eager
“Hey, He Lin, I heard them call you Lord Zhao Bai. Could it be that Brother Zhao Bai is a big shot in the capital? Hmm, that’s not right. He’s just a servant who follows Shangguan Muya around. Nobody even recognized him at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”
He Lin stood by the window, glanced at the people patrolling the courtyard, and slowly picked up his cup and took a sip of tea.
"When have you ever seen him act strangely or disrespectfully? Wouldn't that make him a monster?"
Jiang Yi wiped her mouth: "Stop changing the subject. Is that the point? I'm asking about his identity, you know!"
He Lin countered, "What do you think?"
“I think…” Jiang Yi stood up and slowly walked to He Lin’s side, “You two are both suspicious! Tell me, do you have hidden identities? Otherwise, why would Lord Zhao Bai, whom others talk about, be willing to be Shangguan Muya’s servant?”
He Lin looked up at the person in front of her and had to admit that she was indeed very smart. By connecting a few things together, she guessed that Yin Zhaobo was not simple.
"Oh, I see. Brother Zhaobai, you wouldn't happen to be some kind of mysterious figure, would you? Like, the kind of advisor to a big shot, someone everyone's heard of, but very few people's real face, right?"
Jiang Yi, seemingly oblivious to He Lin's gaze, continued her analysis: "...Otherwise, it wouldn't explain why your brother and the Crown Prince don't know Yin Zhaobai, and why the people here seem to be somewhat afraid of him. Yes, that's right, that must be it."
He Lin: "..."
"If that's the case, Brother Zhaobai, then what about you? What's your purpose in coming here? It's not just about using his identity to freeload a meal, is it?"
He Lin shook his head helplessly: "You talk too much."
Jiang Yi put her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and smiled, "So you admit I was right?"
He Lin stared at her intently, his gaze deep and unfathomable. After a long while, he uttered, "I regret bringing you out."
"It's no use regretting it now, I'm sticking with you."
Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow and tilted her head, looking just like a proud white swan.
He Lin gently rubbed the bowl of the cup with his thumb. What he regretted was not this, but his worry that Jiang Yi would get hurt if she followed him. What would happen to her if they had to fight against the King of Hannan's men?
After all, she was his only weakness.
A gust of cold wind blew in from outside the window, and Jiang Yi couldn't help but shiver. Just as she turned around to close the window, she suddenly noticed that something seemed wrong outside. The patrolling guards didn't look like ordinary guards. They kept glancing at the room, very vigilant. Moreover, was it necessary to arrange so many people to keep watch at night?
Jiang Yi didn't hesitate any longer. She closed the window and asked He Lin in a low voice, "Tell me the truth, what exactly do you want to do here?"
"secret."
"Tsk, you're one of us now, how can I help you if you don't tell me?"
He Lin found it amusing. She was a weak woman, unable to lift a finger, and would faint at the sight of blood. Yet here she was, offering to help him?
It was somewhat ridiculous, but He Lin couldn't laugh because danger was right beside him.
"I don't need your help. Just keep your head down and run. I'll cover the rear."
Jiang Yi stared at He Lin with a complicated expression, both disgusted and speechless.
Does she look down on people like that? She at least dreams of being a female knight-errant! If it were really about doing great things like robbing the rich to help the poor and upholding justice, she would be more interested than anyone else. She can't just hide behind men and be a naive little flower forever, can she?
What's wrong with women? Women are inherently resilient and strong, no less so than men.
Jiang Yi only realized today that He Lin, this seemingly straight-laced man, actually had a bit of male chauvinism deep down. There was nothing she could do; feudalistic thinking couldn't be changed overnight. Jiang Yi didn't want to argue with him at this moment. Sooner or later, she would make He Lin look at her with new eyes.
"How's your hand? Does it still hurt? Come here, I'll change your dressing."
To avoid suspicion, Jiang Yi did not take the women's clothing she bought in Furong Town with her. She still dressed as a man when she went out. The two traveled light, carrying only two packages. They had also finished the Suihantang liquor that the shopkeeper had given them before they left, so their packages contained only the remaining dry food and medicine.
Jiang Yi was worried about He Lin's hand injury, fearing that if it didn't heal properly, he wouldn't be able to paint anymore.
He Lin looked down at his hands, then looked up at the person searching for wound medicine by the table. Finally, he obediently walked over and sat down, waiting patiently for Jiang Yi to change his dressing.
"It's okay, it doesn't hurt as much anymore, but it's a bit hard to exert force."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi frowned, pursed her lips, and carefully removed the gauze. She hadn't expected that there would be blood on it.
No wonder he didn't eat much rice; he only used his left hand to drink some porridge with a spoon.
The wound on my palm is slowly healing and doesn't look as frightening as before, but there is still a deep, bloody gash. I'm afraid that even if it heals, a scar will inevitably remain on my palm.
"Don't use your right hand for the next while. Just tell me if you need anything."
"It's not as serious as you think."
"Can't you listen to me? I'm doing this for your own good. I got this injury to save me. If it doesn't heal properly, I'll really feel guilty and remorseful."
Looking at her furrowed brow, He Lin couldn't help but swallow hard and said, "Yes, I'll be more careful in the future."
In truth, the injury was nothing to him, but he was greedy for this person's concern, so he had to resort to some despicable means to slow down the healing process. For example, when riding a horse, he deliberately tightened the reins, and at that time he could feel the blood flowing out and slowly seeping through the gauze, as if he could not feel the pain.
Like someone lying in the freezing cold, longing for warmth, Jiang Yi is that flame.
In the dead of night, He Lin looked at the person sleeping soundly on the bed, quickly changed into his night clothes, pulled the mask over his face, carefully pushed open the window behind him, and took advantage of the guards changing shifts to jump out without looking back...
For two days in a row, they did not see the Prince of Hannan himself, and the steward in the Prince's mansion always made excuses that his master had not yet returned. His attitude was perfunctory and consistent, and it was obvious that it was just an excuse.
He Lin wasn't in a hurry and seemed to intend to stay here permanently.
The manager's attitude changed from initial enthusiasm to cold indifference, clearly indicating that he did not welcome them and was just short of telling them to get out. The two maids sweeping in front of the door whispered among themselves and glanced over from time to time, obviously gossiping about them to their faces and no longer bothering to pretend.
When it comes to who has the thickest skin, Jiang Yi never falls behind.
Don't you like talking badly about people to their faces? Fine! Then talk all you want!
She simply went inside and brought out a stool, then placed it directly in front of the two maids with a "thud," plopped down, crossed her legs, clasped her hands on her lap, and stared intently at them.
Even at this moment, he didn't forget his disguised male identity, lowering his voice and saying with a smile, "Hey you two, what are you chatting about so happily? I'm bored, why don't you tell me so we can all have a laugh?"
The two maids were dumbfounded. They secretly tugged at each other's sleeves, giving each other a cryptic signal, and forced a dry smile: "Young master, you're joking. We didn't say anything."
The other nodded frantically, and then the two hurriedly bowed and slipped away.
Upon seeing this, He Lin chuckled softly. Jiang Yi caught a glimpse of his laughter, glared at the person opposite her, and angrily turned her head away.
This guy still has the nerve to laugh? She's risking her life to keep him company!
He Lin didn't say what he was going to do, and Jiang Yi didn't ask any more questions. If he wanted to tell her, he would, and if he didn't want to, she wouldn't force him.
For some reason, she instinctively felt that the longer she stayed here, the clearer her unease became, and it would be best to leave as soon as possible. But the Prince of Hannan refused to see anyone, which was really worrying her.
That night, Jiang Yi tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, while the faint sound of patrolling guards could be heard outside.
This damn prince is really something. If he doesn't want to see guests, he should just say so. Why does he have to guard him like a prisoner, with several groups of people on duty every day? They're not notorious thieves, they're not going to steal anything from the prince's mansion.
Jiang Yi let out a soft breath, got out of bed, went to the table, and poured herself a glass of water.
A gust of wind blew the window open, startling her. She stood there for a while before quickly putting down her cup and closing the window.
Just then, a commotion arose outside, with hurried footsteps approaching, sounding as if they were heading towards the room where she and He Lin were.
Jiang Yi felt something was off. Why were so many people suddenly here so late? It shouldn't be a shift change, why make such a commotion?
"Lord Zhaobai, the Prince's residence has been burglarized. Please come out and meet us."
It's that person in charge.
Theft? Something was lost? But what does this have to do with He Lin? This is ridiculous!
Fearing something might happen, Jiang Yi quickly put on her cloak while carefully watching for any movement outside.
I originally intended to get dressed properly, but then I thought that getting dressed in the middle of the night would probably arouse more suspicion, so I just wrapped myself in a simple cloak.
There was no response from He Lin's room next door; it was quiet, which seemed particularly unusual in this small courtyard.
The steward, having received no response, grew impatient and said loudly, "Lord Zhaobai, since you neither come out nor speak, I will take that as your consent to enter and search."
After speaking, the manager raised his hand and waved, signaling his men to go in and search.
"Wait!"
At the critical moment, Jiang Yi decisively opened her door and shouted, "How dare you! How dare you barge into Lord Zhao Bai's room without his permission! Do you want to lose your lives?"
Jiang Yi stood in the shadows under the corridor, trying her best to appear normal, but in reality, her hands were trembling as she spoke.
She was absolutely certain that He Lin wasn't in the room; if they were to get in, she'd be in big trouble.
Judging from the menacing scene, with two men holding torches beside the steward and the torchlight illuminating a large group of armed guards behind him, she had absolutely no chance of winning in a fight, not to mention that He Lin was no longer there. She was practically a lamb to the slaughter!
The steward squinted and cupped his fists in the direction of Jiang Yi, saying, "Young man, please forgive me. With the Prince not here, it is my duty to take good care of the things in the manor. Now that important items have been lost, you two will have to stay for a few days. If it is inconvenient for Lord Zhaobai to come out and meet us, please allow us to go in and search according to the rules. Please be understanding, Lord Zhaobai, it will only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and we will not disturb your rest."
The threat in those words was obvious; they meant they weren't allowed to leave until the item was found.
Jiang Yi suppressed her fear, wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, and walked step by step to the center of the courtyard, standing before everyone.
What if I don't allow it?
The steward lifted his eyelids to glance at her, "Then I'll have to offend you."
After saying that, he glanced sideways at He Lin's room and raised his chin.
Jiang Yi moved swiftly and ran up the steps, spreading her arms to block them.
"presumptuous!"
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