【Chen Zixi×you×Jiang Yan】The chivalrous relationship is actually between his sworn brother and his best friend 1
As General Wang Qing's only daughter, a daughter born in his old age, he had always been lenient with you. Even when you occasionally met, he would only make sure you were in good health and hadn't fallen behind in your martial arts training before letting you play around.
Not to mention that you only see each other a few times a year. The general had to fight and guard the borders everywhere, so since you were a child, he entrusted you to Chu Qingquan, a fellow disciple of his Tianquan School, and his daughter Han Xiangxun to take care of you.
So, you actually grew up in Buxianxian.
General Daddy wasn't often at home, but his bimonthly letters and small gifts always arrived on time. In his letters, he would always patiently tell you about his recent situation and urge you to be obedient and study hard, so that you could at least have a skill to protect yourself.
When you were just able to read letters by yourself, your father told you in a letter that he had adopted the son of his best friend, and that the child was also your adopted brother. However, this adopted brother had been with him in the military camp, so you had never met him.
You were briefly curious but then put the matter behind you. In your opinion, Daddy wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, and since that sworn brother hadn't been here in years, it was certain you wouldn't see him again anytime soon.
After your sixteenth birthday, Uncle Chu and Aunt Han finally allowed you to go out on your own, but they gave you a way to send messages, so that if you encounter any problems, you can write to them immediately to ask for help, so as to avoid bringing disaster upon yourself if you fail to handle them properly.
When you first entered the Jianghu, you were curious about everything. As a girl, you were particularly interested in all kinds of beautiful things. Over time, you were bewitched and joined Zui Hua Yin.
Now that you've joined, you have to work hard to achieve your KPIs. The senior brothers and sisters are very serious about teaching you everything they know, explaining and demonstrating in person, and finally taught you how to hook up with and get along with your chivalrous friends.
On the day you finally graduated, your senior sister let out a long sigh and whispered in a voice you could barely hear: "She's so pretty, and she's not without skills, but why is her brain so wooden..."
"Sister, that's a bit hurtful, isn't it?" You bristled slightly.
Although you've made it clear that you need to find at least two chivalrous partners, you also have your standards and are definitely not someone who takes things lightly. After much deliberation, you decide to try your luck in Jiangnan.
— Senior Brother told you that Jiangnan is a beautiful region with outstanding people and beautiful women. Furthermore, most beautiful women have good tempers, so if they are caught cheating, they won't feel any pain even if they hit someone.
...I always feel that my senior brother is very experienced.
You went all the way to Jinling and really met the beauty of your dreams.
Jinling City is large and bustling, a completely different scene from Qinghe. It happened to be raining the day you arrived, so the umbrella you carried came in handy. As you passed a quieter corner of the inner city, you suddenly saw a beautiful woman.
It was truly a stunning glimpse. The beauty, with her curly black hair and radiant skin, was dressed in a white robe with a cyan undershirt. She held a folding fan in her hand, leaning lazily against the window, her eyes slightly lowered, sipping a small glass of wine. At first glance, she seemed to be glowing.
As if she noticed you were looking at her, the beauty looked towards you with a smile in her curved eyes, looking in a good mood.
You don't want to offend the beauty, you think you should treat it with caution, so you take out the secret book given by your senior brothers and sisters in the package and read it again.
However, when you finish reading and look up, the beauty by the window has disappeared.
…Is this what Senior Sister meant by "If you encounter a perfect match, act fast"? You felt a little hopeless, crouching there listlessly, secretly reflecting on yourself and resolving to rush over and engage immediately next time.
"Why are you unhappy, girl?" A cheerful and pleasant male voice floated down from above your head.
You subconsciously look up and find the beauty standing before you. She's waving a folding fan, a smile on her face, looking down at you with interest.
At that moment, hugs, kisses, and all kinds of intimate scenes passed before your eyes.
You quickly jumped up, straightened your clothes, and smoothed your hair with your hands before looking at him with the "gentle, affectionate, and shy" eyes described in the secret manual: "I'm not unhappy, but I suddenly felt a little lost when I couldn't see you just now."
You're a bit smug. Although you haven't learned all the tricks, after going through the devilish training of your seniors, these sweet words come naturally to you.
The beauty was slightly startled, and her smile widened. Looking at your attire, he understood: "Is this your first time in Jinling?"
You understood exactly what he meant and immediately seized the opportunity to take advantage of the situation: "Yes, sir, could you be my guide and take me around Jinling?"
Of course, he didn't refuse as you expected, and after your efforts, you found out his name was Chen Zixi.
You fluently called him "Zi Xi," and he smiled and accepted the name without objection. The next thing you knew, he was twenty-five, nine years older than you.
...Nine years is fine, but even if it was nineteen, you wouldn't mind. You nodded secretly.
Chen Zixi was a very interesting man. He looked lazy and undisciplined, but he was a master of all arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. His words were also interesting. Traveling with him in Jinling was truly a pleasure.
He was also very generous, saying, "I am a native of Jinling, so I will treat you as my host." He took care of all the expenses along the way with a wave of his hand.
You remember your senior sister telling you that someone like this can’t even be called a “goddess”, so if you meet someone like this, just get married.
You recall the manual's description of establishing chivalrous relationships. Senior Sister said you need to be flexible and use different methods to deal with different types of people.
Chen Zixi, you think he's a warm-hearted person with a cold heart. He appears gentle and easy to talk to, but he has a very clear line in his heart. He always walks on that line, giving himself enough freedom within the acceptable standards.
This kind of person should be difficult to deal with. After thinking about it for a long time, I feel that the ultimate weapon must be sincerity.
So you were very careful about your image along the way. You spoke to him in a soft voice, looked at him with those legendary irresistible deer-like eyes, and almost every sentence you said was a subtle compliment to him.
—Zi Xi, you know so much. Zi Xi, you look so good like this. Zi Xi, you are so kind. Zi Xi. Zi Xi.
But you can't tell whether this is helpful. Chen Zixi always looks at you with a smile, agrees to everything you say, treats you gently and attentively, and you can't see any special attitude towards him.
You weren't discouraged. The senior brothers and sisters in your sect had said that high-quality chivalrous connections really did require some effort to win. The more effort, the better the other person.
"It's getting late, let me take you to the inn." Chen Zixi suggested.
You start to get a little anxious. The day is almost over, but there's still no progress. What if you can't see each other tomorrow?
The stone steps were slippery on a rainy day, and you slipped as you were lost in thought. It wasn't a big deal, as you were very good at Qinggong (lightness training), and you could have easily found your footing. But you sensed your chance and deliberately didn't use it, letting Chen Zixi beside you hold you up.
He is truly a gentleman. Even at this moment, he just holds your shoulders and doesn't move rashly.
But you want him to act rashly.
So you had no choice but to resort to some tricks. You blinked and whispered to him, "I...I think I twisted my ankle."
Chen Zixi looked at you and smiled. You didn’t understand why he smiled, but then he said, “Let me see.”
The young man dressed in brocade and embroidered trousers, wearing gold and jade, squats down in front of you, says "excuse me" softly, and then carefully examines your ankle.
Your heart races at the sight, so you lean forward slightly, tentatively running your fingers through the strands of hair on his forehead. Unlike what you'd imagined, it feels smooth yet slightly firm. Seeing him simply gaze at you without reacting, your heartbeat quickens.
According to the senior brothers and sisters, he seems to have... tacitly agreed? You secretly delighted, lowering your body even lower, gently kissing his forehead, and then softly called his name: "Zi Xi..."
Chen Zixi's eyes were dark and bright, and he looked even more beautiful than before. He smiled at you and blushed slightly. Then he stood up, put his arm around your waist, said "be careful", and lowered his head slightly to kiss you.
You're so happy, you even feel dizzy, and you quietly reach out to hug his waist, imitating him. His waist isn't particularly thin, but you can tell it's strong and sturdy, the physique of someone who has practiced martial arts for many years.
After the kiss ended, Chen Zixi easily picked you up and said with a smile, "I'm afraid you really twisted your ankle by accident. I'll carry you to the inn."
You buried your face in his arms embarrassedly, knowing that he should know that it was just an excuse.
He held you in his arms, and you held an umbrella, and in the faint sound of rain, you walked through the streets of Jinling and arrived at a larger inn.
The innkeeper obviously knew him and was extremely surprised. He even rubbed his eyes before coming forward and saying, "Mr. Chen? This girl is—"
"Get a room upstairs, put it on my account." Chen Zixi said to him, considerately escorting you to the door of your room before leaving. Before leaving, he whispered in your ear: "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."
Thinking that you were about to get your first chivalrous partner, and that he was a gentle and handsome young man from a wealthy family, you slept very well that night.
Over the next few days, Chen Zixi would come to see you early in the morning and send you back at dusk. He would call you "little girl" in a gentle and affectionate tone, and would accompany you to all the places you wanted to go and do all the things you wanted to do - except not taking you drinking, because he said that was not what girls should do.
But you had heard of Fenghechun in Jiangnan a long time ago, and you pestered him for a long time. He finally agreed reluctantly to book a floor of the inn and accompany you for drinks in the inn.
After that kiss that day, you didn't do anything out of the ordinary. You decided to take advantage of the drinks to finalize your relationship.
These days, you occasionally hear passersby gossiping about how the third son of the Chen family, who usually keeps aloof from women, is now inseparable from a young girl, suggesting that something good is about to happen. In other words, Chen Zixi, despite being so talented, has never had a chivalrous connection.
You feel that your chances of success are higher.
The Fenghechun tea from Jiangnan is completely different from the Lirenlei tea. Lirenlei has a strong flavor and a long aftertaste, while Fenghechun has a light and sweet taste, making people unconsciously intoxicated by the rich aroma.
The wine is fragrant, and the person sitting in front of you is also beautiful. You watch him pick up food and pour wine for you, and suddenly he says: "Zi Xi, be my chivalrous partner."
Chen Zixi suddenly raised his eyes to look at you. Amidst your nervous heartbeat, he smiled and said, "I thought we were already together?"
Thankfully, Chen Zixi had enough money to leave the inn, so you didn't have to worry about the opinions of passersby. You stood up and rushed towards him. Halfway through, you realized that this didn't fit your image as a lady, so you quickly stopped.
Chen Zixi took in every move you made. He looked at you lovingly and simply reached out his hand to you, pulling you into his arms.
The kisses that followed were all scented with wine, and you fell into it unconsciously, not even noticing when he sent you back to your room. When you woke up the next morning, you found that one of your sachets was missing, and there was a golden bell next to your pillow, which you had seen on Chen Zixi before.
This must be the token of your love. You happily stuffed the golden bell into the remaining sachet, carefully sealing it to prevent it from falling out.
You had originally planned to continue to be with Chen Zixi, but the next day you received a letter from Uncle Chu, saying that your father had sent you a letter. There was nothing going on in the army recently, and he had arranged for your sworn brother to return to Shenxiandu to see you. He asked you to go back as soon as possible so as not to keep your sworn brother, whom you met for the first time, waiting too long.
Of course you have to go back, but you can't leave before you even have a bite to eat. You thought about telling Chen Zixi when he sent you back that night that you were leaving and your father had sent a message asking you to come back.
Chen Zixi was a little surprised, but he didn't say much. He just asked, "Should I take you back? I remember you're from Qinghe, which is quite far from here."
“No need, but you have to come find me as soon as possible.” You winked at him, shoved the note with Bu Xianxian’s address in your hand to him, then grabbed his collar and acted coquettishly towards him. “Zi Xi, I’ve already started missing you before you even left…”
Chen Zixi was such a smart guy that he knew what you meant just by looking at your eyes. He hesitated for a moment, but finally obeyed your wishes and was pushed onto the couch by you.
Before the final step, he asked you as if to confirm: "You really don't regret it? If I hadn't gone to find you, wouldn't you have been betrayed by this unfaithful person, hurting both your body and your heart."
You didn't care and smiled at him, "No way, you're my Zixi. Besides, even if you really don't come to me, I can still come to you. Mr. Chen San is a well-known figure in Jinling. You can run away, but you can't run away from the temple."
Chen Zixi stared at you and let out a low sigh, "I'm doomed to meet a scheming girl like you."
Of course, Chen Zixi knew you weren't as simple as you appeared. When we first met, your steps were light and steady, evidence of years of martial arts training. The umbrella in your hand bore scratches from weapons, making it no ordinary umbrella. And your interactions with him were all too pretentious. You could tell you were naturally straightforward, yet you forced yourself to act gentle and subtle.
But he likes to watch you pretend, and thinks you are especially cute when you pretend.
The next day, you said goodbye to Chen Zixi and headed north. But you didn't travel as fast as you could, because a sworn brother you'd never met didn't hold such a high position in your heart.
After entering the Qinghe border, you met a young knight who was as good as Zi Xi in a tavern.
His black hair was casually tied loosely behind his back, and he wore a dark blue embroidered robe. A sword hung from his waist, and the sword exuded a murderous aura, revealing that he had actually killed someone. He himself also exuded a murderous aura. Although he had an extremely handsome face, his expression was cold and distant.
Yet you've become interested in this iceberg. Seniors have said that the colder someone appears, the hotter they are inside. Furthermore, those with a cold exterior often lack experience in relationships, making them easier to win over than those who are gentle and approachable.
You looked at his handsome profile and began to think about how to close the distance. According to the secret manual, dealing with this kind of person requires directness.
So, after he stood up to pay and leave, you quickly followed him. You didn't deliberately move quietly, because you knew he would definitely hear you.
He was in front, you were behind, and they walked like this for a while until he finally stopped, having reached a rather desolate area. You guessed that he might want to just finish you off and bury you right there.
Sure enough, as soon as you landed, a sword was pressed against your throat: "Who are you and why are you following me?"
"Sir, don't be angry," you looked at him eagerly. "I fell in love with you at first sight and wanted to talk to you. If you don't want to, then I can look at you a few more times."
He was visibly startled, clearly never having seen you so direct, and his face flushed a little. But he clearly hadn't completely let down his guard yet, and continued to ask, "Who are you?"
You spread your hands out to show him that you meant no harm. "I'm just an ordinary woman wandering the world alone. Don't worry, sir. My martial arts skills are far inferior to yours. I will never pose any threat to you."
His eyes flickered, his attitude softened, and he lowered his sword and sheathed it.
You breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and told him your nickname, then asked him, "Can you tell me your name, sir?"
He looked you over, as if assessing you, before saying after a moment, “Jiang Wulang.”
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