra set of bowl and chopsticks each time.
There were also quiet visits from the female physician, who checked her bandages and assessed her general health.
The day she was told that she was finally healed and didn't need to take the bitter medicine anymore, Ruyi couldn't contain her joy.
"I'm free," she declared, half-laughing. "Hua'er, tonight I want to eat meat. Savory, juicy…"
"Braised duck with chestnuts?" Hua chimed in, eyes already gleaming with excitement.
"Hai ya! You know me best!" Ruyi pointed at her."And those dumplings with minced pork stuffing!"
Hua clapped her hands.
Ruyi collapsed on the edge of the bed with a contented sigh.
"For weeks, I've lived like a monk. Porriage, bland vegetables, no spices… Tonight, I feast like a victorious general."
"You mean like Liu Jiangjun?" Hua teased with a grin.
Ruyi tossed the tail end of her scarf at her. "Hua'er!"
They both burst into laughter.
"Miss, now that you're well again… please don't put yourself in danger anymore. I," Her voice lowered, "I don't want to see you like that again."
Ruyi's smile softened. "I understand," she said, a bit too quickly.
"You know what? Tonight deserves a bottle of wine."
"Miss!"
Ruyi winked. "It'll just be a little. I promise."
That night, as usual, while she ate, her eyes kept drifting to the open dinner door, hoping for the arrival of a certain somebody.
Suddenly, he appeared, walking past the doorway.
Her eyes flashed in surprise, she might have been waiting but she didn't think he would actually appear.
Seeing that he didn't even take a glance towards her, she sighed into her seat.
Unknowingly to her, he had paused, reversed his steps and was now walking towards her while she stared down at her bowl.
The soft creak of the chair as he sat across from her brought back her attention.
Hua called out in shock. "Miss."
Ruyi and Hua exchanged a look before Hua cursied and excused herself swiftly.
His eyes caught the bowl and chopsticks already laid out. Had she been expecting him?
He said nothing.
She didn't comment.
His presence was more than enough for her.
They ate in near silence, just the faint clink of chopsticks, the sound of winter wind brushing past the paper windows.
Her smile dropped glancing at the food on the table.
Of all nights for him to join her to eat, he had to pick the night that she had this much food.
The bottle of wine staring at her from the center of the table.
Ruyi bit her lips in embarrassment.
She peeked a glance at him, hoping to see some form of reaction but his chopsticks just picked a piece of vegetable and placed it in his bowl.
Hai Feng reached for his teacup, the sleeves of his robe rustling softly.
"You haven't touched much of your food," he said, eyes flicking to her plate.
"I'm eating," she replied, lips curving faintly.
Ruyi trailed off. "Besides, I wasn't sure what I can or cannot do while eating."
Realizing she murmured that out aloud, she quickly picked and took a bite of a vegetable.
"No need for courtesy. It's just dinner." He seemed to have heard her as his brow lifted. "You seem much better now. Judging from the food."
"Jiangjun, I don't usually eat like this," she added quickly. "I had Hua buy the ingredients. With my allowance. And the…"
He gave a quiet hum, finishing the bite in his mouth before replying simply, "It's fine."
His eyes flicked to the jug of wine. "You shouldn't be drinking."
Of course, he noticed.
Her eyes darted to the jug as well, a hint of frown.
"I wasn't planning on it" She glances up to see him staring. "Okay maybe one cup."
She forced a smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Besides, I'm healthy now. Even Physician Li said I can stop taking the medicine today."
A pause.
"Your High—" She caught herself. "Jiangjun."
He didn't lift his gaze, but acknowledged her with a low "Mn."
Ruyi's smile faded a little as her eyes lowered. "Speaking of that... I would like to ask you something. May I?"
He waited. She took his silence as agreement.
"It's about the child. Xiao Xia."
Hai Feng's chopsticks stilled, giving her his attention.
"I've been hesitant to ask…" She leaned back slightly. "Why hasn't he returned home? I have seen the scars on his back. Were they from…?"
Hai Feng swallowed, the tips of his chopsticks clicked on his bowl.
"There was no home for him to return to."
Ruyi's gaze lingered on the edge of her bowl. "His family… they sold him to the bandits, didn't they?"
Hai Feng didn't answer. He didn't have to. His silence said everything.
She nodded faintly.
"Can he stay here? In the manor?"
Ruyi knew that she couldn't take him with her and since he was in the manor, that must mean he didn't have any other relative.
"If he wishes."
Ruyi's brows furrowed. "And when he grows older?"
"That will depend on the path he chooses," Hai Feng said simply. "He is free to chose any path he wants."
There was a stretch of silence before Ruyi spoke again. Her voice was almost too quiet.
"When I think about him, I can't help but think of you, Jiangjun."
Haifeng's eyes flicked up.
"You were only a little older than him when you also left the capital?" she asked quietly. "Wouldn't you like to return home?"
The silence that followed pressed heavy between them.
The brazier cracked.
A single spark popped and died.
Hai Feng's expression didn't shift, but the quiet that followed was no longer friendly. He put down his chopsticks louder than he had thought.
Ruyi blinked at the sudden sound. Did she…say something wrong?
"I just meant…"
"Thank you for the meal." Hai Feng rose from his seat. "Don't stay out too late. Rest well."
And with that, he stepped out into the corridor, leaving behind a table of half-eaten food, and a girl whose appetite had vanished completely.
Haifeng found himself at the balcony of his library, his gaze looking into the distance. He didn't move for a while.
Then, with a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, he leaned further into himself.
Rain. Cold. Heavy.
A boy's thin body burned with fever, lips pale.
His legs staggered as he tried to run forward, only to be held back by the arms of a young eunuch, Lao Ren, trembling as he begged,
"Your Highness, please… you mustn't!"
But the boy's eyes were locked ahead.
Through the heavy drops of rain, a woman knelt on the ground, her mourning robes soaked, her hair clinging to her face.
Her back was straight, unmoving despite the downpour. Guards loomed in silence around her.
"Mother!" he screamed, voice breaking.
Slowly, she turned her head, just enough to catch his eyes.
A weak smile touched her lips, shaking her head. Then she faced forward again.
"Mother!"
His cries loud, as he fought against Lao Ren's grip.
Haifeng's hands tightened against the railing until his knuckles whitened.
There was no more home for him.
A soft shuffle of footsteps halt behind him. Haifeng didn't turn.
"Your Highness."
Lao Ren paused, then with a half-smile, bowed deeply. "Jiangjun."
Haifeng closed his eyes once. "…Lao Ren."
The older man stepped closer, keeping his voice gentle.
"This old servant wished only to say… the Third Lady will rest well after tonight's dinner with you."
A fresh wave of anger flared… at himself.
He stared straight ahead, beating himself up for how he behaved at her.
"Lao Ren."
Lao Ren waited patiently. "Yes, Liu Jiangjun?"
"Her stay in this manor…" He paused, searching. "See that everything is convenient for her."
Lao Ren's brows lifted slightly. The old man's eyes softened with understanding.
"Of course. This old servant understands."
Haifeng added after a pause.
"She may not be used to this place. If anything is lacking, decide in my absence."
"The Third Lady will be well cared for."
Lao Ren bowed again and withdrew.
Left alone, Haifeng finally allowed the quiet to settle over him.
**********************************
The ministers stood in neat rows, robes of red, and pine green swaying faintly in the breeze. Their expressions were measured with bowed heads, tight mouths.
On the golden throne, the Emperor sat robed in dark blue silk, edged with gold embroidery.
His face was calm, but his fingers tapped the armrest in an irregular rhythm. At the side of the court, the scribes sat ready with their brushes.
The Grand Minister of Revenue, Xu Yancheng stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, with the new year upon us and peace restored to the realm, it is time to present the court with this year's budgetary plan."
Scrolls were brought forth.
The Emperor waved a hand, signaling the eunuch to bring it forward to his table.
A second minister spoke, his voice low but firm. Minister Dou, Vice Minister of Revenue.
"With the war ended, the burden upon the people should ease. The border provinces have reported growing unrest.
There has been a rise of b. We should lower the taxes, redistribute the granaries, and focus the treasury on roads, irrigation, and food aid once the rainy season starts."
A murmur rippled across the court, some in agreement while others not.
Minister of war, General Lian Qiguang stepped forward with a faint smile.
"Your Majesty, peace does not erase the debts of war. The court must recover its losses, rebuild armories, and prepare for any future unrest. Reducing taxes now would leave us vulnerable."
"And leave the people to starve. The common people are not stones" came another voice, sharp as flint.
It belonged to the Vice Minister of Works, Shang Ruo, a thin man with a scholar's build and tired eyes. "If we do not ease their burden, we risk chaos in our own house."
"Chaos?" Minister Lian scoffed.
The two sides began trading words.
Then came the breaking point.
A young, newly appointed censor stepped forward with trembling hands and presented a scroll.
"Your Majesty," he said, voice shaking, "This humble servant has obtained records of falsified grain reports from Qinghu. The grain stock reported as distributed last autumn was never received by the villagers."
The name sent glances shifting. Some cold, some carefully blank.
"Bring forth the records," said the Emperor coldly. The Eunuch rushed quickly to take the scroll for the young man's hand and deliver it to His Majesty.
The Emperor read briefly, eyes narrowing with each line.
His hand struck the jade desk.
"The seal of the Royal Treasury is on this!" His voice boomed across the marble floor. "And the governor of Qinghu is..."
The Marquis of Yong'an.
A distant relative of the Queen. The Emperor's hand stilled on the throne arm. His eyes sharpened.
"Is this verified?"
The young man nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
There was loud murmurs spanning across the court.
Then,
Bang.
The Emperor rose, the sleeves of his robe falling like a storm. The great hall trembled with his voice: "Enough!"
His words rang out, echoing through the stone pillars.
Another minister spoke hurriedly. "Your Majesty, perhaps the matter can be further investigated…"
"And who will investigate it?" the Emperor asked, his voice flat. "The bureau answers to the Marquis of Zhen. And the Marquis, as we all know, is under the patronage of the Inner Palace."
Heads dropped in silence. "What use are you all?"
The word Inner Palace hung heavy. It was not spoken lightly. Everyone knew it meant Her Majesty the Queen Dowager.
No one dared reply.
A vein throbbed faintly in the Emperor's temple. He let the scroll fall from his hands.
"The court is dismissed."
He turned without waiting for the ceremonial closing. His boots struck the marble as he strode from the hall.
In the silence of his private quarters, the Emperor sat by the window, the incense in the bronze crane burner curling up in pale threads, wine untouched, his eyes distant.
He had forbidden anyone from seeing him, both minister and noble. What was the use of him being on the throne if his decisions never mattered?
The wind rustled against the silk curtains.
"Your Majesty…" A gentle voice came from the shadows of the corridor.
She had stopped the eunuchs from announcing her entrance. This way, whatever mood he was in, he couldn't afford to send her out.
The Imperial Concubine Mei stepped in lightly, dressed in muted plum silk embroidered with winter magnolias. She bowed low, a tray of ginseng tea in her hands.
"Forgive this concubine for intruding uninvited. I heard the court was stormy this morning."
The Emperor did not answer at first. He turned only slightly.
"Stormy? No… this was rot beneath the surface. They steal from the people in broad daylight, yet I, Emperor, can say nothing, lest I provoke the Queen."
She walked closer, holding the tea to him. Her voice was soft but measured, each word chosen with care.
"You are the Son of Heaven. If the court is rotting, it is not Your Majesty's fault, but you must not let it consume your heart."
He looked at her, expression unreadable.
"You speak as if I can afford to wait."
"You can afford to endure," she replied.
Then the Emperor took the cup and placed it on the table beside him.
"Your Majesty," she said sweetly, "if the officials weigh on your heart, perhaps a trip to the Southern Gardens would clear your thoughts. The plum blossoms are beginning to bloom."
The Emperor gave a faint, polite nod but did not speak.
She smiled softly. She took the dismissal with grace, bowing low.
"Then this concubine will take her leave. May Your Majesty rest well tonight."
Eunuch Gao, thin and silver-browed, bowed low.
"This old servant dares to ask, shall I prepare the evening incense, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor glanced toward the now-emptied wine cup. "No incense tonight. Come."
Eunuch Gao stepped into the room with measured grace, his hands folded in front of him.
"She's clever," the Emperor muttered. "Always saying just enough. Never too much. She think I don't know what her plans are."
Eunuch Gao lowered his eyes with a soft smile. "This old servant wouldn't know such things."
"You know more than anyone in this palace."
The eunuch only bowed deeper. "This old servant merely listens, Your Majesty."
The Emperor stood, pacing a step toward the latticed window.
"Sometimes I wonder…" he began, voice low, "how long before I no longer recognize the men who stand beneath my throne?"
Eunuch Gao straightened, gaze steady but respectful.
"The world shifts, Your Majesty. Even clear rivers gather silt after many seasons. If you fear the water is murky… perhaps it is time to change the bed."
The Emperor gave a dry chuckle. "With what? Every hand I reach for is tied to another."
Eunuch Gao tilted his head slightly. "Not every hand."
The Emperor turned his head slowly. "Speak."
Eunuch Gao spoke softly, evenly.
"Commander Cai has made significant progress along the capital's perimeter. The bandit raids in the eastern districts have nearly ceased. His tactics are swift and effective."
The Emperor folded his arms. "The Commander did greatly at the northern front."
"A loyal servant, Your Majesty," The eunuch said, lowering his voice, "and perhaps… the kind of sword Your Majesty needs. One that has not yet been corrupted by the court."
The Emperor's expression was unreadable.
He continued gently, "The court watches itself. None dares act without calculating ten steps ahead. But Commander Cai… he still acts for the sake of the realm."
The Emperor turned back to the window, gazing out into the night where the moon hung low and watchful.
"The son of Minister Cai…" he murmured. "His father is careful, yet this son is different."
Eunuch Gao bowed once more. "Your Majesty does not need a hundred men to clear the court. You might just need one man and an army… in the right place. He is also a close companion of the general."
The room fell into thoughtful silence once again, the candle's flame flickering between them.
"What of him?"
The eunuch hesitates just long enough to show tact before responding with honesty.
"All envoys, letters, and imperial commands have returned unanswered. His location is still unknown for now."
He said bitterly. "I wronged him."
His words were soft and bitter. "I stripped him of trust, family, cast suspicion… and I do not expecthim to stand beside me unshaken. It was all my fault."
"An emperor," Eunuch Gao lifted his head slightly. "is never at fault. Your Majesty... He still bears imperial blood, and the people remember. That alone ensures his name does not fade."
The Emperor's eyes opened slowly, lingering on the candle's flickering flame."Still… he won't come back."
"Perhaps… one day, Your Majesty might be able to bring him back."
The Emperor looked away, his gaze resting on the window that frames the moon, distant and white.
"Let him be, then." the Emperor finally said, weary. "If he has chosen to disappear, then so be it."
"As Your Majesty wills."
A heavy silence fell.
Eunuch Gao bowed again and took a step back. But before he can withdraw fully, the Emperor speaks again.
"Send word to the Commander to meet at Xiaoxiao House," the Emperor said. "Tomorrow night."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He withdrew silently, leaving the Emperor alone beneath the weight of an empire.
***************************
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