Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 64

In an instant, goosebumps erupted across Jiang Wanshu’s skin. Could this man be trying to infiltrate Da Yin to steal the Central Plains’ military secrets? If that were the case, wouldn’t she—the one who brought him into the imperial palace—become an accomplice to a criminal?

“Look at where your mind is wandering. Rest assured, I am only thinking of settling down in the Central Plains with you in the future. I can’t very well be a grown man relying on a delicate princess like you to support me, can I?”

Zhou Yan spoke casually, though he admitted to himself that he had indeed harbored such thoughts previously.

Setting aside the promise he had made her long ago, he had no one left to care for on the grasslands except for his elder sister. His sister loved power and was shrewd and brilliant; he had no need to worry about her. But the person before him—all of her ties were here in the Central Plains. As her Mageba, it was only natural for him to settle here.

Hearing Zhou Yan mention a future that included her, Jiang Wanshu let out a sudden, startled cry, only to be met with his disdainful look. “What are you making such a fuss about? I already forgave you for that previous time.”

Jiang Wanshu knew he was referring to the time she tried to escape and was caught, after which he had threatened to revoke his promise of settling in the Central Plains just to teach her a lesson.

“Is that truly so?” Hearing this, Jiang Wanshu breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, this man wasn’t what she had feared. Otherwise, she would have essentially ushered a thief into the heart of the imperial city.

She had previously treated Zhou Yan’s talk of their future as mere idle chatter, but now that the topic had surfaced, she couldn’t help but remember his demand: that she reveal their relationship to her Imperial Father and Mother within a month of returning to the palace.

Even though she still refused to acknowledge their relationship, the circumstances of that day had forced her to nod in agreement.

Since the atmosphere was pleasant now, she decided to test the waters with a coaxing tone, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at him. “Zhou Yan, regarding our matter… could I wait a little longer before telling my Imperial Father and Mother?”

Zhou Yan lifted a teapot and poured a cup, draining it in a single gulp.

The utensils of the Central Plains were focused on being exquisite and small, unlike the bold, large-scale style of the grasslands. Even though he had stayed here for a while, he was still not used to it.

As he finished his tea, Zhou Yan listened to Jiang Wanshu’s words. He set down the empty cup and looked at her silently, his eyes lowered.

Jiang Wanshu felt a pang of guilt under his gaze. Her mind couldn’t stop racing—Is he about to get angry?

Although he rarely showed such expressions in front of her, she knew the warning signs before Zhou Yan lost his temper. The longer he stared at her, the more her scalp felt numb with apprehension.

Just as she was about to buckle under the pressure, she stammered, “O-or else, we could discuss it further?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhou Yan abruptly interrupted her. “We will do as you say.”

He truly wanted to live his life with Jiang Wanshu. However, he currently held no official rank or means of livelihood. This meant he no longer had the leverage to force her hand. If this matter reached the Emperor, how could her parents—with their deep love for their daughter—possibly be willing to marry her off to him?

Moreover, if Jiang Wanshu realized he was currently a man of no standing, she might even try to drive him away.

Thinking of this, he stared at her again, his gaze sharp.

“W-what is it?” Jiang Wanshu felt her heart race under his stare, and she let out a sheepish, nervous laugh.

Zhou Yan snapped out of it, his gaze softening slightly. “It’s nothing. I was just wondering where would be a good place for me to practice my martial arts.”

Realizing she hadn’t provoked him, Jiang Wanshu immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced toward the rockery and flowing water in the Moon-Embracing Pavilion and said in a relaxed tone, “There is a rockery in the Moon-Embracing Pavilion with a large open space nearby. You can practice there.”

Zhou Yan recalled the rockery and casually agreed.

Seeing Zhou Yan’s expression grow increasingly calm, Jiang Wanshu played with the handkerchief that Yulu had recently embroidered for her, her eyes curving with a smile. “Then it’s settled—what we just discussed.”

“Mm.” Zhou Yan was indifferent to the delay, as he indeed had his own plans.

After speaking, Jiang Wanshu excitedly called Yulu over. She couldn’t wait to have Yulu find someone to inform Zhou Yan about the details of the Imperial Military Examinations.

However, ever since that person informed Zhou Yan about the military exams, Jiang Wanshu’s mood—which had been one of casual curiosity—began to plummet.

The winter snow fell again in the early morning. Inside Jiang Wanshu’s bedroom behind the rockery, the sound of a young girl’s sigh could be heard.

Jiang Wanshu watched her reflection in the bronze mirror as Yulu dressed her. Even though her beauty remained unchanged, she could clearly feel that her expression was listless.

Yulu, of course, noticed this behavior.

As she gathered Jiang Wanshu’s ink-black hair into the “double-loop” buns favored by young ladies in the capital, Yulu hurriedly asked, “Princess, I have noticed you haven’t been in good spirits lately. What is bothering you?”

“I don’t know myself,” Jiang Wanshu replied, propping her chin on her hand as she looked at herself in the mirror, her face clouded with worry.

It seemed she had been this way ever since she started watching Zhou Yan practice his martial arts by the rockery.

“The Princess hasn’t left the palace once since returning. Today the weather is fine, and it happens to be the day of your appointment with Miss Liang. You should try to be a bit more cheerful,” Yulu said, picking up a floral hairpin from the jewelry box and tucking it into the dark hair.

Jiang Wanshu pulled herself together, forcing herself to brighten up. “I know.”

Seeing that Yulu had finished her styling, Jiang Wanshu stood up slowly. Yulu took a goose-yellow cloak from the wooden rack and draped it over her shoulders.

“Princess, I have heard that Miss Liang has an elder brother who is not yet betrothed. It is said he is incredibly elegant and handsome,” Yulu mentioned, recalling past gossip.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Yulu suddenly seemed to realize something and covered her mouth.

She looked at Jiang Wanshu with wide, disbelieving eyes. Jiang Wanshu nodded helplessly. “Now you know why my Imperial Mother wanted me to get to know Miss Liang.”

“Young Master Liang is taking the civil service exams next year. With his talent, everyone expects him to take the top spot. A top scholar marrying a princess…”

Yulu’s speculation led Jiang Wanshu to reply: “The matter of the peace marriage to the grasslands is now settled, and my engagement to Brother Zhou was dissolved long ago. Now that I have reached marriageable age, it’s only natural for Imperial Mother to make plans for me.”

As for why the Empress Dowager did not allow her to renew her engagement with Zhou Shuan, it was likely because Her Majesty had grown dissatisfied with him. After all, when news of the peace marriage first broke, she and Zhou Shuan were still officially betrothed, yet he had done nothing to intervene. This lack of action must have soured the Empress’s opinion of him.

Upon hearing this, Yulu’s eyes widened as a sudden thought struck her. “Then… what if Guard Zhou hears about this? What will we do?”

Although Zhou Yan’s temperament was much better than before, Yulu couldn’t guarantee that he would maintain his current composure if this matter were mentioned. From his perspective, Jiang Wanshu was his wife; no man could endure his wife going out to meet a potential suitor.

Jiang Wanshu naturally understood this logic. She had already thought it through and replied coolly, “I am going this time to see Miss Liang. Before the peace marriage, I spoke with her a few times at palace banquets. She has a lively personality, and I very much enjoy having someone like her to chat with in my spare time.”

Thinking of that spirited girl, Jiang Wanshu’s mood lifted slightly. She paused before adding, “Besides, I’m not going to see Young Master Liang. What right does Zhou Yan have to be angry with me?”

Just as she finished speaking, a palace maid entered the bedroom. “Princess, the carriage is ready.”

Jiang Wanshu nodded, smoothed her clothes, and walked out.

A heavy snow had fallen again over the capital this morning, leaving a biting chill in the air. Jiang Wanshu wrapped her cloak tightly around herself. Having been unable to leave the palace for so long, she was in a good mood now that her wish was finally granted. However, the moment she reached the spot she had designated for Zhou Yan’s martial arts practice, her face instantly fell.

Beside the exquisitely carved, luxurious rockery, a man dressed in thin clothing held a longsword. He leaped and spiraled through the air beneath the stones. In the morning light, his features were strikingly beautiful. As he wielded the sword, the muscles beneath his thin garments were especially prominent—lines flowing, shoulders robust and powerful.

On its own, this scene didn’t bother Jiang Wanshu much. But when she stepped back to look from a distance, she noticed palace maids all around the rockery, stealing glances at Zhou Yan while pretending to work. And…

Jiang Wanshu glared at the maids, who quickly composed themselves under her gaze. She turned to Yulu, her voice tinged with irritation. “Yulu, why do I feel like there have been more maids assigned to the Moon-Embracing Pavilion lately?”

“Princess, it seems that ever since Guard Zhou began practicing here, many more maids have come to work in the pavilion.”

“Did Imperial Mother arrange this?” Jiang Wanshu asked.

Yulu shook her head. “No.”

If not her mother, then it must have been the palace administrators. But she had instructed Yulu long ago that she didn’t need many servants. Why the sudden influx?

As she was pondering the reason, she overheard two maids gossiping on the veranda behind her. One maid, holding a cleaning cloth, was wiping the railing. “Look at Guard Zhou. Such rare looks—sharp, exotic, and so handsome.”

The maid watering flowers nearby chimed in, “What decent person only looks at a man’s face? Sister, when you look at a man, you shouldn’t just look at his features, but his build. Guard Zhou is truly a masterpiece. Not only is he handsome, but those muscles are the real highlight. If my sweetheart had a body like that, I’d be a lucky woman.”

In the palace, it was not forbidden for maids to discuss marriage or men. However, while the younger maid cleaning the railing didn’t quite grasp the meaning, the older maid gave an ambiguous smile.

Jiang Wanshu, however, knew exactly what she meant.

The maid’s words were so bold that hearing them made Jiang Wanshu recall that night before Zhou Yan returned to the grasslands. In the dim, candlelit bedroom, on the swaying canopy bed, the man’s muscular arms had bulged as he pinned her down, moving intensely. Sweat had trickled down his body; from her vantage point, the muscles of his abdomen were sharply defined and distinct.

At the memory, Jiang Wanshu’s heart trembled. Her face flushed crimson with shame. She turned and swept the maids with a sharp, rare glare of authority. The maids instantly shut their mouths and returned to their duties.

Watching the increasing number of maids finding excuses to clean the Moon-Embracing Pavilion, Jiang Wanshu realized that men could be just as much of a “femme fatale” as beautiful women. She immediately ordered Yulu, “Only keep the essential staff in the Moon-Embracing Pavilion.”

Yulu understood perfectly, her eyes scanning the area. “Yes, Princess.”

As they walked past the rockery, Jiang Wanshu came within half a meter of Zhou Yan. When he noticed her and stopped his practice, she took off at a run.

She didn’t know why she didn’t want to deal with him at that moment. Zhou Yan was equally confused; usually, when she passed by, she would at least say a few words to him.

Later, when Yulu returned to relay the Princess’s message—telling him he was no longer allowed to practice in the Moon-Embracing Pavilion—Zhou Yan looked around at the lingering crowds of maids and finally understood.

The man’s pale pink lips curled into a smirk. When night fell, he took advantage of the guards dozing outside. With a stretch of his long legs, he easily vaulted through the window into the young lady’s bedroom.

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