Ao Zhi said, “Though the enemy has retreated, this place is not safe to stay long. Master Shen will handle Yunyang’s affairs, and besides, the medicine we brought is not effective. Doctor Yue’s letter urges you to return early.”
He merely responded with a light “Hmm.”
But as they passed a broken wall, a carriage suddenly appeared on the long street.
It was a carriage drawn by four horses, with a young master of a wealthy family standing at the back, throwing copper coins along the way, deliberately inciting the beggars on the street to scramble for them. He laughed heartily.
He was the epitome of a profligate son.
Xie Subai was about to look away disdainfully when he saw a thin figure rush forward, aiming directly for the young master’s money pouch.
Agile and swift, but unfortunately outnumbered.
The young master shouted angrily, “How dare you! Tired of living?”
The servants swarmed forward, tying the little thief to the back of the carriage in a chaotic mess. The four horses galloped quickly. At first, the young girl could keep up, but soon she was dragged, leaving a trail in the snow.
Though she was on the brink of death, when the profligate young master stepped forward to untie her and curse her, she lunged at him, eliciting a scream as she nearly bit off a chunk of his flesh.
That emaciated, pale face seemed to burst with strength when she opened her eyes, her dark pupils glaring at him.
The young master screamed and ordered his men to beat her until she was thrown into a snow pile.
Xie Subai stopped in front of the broken wall for a long time, watching as the snow fell heavier, almost burying her completely.
Only her gray face was visible, her brows furrowed, and white mist coming from her slightly parted lips, but the mist grew fainter. Her fist, however, continued to clench the snow, melting it into water and then grabbing another handful.
Xie Subai did not leave, nor did he order anyone to save her, wanting to see how long she could last.
After a long time, seeing no more mist from her lips, Ao Zhi said, “Master, she has stopped breathing.”
Xie Subai said, “Go over.”
Ao Zhi pushed him forward, the dark shadow of the wheelchair covering the body in the snow. Xie Subai looked down for a moment before bending over to brush the snow from the girl’s face.
As he was about to check for her breath, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
The hand buried in the snow was icy cold, and the chill spread through his palm. She clutched him tightly, like grabbing a lifeline.
She opened her eyes slightly, her breath so weak it was almost inaudible, “Save… save me…”
Xie Subai paused for a moment and then said, “Pick her up.”
A guard stepped forward to carry her.
Ao Zhi was surprised at his sudden act of kindness but did not dare to ask more, “Master, should we return?”
Xie Subai gave a light “Hmm” but then turned to the guard and said, “Give her to me.”
Everyone was stunned. The guard and Ao Zhi exchanged glances, hesitating, “Master, perhaps it would be better if…”
“Give her to me,” Xie Subai repeated coldly.
The guard had no choice but to carefully place the girl, who was as cold as ice, into Xie Subai’s arms, fearing she might break.
The girl was very small, her gray face making her look younger than ten. She seemed to have been starving for several days, with hardly any weight on her. As soon as Xie Subai laid her on his lap, she instinctively sought warmth, curling up against him.
Ao Zhi watched with a pounding heart, fearing the prince’s unpredictable temper might lead him to throw her out, especially since he even disliked cats.
But he didn’t.
He merely looked down at her for a while and then said, “Let’s go back.”
****
Xie Subai had been somewhat distracted lately. Holding a scroll, he barely read a few lines before the sounds of sweeping outside drew his attention, and he looked out.
The opposite building’s doors and windows were tightly shut, without a sound.
He closed the scroll and asked, “What did she eat today?”
Ao Zhi was taken aback for a moment but quickly responded, “Just some congee and light dishes. Doctor Yue said the girl had been starving for days and shouldn’t eat anything too rich.”
Xie Subai acknowledged with an “Oh” and then asked, “How is she recovering?”
As he asked, his eyes were fixed on the door and window opposite. Ao Zhi slowly realized that the prince seemed particularly concerned about the girl.
Whatever the reason, anything that piqued the prince’s interest, whether a person or an object, made Ao Zhi happy.
So she said, “She’s much better now. Though she looks frail, she has strength. But she’s very guarded and doesn’t talk to people easily. Perhaps if you visit her, Master, she might open up.”
Xie Subai said nothing, merely setting the scroll aside, and Ao Zhi, understanding his intention, pushed the wheelchair out.
The maid sweeping the snow outside was surprised and stepped aside.
Pushing open the door, the little girl was sitting in the corner by a small table, holding a spoon. Her eating was halted by the arrival of the unexpected guest.
Her eyes stared straight at him, just as Ao Zhi had said, full of vigilance, and her hand holding the spoon subtly tensed.
She scrutinized Xie Subai, and he scrutinized her in return.
He approached, stopping three feet away from her, and asked, “Is the food to your liking?”
The girl’s pale lips pressed together, and she didn’t answer him.
Xie Subai didn’t mind at all. “It’s freezing outside. Would you like to stay here? Work for me, and I will ensure you have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear. You won’t have to suffer the hardships of wandering anymore. I can also give you a chance for revenge.”
Upon hearing this, the girl looked at him with some astonishment, followed by an even more guarded stance.
Xie Subai smiled without speaking. He remembered her ferocity when she bit that person, the coldness in her dark pupils. Those were eyes filled with resentment and a will that would not rest until her enemies were destroyed.
At that moment, it seemed he saw himself through those eyes.
Xie Subai asked, “How old are you? Eight?”
The little girl frowned, seemingly displeased with his guess of eight years old, and finally said, “I’m ten.”
“Oh,” Xie Subai responded, pleased. “Ten, huh? You look younger. What’s your name?”
She frowned again. “Ji Yuluo.”
Xie Subai then asked, “Can you grind ink?”
Without waiting for Ji Yuluo to answer, Xie Subai turned his wheelchair around and called, “Ao Zhi, bring her over.”
In the study, filled with the scent of pine, Ji Yuluo picked up a small ink stick as she stood before the inkstone, surrounded by writing brushes, paper, and inkstones.
While grinding the ink, she said, “It’s too light.”
Xie Subai, just about to smooth out the white paper, understood her immediately, despite the seemingly out-of-context comment. “Alright, I’ll have the cook change your meals tomorrow.”
Ji Yuluo quietly continued grinding the ink.
Time passed swiftly, and two months went by without a sound.
****
“Oh, what a fine day it is today!”
“Little girl, if you’re scared, just say so, and I’ll let you out.”
“You see, I’m not lying. I’ve got skills people beg to learn, and here you are, with good bones but lacking a bit of insight…”
Xie Subai, a light sleeper, was woken from his short nap by the clamor outside. He rubbed his temples and asked, “Again?”
Ao Zhi nodded.
Ever since General Lou had accidentally encountered Miss Yuluo in the courtyard, he had been like a cat that spotted a mouse, his eyes gleaming as he ran here every day, coaxing her like a child abductor.
Miss Yuluo, however, did not appreciate his company, and their interactions often caused chaos throughout the courtyard.
Xie Subai had grown accustomed to this, but as he picked up a wolf-hair brush, he suddenly sensed something amiss. He said, “Ao Zhi, go take a look.”
Ao Zhi pushed Xie Subai to the door and realized that Lou Panshun had locked Ji Yuluo in the woodshed in the back courtyard. No wonder the noise was coming from there.
The person inside was banging on the door, the rhythm indicating urgency.
Xie Subai asked calmly, “What did you do?”
Lou Panshun replied nonchalantly, “Just released a few mice. The girl is indeed easily scared.”
Xie Subai’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “She’s just recovered from an illness; this isn’t suitable.”
Lou Panshun gave him a cold look. “What illness? She looks lively enough to me. Besides, what’s wrong with my teaching her? Others would beg for this chance. With her fierce temperament, she’d get beaten if she were outside. Without some real skills, how could she survive with just her rudimentary fighting abilities?”
He raised his voice and said, “Do you want her to die?”
Xie Subai remained silent.
Lou Panshun was right. If Ji Yuluo wanted to establish herself in Cuixue Tower, she would inevitably face schemes and attacks. Moreover, with her heart filled with vengeance, without any skills, she would likely meet her demise in the future.
Pressing his lips together, Xie Subai turned his wheelchair and left.
Lou Panshun, in his typical brash manner, said, “Little girl, if you knock your head on the door three times, it will count as acknowledging me as your master, and I’ll let you out.”
****
Lou Panshun did not live with Xie Subai but had built a bamboo hut in the fields, embodying the image of a recluse master.
Since Ji Yuluo had acknowledged him as her master, she frequently traveled back and forth. However, the longer she spent learning martial arts from Lou Panshun, the less she saw Xie Subai. Balancing both became increasingly difficult.
Moreover, four years had passed, and she was no longer the child who stayed by his side to grind ink and brew tea. She had gradually taken on the responsibilities of Cuixue Tower, making her return from missions increasingly unpredictable.
As the night deepened, Xie Subai was reading a book and asked without looking up, “She hasn’t returned yet?”
Ao Zhi replied, “Perhaps she was delayed. Master, if there’s something, it can wait until tomorrow…”
Seeing Xie Subai lower his head and turn another page, Ao Zhi swallowed the rest of her words, sighed quietly, and ordered someone to bring the tonic soup. Just as she was about to light another candle, a commotion came from outside: “Is your master asleep? I have an urgent matter for him! Wait, Ji Yuluo, you stay here!”
The door was pushed open, and Shen Qingli burst in.
Following him at a leisurely pace, Ji Yuluo formed a stark contrast.
One glance, and Xie Subai knew what had happened.
Sure enough, Shen Qingli angrily exclaimed, “She intercepted and killed someone I was supposed to rescue, a local official! What is the meaning of this?”
Xie Subai said, “Whether to kill or rescue depends on one’s ability. If you can’t complete your mission, why make a fuss?”
Shen Qingli retorted, “But she can’t provide the client’s information! It’s clear she’s deliberately causing me trouble. Are you going to encourage this harmful behavior?”
Xie Subai simply looked past him and said, “Come here.”
Ji Yuluo then walked forward. Xie Subai examined her palm, looked her over, and, seeing she was unharmed, asked, “When will you visit your uncle?”
Shen Qingli was so frustrated he almost choked!
Xie Subai’s bias was outrageous. No wonder some people were dissatisfied and increasingly antagonistic towards Ji Yuluo, constantly giving her trouble. If it weren’t for Lou Panshun’s selfless teaching, who knows how she would have survived!
But she did survive and kept causing trouble for others, vengeful and petty. What did Xie Subai see in her?
