Chapter 45 "Hold on tight, don't fall..."

Zhan Xiao's reaction far exceeded Jiang Fushi's expectations. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, her body instantly stiffened, and her mind went blank. He pressed her shoulders against the cold wall, his burning lips swept across her lower teeth, and his warm tongue probed in with irresistible force, intertwining with hers.

She instinctively grabbed his shirt collar, feeling his breath enveloping her—trembling, intense, as if long suppressed. His hand caressed her neck, lingering gently on her collarbone. The calluses on his palm made her skin tingle slightly, a strange, tingling sensation that made her shiver involuntarily. He seemed to sense this, shifting his attention to the back of her head, cradling her neck and making her tilt her head back to receive the kiss more deeply.

Jiang Fushi's body went limp, her resistance gradually dissipated, and she could only let him control her, slowly closing her eyes.

In the silent room, only the intertwined, rapid breathing of the two remained.

It felt like a long time had passed, yet it also felt like not so long. When they parted, their foreheads touched and their noses lightly brushed, both of them breathing heavily, drawing in the precious air.

Jiang Fushi's cheeks flushed and her eyelashes were moist. She dared not look directly into Zhan Xiao's burning gaze and subconsciously buried her burning face in the crook of his neck.

Zhan Xiao pulled her into his arms, nuzzled the top of her head with his chin, and took a deep breath, "Your Highness..."

Jiang Fushi's voice was muffled: "Hmm?"

She waited for a while, but received no reply. She only felt the hands around her waist hug her tighter and heavier, as if they wanted to melt her into their very bones.

She tilted her head back, her gaze unexpectedly meeting his deep eyes. His face remained as indifferent as ever, but his eyes began to ripple. Her gaze involuntarily fell on the wound on his neck, the edges of which were white, clearly from being wet during his bath.

Her heart tightened, and she said softly, "You can't treat the wound like that. It'll get infected if it gets wet. Let me bandage it for you."

After the maid brought water and medicine, Jiang Fushi had Zhan Xiao sit by the couch, while she knelt in front of him and carefully treated his wounds.

Besides this spot, there were some on his arms and shoulders, but they were all minor scratches and injuries. She even suspected that these injuries were caused by his own inability to stop his momentum during the fight, resulting in a backlash from the sword energy.

After all, his sword moves were too powerful, and his sword strikes were so fierce that they left almost no room for error.

The ointment, cool to the touch, melted on her fingertips and she gently applied it to his wound. They were so close that she could clearly feel his gaze falling on the top of her head and the corner of her eyebrow, burning intensely.

She pretended not to care, her eyes lowered, focused on winding the strips of cloth. Just as she was about to raise her hand to smooth out the wrinkles, their eyes met unexpectedly. The air froze for a moment, and before anyone knew it, their lips were already pressed together again.

He pulled her by the waist and slammed her onto the soft bed behind him.

Jiang Fushi obediently closed her eyes, feeling his cool lips move down from her brow, linger over the tip of her nose, and finally, with undeniable force, cover her lips, lingering and caressing them for a long time.

When both of them were a little out of breath, she turned her face away slightly, panting. Then she felt dizzy and found herself being pulled over by him, lying on his chest.

Through the thin fabric, she could clearly feel the rapid, powerful heartbeat beneath her, like a drumbeat, unsure whether it was his or hers.

She smiled sweetly, hooked her index finger into his dark hair, and played with it in her hand.

“By the way.” She propped herself up on the bed with one hand, lifted her head from Zhan Xiao’s chest, and looked at him: “You still haven’t told me what’s going on? Who are these people? It seems like they knew we were coming, so they made preparations in advance.”

Zhan Xiao propped himself up with one hand behind his head, pulled the brocade quilt from the bed over Jiang Fushi, and said, "Has Your Highness heard of the Su family of Huizhou?"

The name made Jiang Fushi's eyes flicker slightly.

How could she not know?

The Su family of Huizhou was the wealthiest merchant family in the entire Sanjiang region, having been engaged in silk and canal transport for generations, amassing wealth comparable to that of a nation. Their trade routes extended to all corners of the world, leaving their mark on camel caravans in the northern frontier and foreign ships at sea. What was even more remarkable was that although the Su family associated with all walks of life, they always adhered to their ancestral precepts, avoiding involvement in political struggles and maintaining their integrity. As a result, they retained a certain degree of dignity both in the martial arts world and in the imperial court.

The current head of the Su family, Su Wenjing, is an extremely shrewd and capable person. Even when she was in the deep palace in the capital, she had heard of his name and knew that his methods were extraordinary.

No wonder... that someone would dare to take her in with such a 'dangerous' identity and make such thoughtful and proper arrangements. It turns out that they relied on the wealth and courage of the Su family.

"How did you persuade the Su family to risk their lives to help?"

Zhan Xiao said, "Five years ago, the Su family was embroiled in internal strife, the old patriarch died suddenly, and the young masters fought for the position of heir. Su Wenjing was in a weak position at the time and was ambushed and killed at the Huizhou canal wharf. His guards were almost all killed or wounded. I happened to be passing by and saved him."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fushi nodded knowingly: "In that case, Su Wenjing owes you a favor."

At this moment, the sky was bright, and the rising sun was shining from behind the distant mountains outside the window. Golden rays of light streamed into the room through the window frame and fell on the bed, making it feel warm and cozy.

Jiang Fushi snuggled gently against him, finding a more comfortable position, and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

The comforter was warm, the soft quilt enveloping her, bringing a long-lost sense of security. The exhaustion from a night of terror washed over her like a tide, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and the last bit of clarity dissipated in the warmth of their close embrace.

Zhan Xiao gently patted her back and whispered, "Go to sleep."

This nap lasted until the afternoon.

When Jiang Fushi woke up, she was still a little dazed. Turning her eyes, she saw that Zhan Xiao was still holding her, his eyes were lightly closed, and his breathing was steady, as if he had not yet woken up.

She smiled slightly, raised her hand to pinch his high, straight nose, and then silently counted: one, two, three...

She had only counted to three when she met a pair of deep, smiling eyes. He had woken up sometime earlier, and he grabbed her mischievous wrist, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. The warm touch from the back of her hand made her ears burn.

Wrapped in a brocade quilt, she simply sat on his lap, her fingertips still lingering on the tip of his nose, a mischievous smile playing in her eyes. Just as she was about to pull her hand back to tease him a little more, a soft knock and footsteps came from the doorway.

Jiang Fushi's heart skipped a beat, and like a startled rabbit, she immediately shrank into his arms. Zhan Xiao reacted quickly, immediately sitting up, gently lifting her off his body, and settling her comfortably on the inside of the bed, covering her completely with the blanket.

"Master Zhan?"

He was a servant of the Su family.

Zhan Xiao strode to the door, opened it a crack, and stepped aside to block the view of the room.

Not long after, he returned, his expression now as calm as ever.

"Your Highness, we are leaving now."

The Su family used a caravan that regularly traveled between Qiongle and Dasheng as a cover, with Zhan Xiao disguised as a bodyguard, while Jiang Fushi disguised herself as his family member, dressed in plain clothes, concealing her former princess demeanor.

They were to travel south from the border of Qiongle, through the desolate mountain paths and post stations along the border between the two countries, all the way to Huifu.

Upon arriving at the border checkpoint where Dasheng and Qiongle meet, they were indeed met with a strict inspection. Soldiers held portraits and compared each passing traveler with their records.

It's unclear what methods the Su family used, but the guard at the gate simply glanced at the caravan after checking their documents and waved them through, allowing the group to pass through what should have been a heavily guarded checkpoint without any trouble.

However, once inside Dasheng territory, the atmosphere was completely different. New arrest warrants were posted on the city walls, and the number of guards patrolling the streets had noticeably increased.

After making some inquiries, they learned that while the official purpose was to investigate bandits, they were actually secretly searching for a woman.

It's obvious without much thought that Zhao Quan, who escaped, must have reported her survival to the Emperor. Knowing she was alive, the Emperor would surely be furious and even more wary.

After traveling for several days, the caravan stopped to rest at a post station nestled against the mountains and by the water.

The afterglow of dusk painted half the sky yellow, and the wind still carried the chill of late winter. Winter was almost over, and it hadn't snowed much lately, with only a few fine snowflakes occasionally drifting down and melting as soon as they landed.

Jiang Fushi got off the car. These past few days, she had either huddled in the enclosed cargo compartment or traveled under the cover of night, not daring to show herself easily, and had been cooped up for quite some time. Only now, having arrived at this remote post station, with no guards checking her around, did she dare to stretch her body.

She took a deep breath of fresh air, and just as the snowflakes were about to fall into her hair, the man beside her raised his hand and brushed them away. She tilted her head slightly, wanting to look at the scattered snowflakes again, but the snow suddenly stopped.

She muttered under her breath, "Ah... the snow is gone."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight breeze came from his side. Zhan Xiao raised his hand and swung his sword. His movements were slow but carried an inexplicable force. The surrounding air currents moved in response, and water vapor condensed into fine snowflakes, which slowly gathered in the air to form a snowfall.

Jiang Fushi's eyes lit up, a sweet smile spreading across her lips. She raised her hand to catch the falling snowflakes, turned her head to look at the man beside her, and thought to herself: If I want to see snow in the future, I'll just have him wield his sword and perform a dance.

"Are you the Snow Goddess?" she asked with a smile, crumpling the snowflakes she had collected into a ball and gently tossing it toward Zhan Xiao.

Zhan Xiao easily dodged it, a smile surging in his eyes. He pinched a ball of snow in his hand and gently flicked it onto her cheek. The coolness made Jiang Fushi involuntarily shrink her neck and laugh as she backed away.

Just then, a snow-white rabbit darted out of the fence and leaped into the snow a short distance away, its round body particularly eye-catching.

Jiang Fushi blinked and immediately forgot her playful antics. She tiptoed to chase after the snow rabbit, but it ran extremely fast and disappeared into the bushes in the blink of an eye.

She tiptoed and looked around, only to see Zhan Xiao standing there, giving her a roguish smile.

He beckoned to her with his finger, and when she approached in confusion, he slowly raised his hand. The snow rabbit obediently curled up in his palm, its ears drooping, looking adorably clumsy.

Jiang Fushi was both surprised and delighted. She hugged the rabbit and rubbed it against her cheek. The soft fur, still slightly cool after the snow, made her smile and her eyes crinkle.

After playing for a while, she finally couldn't bear it, so she bent down and put the snow rabbit back into the withered grass, watching it hop away and disappear into the distance.

Across the snowfield lay a tranquil birch forest, its branches laden with glistening frost, resembling a fairyland in the twilight. She tugged at Zhan Xiao's sleeve, insisting that he accompany her to the edge of the forest.

Zhan Xiao initially wanted to refuse, worried that it was getting late. However, Jiang Fushi stubbornly shook his arm, her eyes sparkling, and he finally gave in, reluctantly taking her hand.

The two walked side by side toward the birch forest.

Suddenly, heavy snow began to fall, and soon it covered our shoulders. The world was a vast expanse of white, and even the path under our feet became blurred.

Jiang Fushi took Zhan Xiao's hand and shook his arm: "I'm tired, I can't walk anymore, what should we do?"

What else could we do? We naturally granted her wish.

Zhan Xiao stopped and leaned slightly forward in front of her. With a little force, he pulled her forward, then scooped her up by her legs and easily lifted her into his arms, so that she nestled in his arms like a koala.

He wrapped her tightly in his fox fur coat, leaving only her fair face exposed. This position forced her to wrap her arms around his neck, entrusting her entire weight and trust to him.

Deep and shallow footprints stretched across the snow behind us.

The man carried her steadily forward, then suddenly lowered his head, his warm lips almost touching her earlobe. His breath sent a shiver down her spine.

"Hold on tight, don't fall, my princess."

Zhan Xiao's words fell on her ears like a feather gently brushing against her heart. Jiang Fushi unconsciously tightened her arms around his neck and looked up into his deep eyes.

It was no longer the usual cold pool, but a place surging with long-suppressed, scalding waves.

All around was silent, save for the soft rustling of falling snowflakes and the mingling of breaths.

He didn't move immediately, but just looked at her, as if waiting, or perhaps making a final confirmation. The distance between them silently shortened, until she could clearly count his lowered eyelashes.

When his lips finally covered mine, it was gentle, tentative, with an almost reverent tenderness; the cold air and his warm touch created a wonderful contrast.

Jiang Fushi trembled slightly, closed her eyes, and awkwardly yet bravely tilted her head back. Her response was like a permission, causing Zhan Xiao's originally restrained embrace to suddenly tighten, and the kiss became deeper and more lingering.

The long kiss lasted for an unknown amount of time, until both of them were slightly out of breath before they separated.

Zhan Xiao didn't put her down, but instead held her in his arms and walked steadily back to the inn room.

As night fell, they slept in each other's arms.

Jiang Fushi, like a curious cat, chattered on about Zhan Xiao's interesting adventures in the martial world: "Are all those rumors about 'Cold Blade' in the martial world true?"

Zhan Xiao remained silent for a moment, then calmly spoke in the darkness: "Most of it is true."

Jiang Fushi's heart tightened, but she still couldn't help but ask, "The storyteller's account was so vivid. He said that three years ago you killed that honest official from Jiangnan who had retired to his hometown, and that there were fifty-three people in his household."

Why did you do that?

Zhan Xiao's eyes darkened, and he didn't answer immediately, but instead raised his hand to stroke her cheek.

The two looked at each other, and Jiang Fushi saw the answer in his eyes.

It is the Emperor.

She lay back down, nestled in Zhan Xiao's arms, and whispered, "There are so many assassins at the Worry-Free Tavern, could they all be searching for us now? I'm scared..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhan Xiao suddenly tightened his arms around her, pulling her even closer into his embrace and interrupting her words.

"I'm not afraid."

"I'm here."

"Your Highness, please rest assured."

Jiang Fushi gently hummed in his reassuring presence and fell into a deep sleep, leaning against him.

After entering the border of Sheng Kingdom, the further south they went, the less stringent the searches became. Perhaps the Emperor believed that she had no chance of escaping the relentless pursuit and returning alive to the core area. As a result, they were able to change their identities and travel calmly by water to Hui Prefecture.

At the dock, an elegantly decorated passenger ship had been waiting for a long time.

The boat, arranged by the Su family, was quite impressive with three decks and a deep draft, indicating ample cargo capacity and a smoother voyage. However, Jiang Fushi had never been on a boat before and suffered severe seasickness, making it impossible for her to stand on her own. Zhan Xiao spent his days holding her on the soft couch by the window, gently patting her back and comforting her.

On the stage in the boat hall, popular operas from Huizhou were being sung. The soft, melodious Wu dialect was so enchanting that it made the listeners drowsy.

A gray-clad man dressed as a waiter approached Zhan Xiao with a mahogany tray: "Sir, please try our pre-Qingming Longjing tea. It's good for relieving fatigue and soothing your throat."

The person in his arms was sleeping soundly. Zhan Xiao frowned slightly, raised his hand to cover Jiang Fushi's ears, and said coldly, "No need."

The man didn't press the matter; he simply handed him a letter that was under the tray without making a sound, then smiled and withdrew.

The letter was engraved with Fengmei's unique mark.

Zhan Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly; the man in gray had already blended into the crowd. He gently peeled back the sealing wax, and subconsciously looked down at the peaceful sleeping face of the person in his arms, his gaze complex.

The letter contained only two short sentences.

"The target has been found. Yun Tianlei, the master of Yun Shen Pavilion, is now using the alias 'Lin Lei'. He has married into the family of Princess Zhaohua of Da Que Kingdom and lives a secluded life in the princess's mansion."

...

The day we arrived in Huifu was the day of the Awakening of Insects.

Stepping down from the carriage, Jiang Fushi took Zhan Xiao's arm. Before them lay an exquisite garden built along the water, with the words "Su Garden" hanging above the gate. A couple had already arrived to greet them; the leader was a man and a woman. The man appeared refined and young, while the woman was dignified and gentle—they were a married couple.

Su Wenjing stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Brother Zhan, it's been five years since we last met, and you're still as charming as ever. This is my wife, Wan Niang."

Then, he looked at Jiang Fushi and said respectfully, "Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. My humble abode has prepared some tea to welcome you and help you wash away the dust of your journey."

Jiang Fushi shook her head slightly and gave a bitter smile: "What prince is here? I am just a person in distress. I was able to save my life thanks to Young Master Su. I am already grateful to the Su family for their willingness to lend a helping hand."

Upon hearing this, Su Wenjing's expression turned serious, and he bowed again, saying, "Your Highness is mistaken."

"Your Highness traveled to Qiongle for the sake of our Great Sheng, and I, Su, though a wanderer in the martial world, have heard of the hardships and grievances you endured. I can only express my deepest respect for you. Now that the world is in turmoil, it is my good fortune that Your Highness has graced the Su family with your presence."

Wan Niang also spoke in a gentle voice, her tone sincere and soft: "Your Highness's character is admirable. You went to a foreign land all by yourself, seeking peace on the border and to spare the people from the ravages of war. Such a magnanimous spirit is something that all women in the world should be proud of."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fushi felt as if the grievances and fears of the past few days had been gently soothed by these tender words. Her nose tingled slightly, and she could only nod and whisper, "Madam, you flatter me."

Seeing this, Su Wenjing stepped aside and led the way with a smile: "This is not the place to talk, Your Highness, Brother Zhan, please come inside."

The group then passed through the screen wall and entered the secluded and winding Su Garden.

That evening, the Su family hosted a lavish yet modest family banquet to welcome the two. They enjoyed their meal together.

After the banquet, Su Wenjing said that he had been reunited with Brother Zhan for a long time and insisted on having a few drinks under the moon. Wan Niang then considerately took Jiang Fushi and left first to settle in the inner courtyard.

The Su family arranged for them to stay in two adjacent elegant guest rooms. Wan Niang personally escorted Jiang Fushi to the courtyard. When they reached the moon gate, Jiang Fushi stopped and turned around earnestly, saying, "This is enough. I feel really bad for troubling you, Madam, to personally escort me."

Wan Niang took her hand, patted it gently, and smiled warmly: "Your Highness, please don't be so polite. Once you're here, feel at home. If you need anything, just tell the servants or come find me directly."

Jiang Fushi stared at her for a moment, then glanced around. She gently tugged at Wan Niang's hand and whispered, "Madam's complexion looks somewhat dull, and there's weariness in your eyes. Is your menstrual cycle... long-term delayed and irregular, accompanied by hidden pain?"

Upon hearing this, Wan Niang's cheeks flushed red, and her eyes widened in surprise. Before she could utter a sound of astonishment, Jiang Fushi had already taken a half step closer, lowering her voice even further: "Fushi knows a little about traditional Chinese medicine. If you trust me, Madam, please allow me to examine you carefully."

Wan Niang hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Then... I'll have to trouble Your Highness."

A moment later, inside the side room.

Jiang Fushi placed her fingertips on Wan Niang's wrist, scrutinizing her intently, her brows growing increasingly furrowed.

"Your Highness..." Wan Niang felt uneasy seeing her solemn expression.

Jiang Fushi shook her head and looked around. "Please dismiss everyone else, Madam."

After the maid left, she said in a deep voice, "Madam's pulse is sluggish and obstructed, as if there is some turbid substance blocking the uterus. This is due to long-term intake of small amounts of cold and cooling substances, which has damaged the foundation and made it difficult to conceive."

"It seems that the lady has been poisoned for a long time."

"What!" Wan Niang's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her fingers clenched the handkerchief tightly.

"Your Highness..." Her voice trembled, her eyes brimming with tears, "To be honest, Your Highness, Wenjing and I have been married for four years, yet we still...have no children. This is truly..."

Jiang Fushi grasped her cold fingers in return, her tone firm yet gentle: "This poison is extremely insidious. The person who administered it must have been a seasoned expert, working slowly and meticulously over many years. From today onward, Madam may entrust me with the secret inspection of her daily diet, incense, and even cosmetics."

Seeing Wan Niang's tearful eyes, Jiang Fushi paused and gave her a reassuring look: "Madam, rest assured, although this poison has damaged your foundation, there is still room for recovery. As long as you take good care of yourself, I am absolutely confident that I can help you achieve your wish."

Here, in the waterside pavilion of Su Garden.

A lone moon hangs high, its cool glow spilling onto the corridor, mingling with the warm lights inside the pavilion.

Su Wenjing dismissed the servants and personally poured a cup of wine for Zhan Xiao. The two silently clinked glasses.

Zhan Xiao downed his drink in one gulp, put down his glass, and calmly looked at the other man: "Brother Wenjing, I am deeply grateful for your help this time."

Su Wenjing waved his hand and smiled, looking carefree: "Between you and me, there is no need for thanks. If it weren't for you back then, there would be no Su Wenjing today."

“However…” He hesitated, raising his eyes slightly, his smile fading, and his voice lowering a few decibels, “Brother Zhan, are you truly determined to leave? Then Your Highness… what do you intend to do?”

Zhan Xiao remained silent for a moment, his deep eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. He raised his cup and solemnly toasted Su Wenjing: "I beg you tonight, after I leave, please, Brother Wenjing, protect her for me."