24 Chapter 24 Heartbeat
◎What does Yunhe want to see?◎
The evening scene is hazy.
Everything within Yuliu's sight, even the shadows of trees swaying in the wind, seemed to be blurred.
Yuliu was startled and fell backward uncontrollably, her whole body trapped in the cool night breeze. The silver tassels on her hair brushed against Yunhe's rolling Adam's apple, and the crisp sound of tinkling bells and pearls suddenly echoed in the empty night.
The next moment.
She had no choice but to fall into the broad and warm chest behind him.
Bang…bang, bang——!
Bang bang bang!
The night was quiet, but Yuliu couldn't tell whether it was her own panicked heartbeat or the beating beneath Yunhe's chest behind her.
The embrace was gentle and warm. For a moment, the fragrant aroma of herbs lingered around Yuliu's nose and flowed into her red lips with her rapid breathing. The sweet fragrance filled the air, silently soothing her panicked cry that had not yet been uttered.
The wind blew, and her clothes fluttered. Yuliu felt Yunhe's hand gently resting on her shoulder.
The action was completely different from the previous one when he gently twisted the willow leaves. Yuliu could even clearly feel the slow motion of Yunhe's every finger joint falling through her clothes.
Yuliu's heart, which had clenched in fear, suddenly began beating violently like a drum.
Yunhe's palm was warm, just like the feeling when their fingertips accidentally brushed against each other before. At first, Yuliu just felt warm and at ease, but then a wave of heat suddenly spread from the place where their fingers touched, burning her heart, causing her thin shoulders to tremble slightly.
His palms landed firmly and warmly on the girl's thin shoulders. The subtle trembling was like a feather fluttering against her heart. Yun He's Adam's apple moved slightly. He restrained himself and helped Yu Liu to stand steady. He leaned forward slightly and whispered soothingly in Yu Liu's ear, "Don't be afraid."
Yuliu barely managed to stand with the help of Yunhe's movements. The movement happened in an instant, and before she could feel the hot breath falling on her ears, she felt the force supporting her shoulders suddenly withdrawn.
Yuliu unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her sleeve.
The night wind blew over her shoulders, lifting a strand of black hair from her temples, but she suddenly felt her shoulders felt empty.
It's like... something is missing.
Yuliu lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the hem of her skirt that was blown up by the wind, and she was silent for a moment.
Jiang Jingmo immediately panicked.
He had been guarding the border for more than ten years, and had always been with a group of shirtless men. He was used to shouting loudly, but he never expected that he would scare the young lady of the Su family to the point that her fingertips curled up and trembled. Seeing that she almost couldn't stand, he felt a little annoyed.
But he wanted to move closer and show some concern, but he was worried that he would offend the other person again.
For a moment, Jiang Jingmo was in a dilemma and had to stop where he was, not daring to disturb Yuliu again.
He could only look tentatively at Yunhe who was standing next to Yuliu.
However, when he saw this, Jiang Jingmo did not expect that this young man would change his usual upright posture like pine or bamboo. With his neck slightly bent, his eyes fell thoughtfully on the white lotus embroidered handkerchief that was accidentally wrinkled by Yuliu.
The embroidered handkerchief is smooth and glossy, and as it flutters in the night wind, it seems to be covered with a layer of gilded moonlight.
Jiang Jingmo looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment. He inexplicably felt that after he scared Yuliu, the atmosphere between the two of them suddenly became a little strange, as if the moonlight falling as usual had become a little too sticky, but he couldn't put his finger on why. In the end, he could only attribute this feeling of being on edge to the guilt and embarrassment of his previous behavior.
He scratched the back of his head nervously and asked with a stiff upper lip, "Is she... okay?"
Yun He raised her eyelashes slightly upon hearing this and glanced at Jiang Jingmo disdainfully. There was no emotion in her eyes, not even the slightest smile that she usually had towards Yu Liu.
Jiang Jingmo was a little shocked by this glance, and suddenly understood why Yuliu was so scared just now.
When he was in the palace during the day, Yun He looked calm and composed, but at this moment, under the influence of the dark and windy night, Yun He looked as if he was looking down on everything. The pressure was so great that it made his heart tremble and his legs numb.
You know, Jiang Jingmo has been living in the windy and sandy frontier for many years, and he has developed a bloodthirsty nature through swords and bloodlust. Even the Prime Minister of the Su family and the Fourth Prince whom he had met before, had never given him the same feeling as Yunhe!
Fortunately, Yun He's gaze was only on Jiang Jingmo for a brief moment. In less than a blink of an eye, it fell back on Yu Liu. He spoke in a calm tone, as cold as the moonlight, and said to him, "What do you think?"
Yun He has always been very good at regulating his emotions, but the conversation just now was suddenly interrupted... He couldn't help but feel a little unhappy.
What's more, Yuliu was so obviously in a panic, but the culprit was still out of control like a confused monk.
Thinking of this, Yun He's eyes grew even colder. If his gaze had any substance, he would have given Jiang Jingmo a lingering torture. His tone was filled with suppressed displeasure: "Besides, you shouldn't be asking me this."
He couldn't make decisions for Yuliu.
Yuliu seemed to sense something and slowly turned her head. Her gaze paused for a moment on Yunhe's broad shoulders, then moved slightly upwards, just meeting the other's gentle eyebrows.
Yun He looked at Yu Liu and said to Jiang Jing Mo, "You should ask her."
"Yes, yes, yes... I was confused just now." Jiang Jingmo nodded immediately after receiving the instruction, took a few steps back, bowed and clasped his fists, "Miss Su, my voice is a bit loud, did I scare you just now?"
If it were usual, Yu Liu would definitely respond with a gentle smile, gently shake her head, and then, as their eyes met, she would considerately tell the other person, "It's nothing, it's just that I'm naturally timid and easily frightened. It's me who made you laugh, Lord Jiang."
It's a very considerate approach to other people's feelings.
But at the same time, this also means that in ordinary conversations, Yuliu often unconsciously puts her own needs at the last place of all options.
But Yunhe’s previous words were still ringing in his ears, and Yuliu suddenly realized that since everyone is diligently "playing" a role, then what is the difference between you and me?
Her emotions are also important.
Yuliu suddenly looked at Yunhe and smiled. Her curved eyes were like the moon in the sky, and her light-colored pupils were misty and shimmering with layers of glazed light. The moonlight fell into her eyes, as if it was only sprinkling some sparkling highlights on those watery and clear eyes.
"Yeah." Yuliu smiled, her brows curved, and her chest trembled slightly as she responded to Yunhe. Then she turned around playfully, looking at Jiang Jingmo who had retreated and stood a few steps away, and called softly, "Master Jiang."
“…Here I am.”
Yuliu took small steps forward, took hold of Jiang Jingmo's arms, and lifted him up from his bent back. Then she folded her hands on her abdomen, a silk handkerchief cascading down her dress like a waterfall. She looked directly into Jiang Jingmo's eyes and said sincerely, "Master Jiang, you just... did scare me a little."
Jiang Jingmo admitted that he was at fault first, so he immediately apologized with a stammer of embarrassment, "That's really not good..."
The intermittent sounds seemed to melt away when blown by the night wind.
Yuliu hadn't expected that Jiang Jingmo, a captain who had been stationed at the border for over a decade, could still be so shy. She caught a whiff of sweet herbal fragrance in the night breeze behind her. She smiled softly and waved her hand, interrupting Jiang Jingmo's apology: "However, I was indeed a little distracted just now, so my reaction was a bit exaggerated. You don't have to take it too seriously."
"but……"
Yuliu changed the subject, her gaze fixed on Jiang Jingmo, and suddenly changed the subject and asked softly, "Master Jiang, do you know why my sister invited me into the palace today?"
Jiang Jingmo lowered his eyelids: "...I probably know."
The Fourth Prince of Xiao State has an extremely overbearing possessiveness towards Su Yunyue, to the point that he almost regards the Fourth Prince's wife as a precious possession. Therefore, Xiao Tianmin absolutely cannot tolerate any part of the Fourth Prince's wife that he cannot control.
For example, the fetus in Su Yunyue's belly, which was born amid rumors due to the delicate timing;
For example, Jiang Jingmo, who belongs to the State of Song and is loyal to the Su family.
Jiang Jingmo knew that Su Yunyue made this decision for his own good, but the more he understood this, the more he felt that it was not worth it for Miss Su.
You know, the former Miss Su was a stunning figure in the State of Chu. But who would have thought that the former beauty would now be married to the Fourth Prince of the State of Xiao, and would have to swallow her anger and tolerate everything just because of a piece of false rumor.
Jiang Jingmo secretly clenched his hands hanging at his sides into fists.
Yuliu knew Jiang Jingmo's heart was truly devoted to the Su family, but she hadn't expected this passionate and tough frontier guard to be so distressed by separation. She blinked slowly and said soothingly, "Master Jiang, don't worry. Since my sister has entrusted you with this, I will naturally do my best to help you. Just follow me back to Yuqing Courtyard. I won't restrict you in any way. Just think of it as another temporary stay at the Su family."
"Besides, when I walked all the way into the palace, I found that there didn't seem to be a single Su Yue grass planted in the Xiao Kingdom's palace. You know, this Su Yue grass was my sister's favorite in the past. But fortunately, I have planted a lot of it in my Yuqing Courtyard. After we avoid the limelight for a few days, you can bring some into the palace for my sister to enjoy. What do you think, Lord Jiang?"
Jiang Jingmo raised his head, his eyes gleaming: "...really?"
"Of course it's true. But..."
Seeing Jiang Jingmo like this, Yuliu naturally knew that the other party was willing to go with her, so she chuckled and took Yunhe and Jiang Jingmo to the palace gate together. While speaking, her eyes inadvertently glanced at Yunhe.
As Yunhe walked, he kept observing Yuliu's expression in the moonlight.
The two men were one in front and one behind, one tall and one short. When their eyes met, Yuliu curved her eyes and gave Yunhe a relaxed smile.
The smile was even fainter than the moonlight hidden behind the thin clouds. Unlike usual smiles, the eyebrows, eyes and corners of the mouth seemed to have been outlined with fine brushstrokes in advance, with every subtle line, showing traces of deliberate carving.
It is like a lotus flower, which blooms so beautifully only because the night is dark and the moonlight is just right.
It is not for the purpose of blooming as it should in the best season for others to appreciate day and night.
Yun He was momentarily dazzled by Yu Liu's casual smile. Before he could respond, Yu Liu turned his head to Jiang Jingmo and reminded him with a teasing tone:
"However, there is one thing I must tell you in advance. My Yuqing Courtyard is Xiqing, and there is a personal maid in the inner courtyard who is a little younger and a little timid and shy. When you come to my house later, please don't scare her like this."
·
When the group returned to Yuqingyuan, the moon was high in the sky.
As soon as Yuliu got off the carriage, she happened to run into Fangyue, who was waiting outside Yuqing Courtyard with a lotus-colored white tassel lantern. She reached out and touched Fangyue's slightly cold palm, then put her warm plush sleeves on Fangyue's hands. She also took out another white lotus silk tassel lantern and took it in her hand. After what happened last night, she turned around and introduced to Jiang Jingmo in an orderly manner: "This is Fangyue, my personal maid, the one I mentioned to you before."
Jiang Jingmo had learned from the previous experience, and with Yu Liu's specific reminder, he lowered his voice and nodded slightly: "Hello, Miss Fang."
Fang Yue obviously did not expect that they would bring back a dark-skinned man with a fierce look on their face from this trip to the palace. Especially when he stood next to Yun He, his figure looked as rough and rugged as a savage.
Fang Yue was young, and seeing such a scene was still frightening. Her eyes flickered between Yun He, who was walking towards them with his body raised, and Jiang Jingmo, who had a burly figure. Finally, she asked, "Are you the guest brought by Master Yun?"
Jiang Jingmo choked.
It seemed that rather than being a guest at the table, he was more likely to have been forced out of the spotlight by the Fourth Prince's wife through connections due to rumors.
In other words.
I was forced to live under someone else's roof.
Yuliu, holding a white tassel lantern, walked in front of Yunhe to the right, passing through the hanging flower gate, casting a faint candlelight on the swaying tree shadows in the courtyard. Hearing this, she slightly turned sideways and looked at Fangyue, who was also leading Jiang Jingmo in. She shook her head in slight surprise and said, "No, Lord Jiang is the benefactor of my Su family. He saved my sister's life..."
As she spoke, Yuliu suddenly frowned: "Where's Yumei? Tell her to clean up the west wing properly. Don't neglect it."
Yunhe's hand, which was standing in front of his abdomen, suddenly pinched the edge of Qingzhu's sleeve. His eyebrows slightly raised, and he glanced at Jiang Jingmo with a dark and complex look.
Even though Jiang Jingmo didn't know how much trouble Yun He had gone through to get a place to stay in Yuliu, he still felt very flattered when he heard this. He didn't expect that by just bowing his head, he could even get the title of "benefactor". He immediately waved his hands repeatedly and didn't dare to accept it:
"Saving Miss Su was originally to repay the Su family for their kindness in raising me. How could I possibly deserve such an honor?"
Fang Yue always took Yu Liu's words as imperial decrees. Now, when she looked at Jiang Jingmo, the fear in her eyes was replaced by admiration. She said with some regret, "Yu Mei hasn't returned to Yu Qing Courtyard since the spring breeze blew over the railings. As for where she went, I don't know... But if Master Jiang wants to stay here, why don't I go and clean up the west wing for you first?"
Jiang Jingmo has been stationed on the border for years, hanging out with a bunch of rough-hewn men all day long. How could he be so particular? Not trimming his beard all year round is not a big deal. Sometimes he doesn't even wash his face when he's busy. He either practices martial arts and school drills or drinks and eats meat all day. As for the last time he was surrounded by a delicate and pink little girl, asking about her well-being, it was probably when he was still in swaddling clothes. For a moment, he was embarrassed and didn't know what to do: "No, no, I can do it myself..."
"Ah...?" Fang Yue thought the other party was being modest and even turned around and walked closer: "Master Jiang, there's no need to be so polite!"
Being suddenly approached by such a tender and beautiful girl, Jiang Jingmo was so shocked that he suppressed the urge to do a backflip. He subconsciously took two steps back, put his hands behind his back, and bent his body backwards to increase the distance between them. "No, just take me to the west wing. I can handle the rest myself."
Yuliu stood by and saw the two men moving back and forth, so she offered a compromise: "Going to the west wing is actually on the way, why don't I go with you?"
"Ah?" Jiang Jingmo and Fang Yue turned their heads at the same time when they heard that, and then they looked at each other. They could see from each other's eyes that "you don't have to condescend to do it yourself."
After hearing this, Yun He also frowned and looked at Yu Liu, his nose trembling slightly: "...Hmm?"
Yuliu's eyes swept between the three of them, but when she finally looked up at Yunhe, her gaze lingered longer on his furrowed brows, wondering, "What's wrong? I can barely be considered the master of Yuqing Courtyard, right? Taking Lord Jiang to the guest room and familiarizing him with the courtyard's layout should be a reasonable thing to do, right?"
That is indeed the case.
So Fangyue and Jiang Jingmo kept silent.
Fangyue listens to Yuliu in everything, while Jiang Jingmo follows the host's wishes.
Yunhe coughed lightly, stretched out her right hand to Yuliu, grasped the end of the wooden lamp pole, and hinted with a little force. Yuliu understood what Yunhe meant, and naturally let go, allowing the other party to take the white lotus silk tassel lamp from her hand.
The slender, hanging silk tassels swayed slightly like the slanting moonlight. Yun He took it and adjusted his grip on the wooden pole. He placed his palm on the place where Yu Liu had just clasped his hands, and he could still feel the residual warmth coming from his palm.
The fingertips seemed to touch unintentionally.
"sure."
"But if you think about it, Miss Yu can be considered my savior." Yun He tightened his grip on the lamppost, his gaze falling on Yu Liu. His voice was extremely slow, as if trying to persuade and induce. "I've lived in Yuqing Courtyard for a while now. It's getting late today, so why don't you let me take care of it? I think Jiang Da Ren has been on the march for many years, so he shouldn't need too much special care for his food, clothing, shelter and transportation, right?"
Yun He used a normal tone, his voice was flat and clear, but the three words "Master Jiang" that he pronounced clearly made Jiang Jingmo feel that tense feeling as if a thorn in his back was on his side again.
He subconsciously bowed and agreed: "Yes... yes, that's right."
After saying this, Jiang Jingmo was stunned.
It's really strange. He didn't act so servile when reporting military affairs to the Great General of the Nation. Yun He not only didn't force him, but even said something reasonable. Then why was he so humble and reserved in front of him?
"Yes, Mr. Yun is right. It's getting late." Jiang Jingmo straightened his back slowly in confusion and replied to Yuliu, "Miss Su, you should go to bed early. It's enough for you to have Mr. Yun to take me there."
Yuliu took in all the changes in Jiang Jingmo, smiled calmly and pulled Fangyue to his side.
The interplay of light and shadow between the two lanterns created overlapping circles of light waves. Yuliu lowered her eyes and stared at the brightest part of the overlapping light for a while. Suddenly, she nodded towards Jiang Jingmo, as if thinking of something. Then, she said to Yunhe in a relaxed tone, "That's fine. It's just hard work for you."
"It's not hard, it's just on the way." Yun He shook his head slightly, paused, and suddenly said, "But..."
"Hmm?" Yuliu responded and looked back.
Yun He followed Yu Liu's movements, slowly raised his eyelashes, and said suggestively, "We entered the palace today, but we haven't gone to the Spring Breeze Fence yet..."
Yuliu's fingertips hidden in her sleeves touched the thin deed, and she suddenly realized that many things had happened since she agreed to enter the palace. Some of them were still unresolved, while some seemed to be promising.
But their original intention of going out today was completely disrupted by the unexpected itinerary.
She failed to collect the rent, and Yunhe was unable to buy the medicinal herbs because he accompanied her into the palace.
Yuliu looked at Yunhe's focused eyes that had been waiting for her answer from beginning to end, then casually turned away, lowered her head and sighed almost imperceptibly: "Yeah, I can only go another day."
"That's right. But when is that another day?" Yun He wasn't surprised by Yu Liu's answer and even offered, "How about I go with you? We're both going to Chun Feng Fu Lan, so it's on the way."
Yuliu inexplicably felt that the word "on the way" was quite familiar, but Yunhe's tone was as gentle as usual, and she didn't know why she paid special attention to these two words.
But she instinctively felt that Yunhe's mood did not seem as calm as he appeared.
Could it be that Yunhe was always able to capture her inner fluctuations in time because of this kind of intuition?
She twisted the handkerchief between her fingertips and rubbed it lightly. Yu Liu didn't ask why they wanted to meet up. After all, it was convenient, so she nodded and agreed: "Okay, then I'll tell you when we set a time another day."
"Okay." Yun He finished speaking, then he picked up the white lotus silk tassel lantern and walked to Jiang Jingmo's side. The raised eyebrows and the corners of his mouth turned straight without knowing when. He glanced at him with his peripheral vision, without lowering his head or turning around, and said in a slightly cold voice, "Let's go, Jiang, Master."
When Jiang Jingmo heard Yunhe calling him like this, cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead. He followed Yunhe cautiously all the way, but before he had taken a few steps, Yunhe suddenly stopped.
He had a history of offending Yuliu, and now he was even more afraid of bumping into Yunhe again. His heart almost jumped into his throat, but fortunately Jiang Jingmo had been practicing martial arts for many years, and his body's reaction was faster than his brain. He stopped and stood still almost immediately.
He looked carefully, thinking Yun He was going to tell him something, so he stretched his neck and got closer, but found that Yun He simply stopped and tilted his head slightly.
Jiang Jingmo had practiced martial arts for many years and was extremely sensitive to the purpose of movements. His subconscious reaction was, "What does he want to see?"
——What does Yunhe want to look back at?
As Yun He and Jiang Jingmo walked away, the overlapping circles of light gradually shrank, and when they finally turned into a shadow that neither of the two lights could illuminate, the two people who were walking away suddenly stopped, one in front and one behind.
Fang Yue, who was standing beside Yu Liu, saw the candle in the white hibiscus tassel lamp she was holding flickering for a moment. She suddenly murmured in surprise, "Young Master Yun, why did he stop so suddenly when he was walking normally?"
【Author’s words】
★Boudoir secrets, of course I have to get you out of the way
This chapter has 6k words! It is a two-in-one update~
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