Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 50

Sensing such a strange sensation, Jiang Wanshu felt an inexplicable tightening in her chest.

Ultimately, however, she could not withstand the surging tide of grievance, and she cried herself to sleep in Zhou Yan’s arms.

Zhou Yan looked down at the girl who had fallen into a deep slumber in his embrace, exhausted from weeping. Just as he was about to rise and give Zhou Shuan a beating to vent Jiang Wanshu’s anger, he caught sight of a single tear track beneath her eyelid.

He sighed softly and stepped out, once again dutifully playing the part of a servant attending to a lady.

The candlelight was rekindled. Zhou Yan took a silk cloth soaked in warm water, wrung it dry with care, and slowly wiped away the tear stains from her face.

The girl’s skin was as delicate as exquisite jade; occasionally, his touch left faint red marks. Under the glow of the candle, her sleeping face was peaceful and still, causing Zhou Yan to linger for a few extra glances.

Outside, the ink of night was gradually replaced by the clarity of dawn. Beneath the fading shadows, the two were illuminated by the rising morning light.

However, the one to wake first was Jiang Wanshu.

The winter morning sun was not strong, yet it cast a soft glow upon her beautiful features. She seemed to have slept exceptionally well, as if all her troubles had vanished into the night.

Propping herself up on the bed with her right hand, she was about to step down to summon Yu Lu for her morning wash as usual when she caught sight of a sturdy arm in her periphery. Her eyes snapped wide open.

She turned her head to stare at the man sleeping soundly beside her. Scenes from the previous night began to flood back into her mind.

How could I have done something so shameless to Zhou Yan?

Clearly, it was Zhou Shuan who had drunk too much; how had the madness infected her instead? Moreover, she had proactively embraced him last night.

Now fully awake, the memory of her actions terrified her. She internally condemned her “crimes” from the night before, unable to endure her own perceived stupidity. Frustrated yet afraid of waking him, she lightly tapped her own head.

What a massive oversight.

But Zhou Yan was, after all, a martial artist. That slight movement was enough to rouse him instantly. He opened his eyes covertly, feigning sleep before Jiang Wanshu could notice.

Closing his eyes again, he heard a rustling beside him. Just as he was about to truly open them, a finger suddenly poked toward the tip of his nose.

Jiang Wanshu looked down, her hand raised, focusing intently on his features—features that so closely resembled Zhou Shuan’s.

Thinking back calmly now, she felt the man had been extraordinarily patient last night. He had endured her temper and let her cling to him while she sobbed; her tears had messied his chest, yet he hadn’t shown a hint of disgust. Afterward, he had even wiped her tears and coaxed her to sleep.

This unexpected tenderness caused her perception of him to shift. It turned out this man… could actually be a gentleman when he wasn’t being “lecherous.”

She studied him closely, noticing for the first time how high and straight the bridge of his nose was.

The girl’s fingertip was slightly cool as it lightly grazed his nose. This tickling sensation stirred a restlessness in the man’s heart. He felt a surge of mischief and suddenly reached up, grabbing the hand resting on his nose.

In an instant, Jiang Wanshu sat bolt upright in fright, trying to scramble back, only to be flipped over and pinned beneath him in the next second.

The winter wind was chilly; even a slight movement on the bed invited a draft. The wind brushed past the man’s arms and fanned the girl’s dark hair.

Jiang Wanshu lay wide-eyed beneath him. She knitted her brows, her voice a mix of panic and anger: “Zhou Yan, what are you doing?!”

Recalling her vulnerability from the night before, Zhou Yan teased, “Recovered your energy so quickly?”

Being reminded of that embarrassing scene made Jiang Wanshu’s face flush. She tried to give him a kick, remaining stubbornly silent.

“I’ve told you, if something is on your mind, say it. Don’t go around acting like a parrot with its tongue cut out, refusing to speak a word.” Zhou Yan was genuinely frustrated by her habit of falling silent whenever she was upset. She was naturally a talkative person.

Jiang Wanshu continued to ignore him, her heart filled with embarrassment and her face burning red.

The more Zhou Yan saw this attitude, the more dissatisfied he felt. He wanted to force her to speak, but remembering her stubborn nature, he changed his tactic: “You really won’t talk? If you don’t talk, I’ll bring it up.”

Confused by this vague threat, the bewilderment in her eyes was plain to see. Zhou Yan realized she was finally listening and felt a secret sense of triumph.

He continued, “Last night, you took the initiative to hug me. Does that mean you’re starting to have feelings for me?”

This sentence hit Jiang Wanshu like a thunderbolt, her face turning from red to a deep pink. She turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. “Zhou Yan, if you have time for such nonsense first thing in the morning, you’d better get moving. We are going to the palace today! If Brother Zhou sees us together later, he will be suspicious!”

Seeing her transparent attempt to hide her fluster, Zhou Yan didn’t get angry. Instead, he rose with great magnanimity. He stood by her side, his back turned as he tied the laces of his loose inner robes. Just as Jiang Wanshu thought he was leaving and let out a long breath, he suddenly turned around.

The winter sunlight was soft, but his sudden turn seemed to catch the light, framing him in a stunning glow. His eyes, usually as sharp as a hawk’s, looked remarkably gentle today.

With a burning intensity in his gaze, he turned back toward her, his presence stirring her heart.

“He will have to find out eventually.”

As soon as he spoke, he deftly flipped out of the window and disappeared. From her vantage point, Jiang Wanshu could only see the broad silhouette of his departing back.

She sat dazed for a long time before finally snapping out of it half an hour later. Unwilling to let these uncontrollable emotions take root, she quickly summoned Yu Lu to help her wash and dress.

She should be happy today. She was finally going to see the person she had missed for months.

After breakfast, a servant arrived to report that the carriage for the palace was ready. Jiang Wanshu was in high spirits; she lifted the hem of her skirt and skipped toward the carriage. Her beautiful face was beaming like a flower before the driver.

The driver did not recognize the Princess of Jinyang; he assumed she was a guest invited by his master and spoke with great respect. Jiang Wanshu nodded and stepped into the carriage.

Lifting a small corner of the curtain, she spotted a figure dressed in men’s attire already seated inside. Before she could even see clearly, she assumed it was Zhou Yan and reached out to pull his hand.

“Zhou Yan, in the capital, it’s improper for a man and a woman to share a carriage. Get out quickly!”

Her palm was cool against the man’s hand. She tugged with all her might, trying to force him out. However, in the next moment, a voice completely different from Zhou Yan’s rang out.

“Princess, I am escorting you to the palace today under His Majesty’s orders. We are going directly to the Imperial Study; it is not improper.”

The gentle, low voice reached her ears. Jiang Wanshu froze instantly, her eyes filling with shock as she stared at the person before her.

It was Zhou Shuan!

The man who had spoken such nonsense while intoxicated last night was now sitting there, as distant and composed as ever.

She remained frozen until Zhou Shuan spoke again, breaking the stalemate.

“If the Princess feels my presence is bothersome, I shall depart the carriage.” His expression was neutral; at least to Jiang Wanshu, he seemed to have absolutely no memory of his drunken confession from the night before.

She couldn’t afford to give people a reason to gossip. She forced a smile and spoke to the driver outside, “Let’s depart.”

The driver followed her command and started the horses. As the carriage rolled through the alleys and streets, Jiang Wanshu sat bored. She wanted to lift the curtain to look outside but restrained herself due to Zhou Shuan’s presence.

For a moment, the air felt stagnant. Zhou Shuan, the culprit of this tension, knew exactly why. After pretending to be detached for half the journey, he finally spoke.

“Ahem.” He coughed twice to draw her attention.

Worried, Jiang Wanshu blurted out instinctively, “Brother Zhou, did you catch a cold from the wind last night?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she bit her lip. She looked at him with a mix of emotions, cursing her own lack of a filter. He had been cold and indifferent the whole way, clearly not taking last night’s words seriously. Why was she still fawning over him?

Such words wouldn’t win her any favors; they would only annoy him.

Hearing her mention last night so naturally, Zhou Shuan spoke with satisfaction, “Last night, I inadvertently drank too much and offended the Princess. If I said anything treasonous or improper, I ask that the Princess simply forget it.”

Jiang Wanshu wasn’t foolish. He used the word “forget” rather than “forgive.” She realized he was putting on an act, pretending to remember nothing.

But it didn’t matter. Since they both agreed that treating last night as if it never happened was for the best, his feigned ignorance actually eased the awkwardness.

She shook her head and smiled softly. “I didn’t even see Brother Zhou last night.”

Zhou Shuan’s heart faltered for a second, but his expression remained unchanged. He silently watched a corner of the curtain flutter in the cold wind, his gaze turning somber.

In truth, he wanted to tell her that he remembered everything he had done. But that required courage. Since her answer suggested she hoped he had forgotten, he would play along.

However, there was one thing he would choose again even if he were to forget everything: if the Emperor and Empress refused to let the Princess be sent away for marriage again, he would certainly pursue her once more.

Once the shackles of his family were no longer at odds with her, he found he could not let her go. He knew this thought might seem selfish to outsiders, but some things can only be felt by those involved. Within the protection of his family name, he would pamper her more than any woman in the world; that would be enough to compensate for the void left by his family duties.

“Mm, that is good then.” Zhou Shuan joined her in the performance. As the carriage passed through the Imperial Gardens, he fell silent again.

The sudden quiet in the carriage made Jiang Wanshu slightly uncomfortable. But soon, hearing a familiar, crisp voice from the Imperial Gardens, she became excited.

She listened to a girl outside complaining about the winter cold and grumbling about having to go to Consort Chun’s palace to be lectured by the Second Sister. Jiang Wanshu couldn’t help but chuckle. She had always disliked the haughty attitude of the Second Sister; hearing those complaints after so long actually felt like home.

As the “popping” voice of Princess Linyang reached her ears, the reality of being back in the palace finally sank in.

Suddenly, Jiang Wanshu remembered Zhou Yan, whom she hadn’t seen since that morning. She asked Zhou Shuan, “Brother Zhou, is Zhou Yan not coming?”

Support