Chapter 62 Remembering Jiangnan (Part Two) She knew all too well how to captivate his soul. ...

It's not Ye Mu.

The moment Xie Yicheng burst through the door, he was relieved to see that the disheveled, naked woman on the bed was not Ye Mu.

He remembered clearly that Ye Mu had a small, vermilion-colored mole on his left shoulder, like a plum blossom petal fallen in the snow, which was quite lovely.

The woman on the bed—she didn't.

Upon hearing the sound, the woman turned around, trembling, revealing a face streaked with tears and filled with terror.

Xie Yicheng was even more certain that it wasn't Ye Mu.

Although her face was powdered and her eyebrows and eyes were drawn in the style of Ye Mu's usual distant mountain eyebrows, she did resemble him somewhat in the dim light.

But Xie Yicheng only needed one glance to know that it was definitely not him.

His throat tightened, his murderous intent gradually subsided, and his rapidly heaving chest slowly calmed down, transforming into a near-exhausted bewilderment, and a belated sense of embarrassment and offense at the unbearable scene before him.

Xie Yicheng took a half step back, his hands unconsciously clasped together, then he lowered them again. He bowed deeply to the man and woman on the bed and said apologetically, "I have disturbed you, esteemed lady. It was my moment of haste that caused this. I have offended you. I am truly sorry. I will leave now and not disturb your peace. I will close the door behind me."

As soon as he turned around, he realized that the door panel had been smashed to pieces, some hanging precariously on the broken door frame, and others lying on the ground.

"..." Xie Yicheng looked at the scene of devastation, remained silent for a few moments, and his expression returned to calm. He then addressed the matter at hand, "I will compensate for all of these at the original price. Tomorrow morning, I will invite skilled craftsmen to the inn to repair it as soon as possible."

"You bastard," Ah Jun finally snapped out of his shock. He had drunk quite a bit, so his eyes were not very clear. In addition, Xie Yicheng had grown his hair short after leaving the monastic life, and his temperament was different from that of "Master Wen Kong" at the Dharma assembly. He did not recognize him at first.

Enraged that his good deed was ruined, Ah Jun grabbed the rumpled quilt and covered himself with it, roaring in the Tiele language towards the door, "Chop this damned bastard to pieces!"

The guards waiting at the door and in the corridor, upon hearing the order, did not hesitate any longer. Their ferocity rekindled, and several curved blades, gleaming coldly, slashed at Xie Yicheng once more.

This time, they showed absolutely no mercy.

Xie Yicheng frowned. He had no heart to fight anymore and only wanted to get away to find Ye Mu. However, the guards were fierce and outnumbered, surrounding him and making it difficult for him to escape.

While parrying and dodging, he anxiously racked his brains for a way to escape.

Just as Xie Yicheng was besieged on all sides—

"stop!"

A clear, youthful voice came from the broken doorway.

Everyone turned to look at the sound and saw a young man dressed in a gray coarse cloth shirt rushing in. The young man was thin and had a sallow complexion. He was about five feet three or four inches tall, which was not tall for a man, but he was by no means short or effeminate.

Xie Yicheng felt a chill run down her spine, filled with suspicion, yet she dared not acknowledge him.

Height, Adam's apple, and complexion can all be faked, but how can one fake a voice so naturally?

The voice was husky yet smooth and unhindered, without any awkwardness of a woman forcibly suppressing her voice. He dared not rashly assume that this was Ye Mu.

Just as he was filled with doubt and surprise, the young man raised his eyebrows at him very slightly, and Xie Yicheng felt relieved, confirming his suspicions.

Only she would be so mischievous at such a critical moment.

Xie Yicheng was not mistaken; it was indeed Ye Mu.

On her way to the post station, she knew that if she rashly barged in as a woman, she would not only fail to save Xie Yicheng, but she herself would also be in danger.

In a moment of quick thinking, Ye Mu found a secondhand clothing shop that was still open and bought the most inconspicuous men's jacket. She hurriedly changed into it in a back room of the shop, then took out the small celadon box given to her by the Crown Prince, scooped out some disguise cream, and haphazardly applied it to her face and neck, making her skin appear dull and rough, trying to conceal her feminine softness.

Her hair was also simply tied up in the style of a man's, hidden under a square scarf.

As she was about to leave the shop, the old shopkeeper, who had been silently observing her, chuckled and said, "Young lady, are you trying to disguise yourself as a man? With this disguise, your figure is similar, and your skin color has been changed, but once you open your mouth, you'll probably give yourself away."

Ye Mu was startled and looked at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper pointed to an inconspicuous celadon bottle in the corner of the counter. "It's a common concoction used by rural acrobatic troupes. Drinking it can temporarily make your voice hoarse for a few hours, sounding like a teenager's voice during puberty. It's just that the taste is a bit strong, so you have to drink more water afterwards."

Ye Mu naturally bought it. Before entering the post station, he drank the strange, spicy-smelling liquor. His throat burned, and when he opened his mouth to test his voice, it was indeed completely different from the original female voice. It sounded like a boy's voice that had been sanded.

Even now, her delicate features were still evident, and as she walked over, she looked exactly like a scholar accompanying a young master.

As soon as Ye Mu entered the room, he caught a glimpse of Su Yao curled up on the bed. She was naked, and her body was covered with red marks of varying depths, making her look disheveled and glaring.

Even though she harbored hatred for her, as a woman herself, Ye Mu felt a surge of sympathy for her kind upon seeing this scene, especially with the men of other races all around her eyeing her with predatory intent.

She strode forward and wrapped Su Yao tightly from head to toe in the blankets, blocking out those disgusting and lewd gazes.

"Thank you very much, young master."

It seems even she didn't recognize him.

Ye Mu glanced at her, and without much hesitation, retreated to Xie Yicheng's side. "Young Master! We've finally found you! Didn't you say you were looking for the lost Fourth Miss? How did you end up here? I just checked, and this isn't the Fourth Miss. Don't delay any longer, the master at home is going crazy with worry. Come with me quickly."

As she spoke, she secretly exerted force, pulling Xie Yicheng toward the door.

"Trying to leave?!" Ah Jun wasn't about to let them go so easily. Although he hadn't recognized Ye Mu, who was disguised as a man, this suddenly appearing kid was clearly in cahoots with this madman. He cursed at the guards standing by, "What are you all watching? Seize them all! Dead or alive!"

The guards turned their blades and surrounded the two of them.

Seeing the critical situation, a stern voice suddenly rang out from outside the post station, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! All bystanders, please step aside!"

In the brightly lit area, Crown Prince Xiao Zhen strode in, surrounded by several elite guards, exuding an imposing aura.

Beside him stood Jiang Si, whose expression was equally somber, though his face looked even more swollen than it had been at the top scholar's residence, and the other side also looked like it had been punched.

Xiao Zhen glanced at the mess on the ground, his brows furrowing slightly, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

"What's all this commotion?" Xiao Zhen looked toward the couch. "Prince A-Jun, this inn is for receiving distinguished guests, not for practicing martial arts. Why are you raising weapons in the dead of night and disturbing everyone?"

Even though Ah Jun was burning with rage, he had to restrain his arrogance somewhat when facing the Crown Prince of the Celestial Empire. However, he still complained indignantly in broken Mandarin, "Your Highness, please be wise! This madman broke into the post station at night, injured my guards, disturbed my peace, and even attempted to kidnap the people in my tent."

He pointed at Xie Yicheng, "Such arrogance, treating my Tiele as nothing, Your Highness, please do justice for me!"

Jiang Si had been standing quietly beside the Crown Prince, his official robes neat and tidy. Seeing Ah Jun make trouble, he stepped forward half a step and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. It is indeed inappropriate to disturb you in the middle of the night, but there may be other misunderstandings."

He looked at Xie Yicheng and said, "This young master Xie is here on the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince to visit an old friend. Perhaps he was in a hurry and offended the prince. His Highness is magnanimous and will surely not hold it against his subject."

After saying this, Jiang Si clapped his hands without waiting for Ah Jun's reaction.

Before the applause had even subsided, several strikingly beautiful women, led by a matron, gracefully walked over from the other end of the corridor.

They were clearly well-trained. Faced with the tense situation, they remained meek and submissive, showing little fear. They quietly approached and bowed gracefully to Ah Jun.

“Your Highness is leaving tomorrow, and the night will be long and lonely,” Jiang Si said. “These young ladies are somewhat knowledgeable in music and are very understanding. They have come to keep Your Highness company, to enhance your enjoyment and dispel your boredom. Let them soothe Your Highness’s slight displeasure just now.”

Ah Jun's expression shifted as he looked at the Crown Prince and then at Jiang Si, knowing that he was destined to suffer in silence tonight and that further entanglement would not do him any good.

He glanced at the charming women again, and snorted, "Since they are His Highness the Crown Prince's people, and it's all a misunderstanding, then let it go!"

Seeing that he was taking the opportunity to back down, his gaze lingering among the beauties, Xiao Zhen understood and smiled, "It's late, the prince has been frightened, so I won't disturb you any longer."

He turned to leave, and at the same time, a woman's sobbing voice rang out from inside the house.

"Your Highness! Your Highness the Crown Prince! Please, have justice for this humble woman!"

Su Yao, wrapped tightly in the brocade quilt, scrambled over from the edge of the bed, crying out, "I'm innocent! I didn't come here willingly! I was tricked! I don't want to go to any tribe! I beg Your Highness, have mercy!"

"You mean, you don't want to be Lady Yihua, whom His Majesty personally bestows the title of Lady Yihua?" Jiang Si interrupted her.

He slowly walked up to Su Yao, looked her up and down from head to toe, and curled his lips. "Have you thought this through? If you obediently obey the decree and go to the grasslands with His Highness the Prince, you will be the glorious Lady Yihua. People from both countries will love and support you. Even though the customs of the grasslands are different, you will still be a proper and noble lady in the Prince's tent."

He leaned down slightly and whispered, "But if you insist on staying in the capital, what happened tonight, in full view of everyone, all the men here have seen your body. How can you still marry with a clean reputation? In the capital, which respectable family would want a woman with a tarnished reputation?"

Su Yao was struck dumb, and the last trace of color drained from her face, leaving her as pale as paper.

Should she go to the grasslands to become a prince's wife with an uncertain future, or stay in the capital and suffer the consequences of disgrace?

She actually had no choice.

Su Yao collapsed to the ground, her lips trembling, unable to utter another word.

The four of them walked out of the inn. Before leaving, Ye Mu took a deep look at Su Yao. In her past life, Su Yao had killed her child. The pain of losing her child still pierced her heart. In her past life, she had imagined the retribution Su Yao deserved countless times in a state of lucid hatred.

I imagined her being disgraced, abandoned by everyone, suffering in agony, and hopefully meeting a tragic end.

It seems that all of these have come true today.

Ye Mu thought he would feel a sense of satisfaction at having avenged his great enemy, but he didn't. Seeing her disheveled state today, Ye Mu felt a little sad.

Perhaps the blood debt owed to the child is too heavy to be erased simply by witnessing the other party's downfall. More bitterness lies in Ye Mu's clear-headed understanding of the unpredictable fate of women.

This unpredictability all comes from the hands of men.

Ye Mu saw in Su Yao's despair countless women caught in the vortex of power.

Whether driven by ambition, ignorance, or naivety, they become prey, but their ultimate fates often converge: becoming the remnants of a man's power struggle, burdened with stigma, and left to wither away in solitude.

Therefore, she was determined to go to Suzhou on this trip.

Ye Mu thought that one day, women would no longer be objects to be fought over, but would truly stand among those in power, have a voice, be able to enter the halls of power, set rules, and speak for themselves and for many more voiceless people.

Undeterred by the flickering lights of this difficult world, she was determined to be a trailblazer.

"Young Master Xie, is this young man your attendant?"

Ye Mu snapped out of her reverie at the Crown Prince's voice and saw his gaze fall upon her.

Very well, it seems the Crown Prince didn't recognize him either.

Just as she was about to reply, Jiang Si said to Xie Yicheng in an annoyed tone, "Ye Mu should have safely returned home to Yuqian Lane by now. I brought a few cushions with me, please take them to her later. The journey south is bumpy, and she will need them whether she travels by carriage or boat."

Ye Mu, who was listening nearby, was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Jiang Si to suddenly offer such a caring remark.

Immediately, she concealed her surprise, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully to Jiang Si, saying, "I appreciate Lord Jiang's kindness."

She straightened up. "However, Suzhou is a thousand miles away, and I plan to ride a horse. Traveling light will make it easier and allow me to explore the local customs and culture along the way. I'm afraid I won't need the cushion."

Xiao Zhen and Jiang Si were both greatly surprised to realize that the scholar in front of them was Ye Mu.

She was able to pretend so naturally in front of them.

Xiao Zhen, who prided himself on his ability to recognize countless people, was actually fooled by this outfit just now. Now, upon closer inspection, the contours of his eyebrows and the calm demeanor of his face, it was none other than Ye Mu.

This resourcefulness and courage once again exceeded his expectations.

"It seems that Young Master Ye has made thorough preparations." Xiao Zhen smiled with admiration. "You act decisively and think things through carefully. With that, I can rest assured."

"The whole incident at the post station this afternoon was caused by Lord Jiang provoking Ah Jun. I have already taught him a lesson for you, and he has already admitted his mistake."

“However, just to be on the safe side,” Xiao Zhen said, “Ye Mu, you need to leave the city as soon as possible and get out of this troublesome place. Once the Tiele Khan and his son are far from the capital and have arrived at their tribe, I will find an opportunity to explain the situation to His Majesty and tell him that the Yi Hua lady who was to be married off is someone else. At that time, I will do my best to restore your reputation.”

"This humble woman thanks Your Highness."

Xiao Zhen whispered a few more details about the arrangements along the way. Seeing her calm expression, he nodded slightly, boarded the carriage surrounded by guards, and drove away.

As soon as the crown prince left, the atmosphere at the scene became delicate.

"You're going to ride a horse?" Jiang Si frowned. "From the capital to Suzhou, the journey is incredibly long, crossing mountains and valleys, exposed to wind and sun. Can your body handle it? The saddle is sturdy, and the long, bumpy ride will definitely wear down your skin..."

Ye Mu was too lazy to listen to his rambling.

She grabbed Xie Yicheng's hand and strode towards the luxurious oxcart parked under the tree.

"You're riding alone, how many dangers will you encounter along the way? Bandits and unscrupulous shopkeepers? Which place will be easy to deal with? You're a woman all alone..."

Ye Mu had already nimbly climbed onto the oxcart and crawled into the carriage. Hearing this, he didn't even lift the curtain. Xie Yicheng, on the other hand, had already sat on the carriage shaft and gripped the reins and whip tightly.

"Xie Yicheng!" Jiang Si turned and stopped the oxcart. "Aren't you going to try to persuade her? Riding a horse for a thousand miles, enduring wind and rain, is that something she can endure? Are you just going to let her do this recklessly?"

Xie Yicheng looked up and glanced at Jiang Si.

He said nothing, but simply flicked his wrist—

"drive!"

The whip cracked lightly in the air, but did not strike the ox. The rather intelligent "rich ox" had already grown impatient. Upon hearing the sound, it raised its head and spurred its hooves, pulling the cart and charging off. This time, it ran even faster and more swiftly than when it arrived.

Jiang Si's face was covered in dust. He took a few steps after him, "Are you heading towards the outskirts? You're leaving tonight? There's no need to be in such a hurry, is there? I still have a lot of things..."

The ducks' quacking faded into the distance.

The oxcart sped along, its hooves clattering and wheels rolling, heading rapidly southwest.

About half an hour later, the oxcart left the official road and turned onto a secluded dirt road, eventually coming to a slow stop on a vacant riverbank.

Far from human habitation, only a bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the river flows gently in the distance.

The cows were tired from running, so they stopped, lowered their heads, snorted, and leisurely ate the dry grass on the ground.

Ye Mu washed his face by the river and returned to the car. A moment later, the curtain was lifted again, and Xie Yicheng, who had returned after washing his hands, bent down and crawled in.

Ye Mu's nostrils were immediately filled with his cool, refreshing aura.

Without saying a word, he took Ye Mu's hand in the dim light of a small oil lamp in the corner of the carriage, and gently pulled up her sleeve.

Her wrists were exposed, revealing fair skin, with prominent red marks.

Xie Yicheng rotated her wrist, and the skin on the side near her palm was slightly broken and oozing blood, obviously caused by being repeatedly rubbed and bound by something rough.

Xie Yicheng's gaze darkened, and he softened his grip, as if to soothe her, "Does it hurt?"

"It's alright. It hurts the most when the rope is first loosened, but it doesn't hurt as much now."

"He did it?"

"Um."

Xie Yicheng saw that she had brought a bundle and knew that she really intended to leave tonight. "Did you bring the plaster box for you?"

"I brought it, and I hid it in the pile of clothes."

Xie Yicheng released her hand, opened the bundle, rummaged through it a few times, and found a small box, which also brought out several of her personal undergarments. The soft fabric slipped out, carrying the faint scent of soap from her body, and he quickly stuffed it back in.

"Didn't you already touch it?" Ye Mu noticed his ears turning red and took in his embarrassment, her tone teasing, "Still pretending you're not familiar with it?"

Xie Yicheng pursed her lips, ignoring her teasing remark, and simply lowered her eyelids to take her wrist and apply the medicine.

Ye Mu noticed his low spirits, sat up straight, bent down, and looked up to catch his gaze. "Xie Yicheng, can you tell me why you're unhappy?"

"I was never unhappy."

"We can only stay together like this tonight. Who knows when we'll see each other again? Suzhou is so far away..."

He suddenly looked up. "You're not leaving tonight?"

He thought that after the cow rested for a while, she would ask him to take her to the nearest inn so they could travel south through the night.

"I want to spend time with you tonight." Ye Mu noticed his brows and eyes relaxed slightly. "Were you upset about this just now? Did you think I was about to leave?"

"Not entirely." Xie Yicheng answered quickly this time, screwing the medicine box lid shut and carefully putting it away.

He is not one to readily express his feelings; he always feels that some emotions are better processed on their own, and that speaking them out would only cause trouble for the other person.

But at this moment, looking into her bright eyes, he didn't want her to rack her brains to guess, and he didn't want her to worry.

He decided to speak frankly, even though it made him a little uncomfortable.

Why is he suddenly being so nice to you again?

He was naturally referring to Jiang Si.

Jiang Si was still tense in the alley in the morning, and in the afternoon he even tied her up with hemp rope and wanted to send her to the post station. His attitude was extremely bad. But now it seems that Jiang Si not only let her go, but also found someone else to take her place in the marriage. He even showed concern for her at the post station entrance just now.

Clearly, something must have happened during the time they were alone together.

This made it hard for Xie Yicheng not to care.

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure why he suddenly let me go." Ye Mu looked at Xie Yicheng's complicated expression, then suddenly realized, "Are you jealous of him?"

"Nonsense."

Ye Mu smiled and leaned closer to him, resting her softly on his shoulder. Her voice had returned to its original softness, "You don't think I did something to him that made him suddenly change his mind, do you?"

"You won't, will you?"

Xie Yicheng lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "You only ever mess around with me, right?"

Her breath brushed against his neck, and he couldn't resist moving down to her earlobe, his warm, soft lips lingering there with a hint of coaxing, "Say yes quickly."

Ye Mu felt ticklish from his kisses and was amused by his childlike nature, so she shrank her neck and snuggled closer to him. "That's hard to say."

"Then what did you do?" Xie Yicheng grabbed her wrist, not daring to use too much force, and pushed her back a little, his eyes showing a fierce look. "Tell me the truth."

Seeing this rare display of his demeanor, Ye Mu was not afraid at all; instead, the smile in her eyes deepened.

She blinked, determined to tease him to the end, and slowly said, "He kissed me."

Xie Yicheng narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on her lips for a moment, but he shook his head. "I don't believe it."

His tone was firm: "If that were the case, he wouldn't let me take you away so easily."

"You're really not easy to fool." Ye Mu made him guess, "Then tell me what I would do for him."

"I don't know, it's just that his appearance suddenly improved."

"Master can read faces?" This surprised Ye Mu. "Tell me about it."

"Earlier in the alley, his brows were furrowed with a fierce aura, and he was deeply obsessed, which was the appearance of being tormented by inner demons."

Xie Yicheng said, "But just now outside the post station, although there was still a gloomy look, the turbid air that clouded his mind had dissipated a lot. It was as if he had experienced a violent emotional shock. After his heart meridian was damaged, he had gained some understanding, and his resentment had dissipated a little."

He even quoted Buddhist scriptures, saying, "If the wild mind ceases, cessation is enlightenment. Although it may not necessarily reach that point, his spirit and demeanor are indeed different from before."

Seeing his insightful analysis and focused gaze, Ye Mu noticed that the clear-headedness of a high-ranking monk from Baoxiang Temple was unintentionally revealed. She hadn't seen him like this for many days, and her mischievous and affectionate feelings were stirred up.

She gently wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingertips stroking the stubble of hair at the back of his neck, and with a slight pull, she drew him down a little lower.

“Then, in Master Wenkong’s discerning eye, what do you think of my appearance?” she said softly, her breath warmly brushing against his slightly pursed lips.

Xie Yicheng's gaze suddenly deepened, and after a moment...

"It disturbs my mind and spirit."

For Ye Mu, this was the most straightforward love confession he could ever utter.

She let out a soft laugh, a hint of triumph in her voice, "So, for Master, is it good or bad?"

She knew all too well how to captivate him.

With a glance that revealed a blend of innocence and alluring charm, he was willing to test the waters, even though he knew it was a trial.

Xie Yicheng pushed her down onto the thick mattress. The mattress was very soft, and she sank in it slightly. Her black hair was spread out, making her blushing face even more breathtaking.

There is an even redder/more vibrant spot, with two dots of vermilion rouge.

It all melted into his lips, moistening, staining, and licking.

Ye Mu stared blankly at the roof of the car, and in her hazy state, she heard him mumble, "If you love me, that's the best thing."

It wasn't physiognomy or fortune telling, but Xie Yicheng's judgment: her love, for him, was the greatest auspicious omen in the world.

Great fortune, is it the best possible omen?

No. In Ye Mu's mind, "Great Fortune" was simply a lucky sign.

But she was greedy.

She didn't want to be merely a lucky omen in his life; she wanted to become his destiny itself, to make his fortune even better, perfect and complete.

She wants the best possible outcome.

Ye Mu took his busy hand in hers; his fingers were long and slender, his palm warm and calloused. She guided his hand.

"I haven't eaten dinner yet tonight."

down.

“Yi Cheng,” she called to him, chuckling softly, “would you like to have dinner with me?”

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Author's Note: I'm still updating, my darlings! Happy Winter Solstice! [cheering emoji][sunglasses emoji] There's more in the next chapter!