Thing like crying comes out in a spurt of energy and it was also exhausting. After such an interruption, Tian Xuan could no longer continue. She sat there silently with head bowed down and squeezed her handkerchief. Apart from being like this, she didn’t know what else she was supposed to do.
Seeing that she has finally stopped crying, Jiang Zheng’s heart relaxed. She rarely cried so pitifully. He did not dare to provoke her again, hence he stood up: “Have people to help you tidy up.”
As soon as he left, Gu Mu and Bai Lu came in.
When Gu Mu saw Tian Xuan’s pitiful appearance, she gasped and then went to glare at Bai Lu.
Not mentioning her, even Bai Lu was startled. How could she know that shizi1 would not be able to control himself? She swept a glance at that delicate yet enchanting face. No wonder that shizi could not help himself. Fortunately, it looked like miss did not suffer any great loss.
Tian Xuan seemed to not be aware of the two’s eye exchange as she silently took the handkerchief to wipe her face.
Both Gu Yu and Bai Lu did not dare to utter a word. They deftly draped over her an outer robe and then went to comb her hair. Since Jiang Zheng was waiting next door, they only coiled a simple hairstyle.
“Give me a mirror to see.” Tian Xuan suddenly spoke out.
Gu Yu hesitated for a while and then took out a long-handled round mirror from a jewelry box and gave it to her.
Tian Xuan caught it and took a look. The woman inside the mirror had the corners of the eyes red. Her pink lips were vivid, revealing vaguely an enchanting color. Tian Xuan’s hand that hold on the mirror halted.
When Tian Xuan recalled about the scene from a moment ago, she was glad that she had cried just in the time. She was also relieved that tears proved to be useful against him: “In the past, me, me and him were very intimate?”
As soon as he came in he was so impolite with her. A dreadful thought arose in Tian Xuan’s mind. Was it possible that the two already had a skin to skin contact with each other? This body was still young, just sixteen years old, but Jiang Zheng was twenty-two, at the age when one was hot-blooded and full of vigor. Moreover, the original host had such an appearance and the current society was quite open-minded. The more Tian Xuan thought the worse her expression turned to. Her whole body felt bad.
Bai Lu was totally oblivious of her thoughts, that were like an unleashed wild horse that run far away, hence she replied: “Miss and shizi are already engaged. It’s only natural for you to be intimate.”
It’s only natural for you to be intimate!
To be intimate!
Intimate!
Tian Xuan’s face cracked inch by inch.
When Jiang Zheng returned, Tian Xuan’s face was still in the rigid state.
Seeing her sitting there upright in silence as if she saw her great nemesis, Jiang Zheng felt both amused and helpless. He rolled the ebony bracelet on his wrist. Let it be. She had forgotten everything. Let’s go slowly.
Jiang Zhen took out a palm-sized brocade box, “A present I have brought for you.”
Bai Lu took it with both hands and presented it before Tian Xuan’s eyes. Tian Xuan’s eyelashes softly trembled. She did not move.
Bai Lu cast a quick glance at Jiang Zheng and then opened the brocade box. Inside lied a soft glossy-colored and pure-textured yellow jade bracelet. Due to the rareness of the yellow jade and its homophony with the word “Emperor”, it was also being called the Emperor’s jade. For a time, it was supplied only to the members of the imperial family. Especially this kind of beeswax yellow jade. It was even more priceless. Even the wealthy may not possess one.
Tian Xuan threw a glance at it. She did not understand jade but she wasn’t blind. This piece of jade emitted an aura that was saying ‘I’m very precious’.
Seeing her still being indifferent, Jiang Zheng laughed: “Weren’t you fondest of collecting all kind of jade bracelets? This one has a better texture than the previous egg yolk colored one.”
Tian Xuan finally had a movement. She lifted her gaze to look at him and subsequently lowered her gaze to look at the bracelet. He went to Liangzhou to fight in a war, yet he didn’t forget to bring a gift. Evidently, he had put his heart into it. However, what he did not know was his real fiancée had gone missing, unbeknownst if she was still dead or alive. The one before him was fake. As these days went by, even if she was unwilling to acknowledge, she had to accept her fate. She most likely couldn’t return back anymore. Whenever she thought about it….. Tian Xuan lowered her head, not daring to look at him. She said softly: “I like it very much. Thank you.”
Jiang Zheng said: “Try it on.”
Tian Xuan slowly extended her hand. Bai Lu rolled up a section of her sleeve, exposing offending red marks on her slender and fair wrist. They seemed to accuse of the previous atrocity.
Jiang Zheng was a little angry at himself. At that time when he was lost in her spell, he lost his propriety and also forgot how very delicate she was. Fortunately, they tended to vanish soon.
Tian Xuan was embarrassed. She reached out to pull down her sleeve. Her expression that had just finally relaxed again tensed.
“Do you still have the sky fragrance anti-swelling ointment?” Jiang Zheng asked.
Bai Lu said: “There is.” She curtsied and soon after went to fetch for it.
After bringing it over, Bai Lu apologized: “I beg for miss’s forgiveness. It will hurt a little during the application.”
Tian Xuan unconsciously pulled back the hand. At this time, she heard Jiang Zheng’s deep voice that contained a faint smile, “I will apply it for you.”
Tian Xuan’s hand immediately stopped its pulling movement. She had Bai Lu hold her hand. Tian Xuan thought that the process would hurt a lot but unexpectedly it hurt only a little. Seeing Bai Lu’s cautious expression made Tian Xuan have a deeper understanding of how pampered the original host was. Only a maiden that was deeply treasured could be raised to be this delicate.
Jiang Zheng spoke softly: “I have hurt you. If you are not happy then hit me to relieve your anger, good? “
Not good! If she really hit him then wouldn’t it be flirting with him? His spoiling manner and tone that held concern and tenderness upset Tian Xuan. Her brows unconsciously knitted.
Seeing her again unhappy, Jiang Zheng felt helpless: “I’m leaving.”
Tian Xuan suddenly looked up.
As expected, her expression has relaxed. Jiang Zheng’s brow raised a little: “I’ll come to see you in two days.”
Tian Xuan’s shoulders immediately dropped.
Jiang Zheng’s eyes carried a bit of smile in them: “I just came back. There are still some matters that need to be attended to. After I settle everything down I will take you outside to play.”
You don’t have to worry about me, the official matters are more important. Yet, she did not dare to say it.
Jiang Zheng already got up. Looking at Tian Xuan who sit there motionless, he raised his brow: “Aren’t you going to see me off?”
Tian Xuan stared blankly at him. Then she slowly raised up.
She walked slowly. Jiang Zheng has also used small strides. Tian Xuan seemed to have noticed as her pace seemed to have quickened. Jiang Zheng paid it no heed. He continued with his not too fast nor too slow pace. The peach blossom in the courtyard was in its full bloom. A breeze blew their way, carrying a faint scent of flowers. A light fragrance lingered amid the scent of flowers. It was the fragrance she wore, the one which had the ability to touch people’s heartstring.
Tian Xuan stared at his back. Having no other choice, she could only follow him and walk slowly.
Jiang Zheng stopped at the gate of the courtyard. They have finally arrived! Tian Xuan immediately said: “Take care.”
Jiang Zheng stood before her and looked at her with an expression that appeared to want smile yet did not smile.
Tian Xuan seemed to have also noticed that the joy in her tone was too obvious. She pulled at her sleeves, upset with herself. Afterward, she racked her brain, trying to find a remedy for her situation. Just as she caught some fragments of words and wanted to speak out, she suddenly froze.
He who stood there against the light, his tall and straight figure seemed to resemble a little yet not completely to that person in her dreams.
Tian Xuan began to retreat. Jiang Zheng was afraid that she would fall henceforth he stretched his hand to support her. Tian Xuan pushed him away: “Stand there and don’t move.”
Her expression was abnormally solemn. Jiang Zheng’s eyes started to darken.
Seeing him truly not moving, Tian Xuan lifted her skirt up slightly and run back a little. Her mind blanked as she looked at him from afar. So alike!
Till this day she remembered how happy and dependent the A Xuan inside the dream felt when she saw that person. She guessed that that person must have been someone special to her.
She did not dare to ask while facing Jiang Zheng. On that day outside the Pinye house, even though they were far apart she still could feel the weight in his sight. It was so heavy it made Tian Xuan shiver a bit. If the person in her dreams was truly him it would only create a melodrama and add her distress. Yet, if she didn’t ask she would only keep it in heart, constantly thinking about it. Even she didn’t understand why was she so deeply concerned about this dream. Deep inside, she felt that as long as she solved this dream, all the other riddles would easily get solved. The feeling of being trapped in the dense fog where one could not find sky nor the land was just too horrible. (Note: the one she was mentioning here was the second male lead)
But, what if that person was Jiang Zheng? It should not be an issue to ask him, right?
Tian Xuan run back while panting slightly. Her gaze was a little nervous: “Have you been in grassland?”
Jiang Zheng laughed: “Silly girl. The place where Jizhou and Yongzhou is bordered with Tujue2 is a vast grassland. So say if I’ve been in grassland or not?”
Tian Xuan stroke her nose in embarrassment. What a foolish question she has asked: “Then have I been in grassland?”
Jiang Zheng’s mouth curled up into a tiny smile: “Did you remember something?”
“I have remembered about some things, but they are hazy.” Tian Xuan replied vaguely.
Jiang Zheng’s eyes darkened unnoticeably. He joked, “Have you recalled me?”
Tian Xuan’s face immediately reddened, she was a little angry: “Have I been there?”
“If you want to see a grassland, I can take you there.”
Tian Xuan rejoiced inside, she kept asking: “Did something happen to me in grassland?”
“There’s not head nor tail. What have you recalled?” Jiang Zheng’s brows knitted.
Tian Xuan also felt that she won’t be able to get out any answers this way hence she steeled herself and directly asked: “I remembered that someone was chasing after me and someone has saved me. But who chased after me and who saved me? I didn’t see it.”
Jiang Zheng laughed: “You wanted to have fun so you run out and encountered horse bandits. Fortunately, you haven’t run far and I have arrived on time.”
“It was truly you?” Tian Xuan blurted out. As soon as she blurted out she wanted to bite off her tongue. How could she ask such a stupid question?
Jiang Zheng smiled softly: “The light armor I wore on that day is still here. How about you come with me? I will wear it for you to identify.”
Tian Xuan gave him a hollow laugh, not daring to respond him. There was also nothing to respond.
Jiang Zheng looked at her deeply: “Go back.”
Tian Xuan made a “Uhm” sound, curtsied him and then left. After reaching to the corner that was under the peach blossom tree, by a curious coincidence, Tian Xuan turned her head. That tall and robust figure was still standing by the door. Seeing her looking over his way, he smiled slightly. For some unknown reason, a guilty conscience overcame Tian Xuan. Almost awkwardly, she turned her head back and hastily turned the corner.
Jiang Zheng watched her entering the study. Immediately after, he walked away. The smile on his face was completely gone, replaced by the icy coldness that froze one to the bones.
[1] Shizi – heir apparent to princes, dukes, etc. (aristocracy)
[2] Tujue – a barbaric tribe of Turkish ethnic group
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