The snow gradually lessened, and the wind also grew weary.
The guards found some dry wood in the forest and started several fires to warm up.
You Yuji sat silently by the fire, her eyes lowered, her face expressionless. Some people are born with a smile on their face, even if they are not deliberately smiling, there is always a faint smile in their eyes. You Yuji was just like that, the corners of her eyes naturally carrying a touch of a smile, her features inherently gentle.
However, at this moment, her eyes were lowered, and the usual smile at the corners of her eyes was nowhere to be seen.
Si Que sat not far from her, glanced at her, and then returned his gaze to the flames in the fire.
Zhuo Wen stood up and handed two skewers of freshly roasted meat to You Yuji. “We finally managed to catch something. Eating something hot will warm us up!”
You Yuji smiled at him and took the skewers.
Zhuo Wen handed over two skewers of roasted meat, one for You Yuji and one for Si Que. Zhuo Wen had long been familiar with You Yuji but had no interaction with Si Que. So, the skewer meant for Si Que was also given to You Yuji. After all, everyone knew that the madam and Princess Que were very close and had been inseparable on this journey.
You Yuji stared at the two skewers in her hand for a moment before handing one of them to Si Que.
The sight of the roasted meat appeared in Si Que’s vision. He turned his head, following the line of the skewer to look at You Yuji. However, You Yuji, with her eyes lowered, did not look at him.
Si Que reached for the wooden skewer, his fingers brushing against You Yuji’s hand. He could clearly feel her fingers stiffen before she moved her hand away.
Si Que curled his lips and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said, “Thank you, sister.”
You Yuji pressed her lips together, did not reply, and did not even look at him. She lowered her eyes and took a bite of the roasted meat. The cold wind blew, and even though the meat was freshly roasted, the outer layer didn’t retain much warmth. As You Yuji took a bite, the inside of the meat was still hot. A warm sensation slowly spread through her body, forming a stark contrast to the severe cold that could pierce through bones.
A series of footsteps approached, and Lin Yingying, Cuiyu, Chunxing, and Lady Jing returned from their hot spring bath. Their faces were all rosy, and seeing the meat, their smiles grew even brighter.
You Yuji slowly took another bite of the roasted meat. The light snow continued to fall, with a few flakes landing on the meat.
Everyone had gone to the hot spring, except for her.
When Si Que entered the hot spring, naturally, she couldn’t go. She didn’t mention it to anyone else, so they just assumed she had bathed first.
Fortunately, sitting by the fire had warmed her damp socks and shoes.
After everyone ate, they continued forward.
Lady Jing was the first to notice that You Yuji seemed off. After all, she had been closely attending to You Yuji for many years and understood her very well. Seeing You Yuji’s expression, she knew something was on her mind.
Before long, Chunxing, Lin Yingying, and Cuiyu also noticed You Yuji’s unusual demeanor. They thought she was worried about their current situation.
The women were already scared to death, and it was You Yuji’s calm and smiling demeanor that had been leading them. Now that You Yuji’s smile was gone, they were even more anxious, already thinking about the worst-case scenario…
Even Zhuo Wen sensed something was wrong.
Yet, You Yuji kept looking ahead at the snowy mountains, oblivious to the frequent inquisitive glances from the others.
Si Que took it all in.
He suddenly found it amusing.
“Sister,” he suddenly spoke up, not lowering his voice deliberately, so everyone could hear.
You Yuji was startled, instinctively frowning before forcing herself to look over, trying to sound normal, “What’s wrong?”
Si Que looked at You Yuji with bright, sincere eyes, “Everyone is very worried about you, sister.”
You Yuji was stunned, glancing around at everyone before realizing.
Si Que slowly smiled, “If sister has any difficulties, don’t keep them to yourself. Tell us, and we can discuss it together.”
His eyes were filled with a playful smile.
The feeling of being teased rose in You Yuji’s heart but quickly disappeared. She smiled again, her eyes soft and gentle. She shifted her gaze from Si Que to Zhuo Wen, asking, “How long until we get out of this mountain?”
“Less than three quarters of an hour. Once we leave this mountain area and pass through a pine forest, we’ll reach Yunping Temple.”
You Yuji nodded and said softly, “The mastermind behind this is determined. The reason they haven’t pursued us into the snowy mountains is because of the harsh weather. If I’m not mistaken, we’ll encounter their ambush once we descend.”
Lin Yingying turned pale and exclaimed, “What should we do then?”
You Yuji sighed and looked at Cuiyu, “Cuiyu is right. They are targeting me. You are all innocent people caught up in this to mislead them. It’s me who has implicated you.”
“There’s no use saying that now…” Cuiyu muttered quietly, “I don’t want to die. What should we do?”
You Yuji smiled and explained, “I have naturally arranged some people. If all goes well, after we descend, those ambushers should be captured.”
Cuiyu and the others visibly relaxed.
Cuiyu complained, “Since you had it all arranged, why scare us with those words?”
“Although I have made preparations, there are no absolutes. With the distance down the mountain, I cannot guarantee absolute safety below. Therefore, stay a bit farther behind me. If the situation turns dire, turn back and hide in the mountains. Once the snowstorm completely stops, figure out a way to escape on your own.”
You Yuji looked at Zhuo Wen and raised her hand. “Give me the bow and arrows.”
Zhuo Wen immediately handed the bow and arrows to You Yuji.
You Yuji deftly strapped the quiver to her waist, securing it in her most convenient position. She gripped the bow tightly and was about to move forward when she hesitated slightly. For the first time since the shocking incident by the hot spring, she looked towards Si Que. She said, “Did you hear me?”
Si Que looked at her with some surprise.
Their gazes met for just a moment, but it felt as long as the passing of four seasons.
Si Que slowly curled his lips into a smile and obediently said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you, sister.”
A strange feeling arose in You Yuji’s heart. She tried hard to dispel the image that came to mind and took a large step forward. It was not the graceful steps of a capital lady, but the vigorous strides from her youth when she went hunting with her father.
The howling wind blew past You Yuji’s ears. She kept her eyes fixed ahead, but her mind was a bit chaotic. She couldn’t help but recall hiding in Si Que’s embrace in the carriage, asking him to help cover her, and remembered those unintentional moments of skin contact.
She didn’t even dare to close her eyes. Whenever she closed her eyes, she always remembered countless times when she had proactively reached out to hold Si Que’s hand.
She had even… slept in the same bed with him, on his bed, with him beside her, holding that cat.
It wasn’t that You Yuji deliberately avoided looking directly at Si Que; she just hadn’t recovered from the shock by the hot spring. Now, although Si Que was fully dressed, whenever You Yuji looked at him, she couldn’t help but visualize how he looked when he took off his clothes by the hot spring.
Yet, she had to pretend as if nothing had happened in front of others and still respond to his call of “sister.”
Thinking of this, You Yuji, usually calm and composed, couldn’t help but feel a rare twinge of irritation, blaming Si Que’s “teasing.”
Emotionally, she attributed this to Si Que’s “teasing.” But being a rational person, she clearly knew that those repeated, excessive moments of intimacy were all initiated by her unknowingly.
You Yuji frowned, pressing her lips tightly together. She gripped the bow in her hand firmly, telling herself in her heart—
You Yuji, don’t be unreasonable.
Those moments of unintentional intimacy, taken as ordinary at the time, now, upon reflection, were tinged with a few shades of embarrassment and awkwardness.
Si Que walked behind You Yuji, looking at her slender back, thinking she had realized he was not a woman. From now on, she would avoid him, might even think he was a shameless rogue, and was probably cursing him in her heart at this very moment.
The gentle, beautiful sister who held his hand and smiled at him would be gone forever.
But if he had to choose again, he would still tell You Yuji that he was a man, not a little sister who needed her protection.
Si Que lowered his eyes, the smile on his face disappearing, replaced by a look of despondency.
Boring.
He no longer wanted to stay at the Jinnan Mansion.
Boring.
Truly boring.
Si Que raised his eyes again, coldly glancing at You Yuji’s back. Was she cursing him in her heart? Could someone as gentle as her even curse? Si Que suddenly found himself wanting to see how You Yuji would look while cursing him.
He didn’t know what image he had conjured up, but he suddenly started to laugh.
Walking on the other side, Cuiyu looked at Si Que, then at You Yuji ahead. Her eyes rolled a bit. She quietly tugged on Lin Yingying’s sleeve and whispered, “Don’t you think the madam and that person have been acting strange ever since they took a hot spring bath together?”
Lin Yingying, worried about whether there would be many vicious people waiting for her at the foot of the mountain, didn’t really hear Cuiyu clearly. She asked blankly, “What did you say?”
Cuiyu shook her head and said nothing more.
Before they reached the foot of the mountain, You Yuji saw Zhao Sheng waiting below. Gu Momo, who served the Jinnan Princess, was standing beside Zhao Sheng.
The tense string in You Yuji’s heart instantly relaxed. Her furrowed brows unfolded as she gently smiled and handed the bow and arrows back to Zhuo Wen, saying, “It’s fine now.”
“That’s great!” Lin Yingying and the others ran up to You Yuji, looking down.
Lin Yingying was puzzled, “Huh, isn’t that Gu Momo from the Princess’s side? Why is she there too?”
You Yuji did not explain immediately.
Seeing You Yuji’s figure, the anxious Zhao Sheng immediately approached and said, “Were you frozen? Quickly, get on the carriage and rest!”
Gu Momo also hurried over, draping a cotton coat over You Yuji’s shoulders and reaching out to support her. She lowered her voice and said, “Madam, you predicted everything correctly. The men have all been captured. The Prince and Princess are currently at Yunping Temple.”
You Yuji was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t expected the Jinnan Prince and Princess to come to Yunping Temple personally.
After being tormented in the wind and snow all the way through the mountains, everyone looked somewhat disheveled. You Yuji didn’t say much, thanked Gu Momo, and got on the carriage first.
With a shout from the driver, the carriage passed through the pine forest, heading towards Yunping Temple.
Not long after the carriage set off, You Yuji, sitting by the window, lifted the curtain to look outside.
It seemed Zhao Sheng knew You Yuji would have questions. He rode alongside the carriage, waiting.
In You Yuji’s original plan, Zhao Sheng would clear out the ambush in the pine forest ahead of time and then lead his men into the snow mountains to meet her. However, You Yuji had waited and waited in the snow mountains without seeing Zhao Sheng, making her think the plan had gone awry and even worrying that Zhao Sheng might have encountered danger.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Sheng had been waiting safely at the foot of the mountain and hadn’t come up.
It was impossible for You Yuji not to be curious.
Seeing You Yuji lifting the carriage window curtain and looking over, Zhao Sheng immediately explained in a low voice, “His Majesty is at Yunping Temple.”
You Yuji was stunned, finding it hard to believe.
Zhao Sheng nodded and quietly explained, “The Jinnan Prince sent someone to say that family matters should not alarm the Emperor. If I had brought soldiers up the mountain, it would have easily drawn the attention of the Emperor’s people. The ambushers have already been captured in advance, so you will not encounter any ambushes as you descend. The Prince said that if the Emperor’s people ask, you should just say the carriage broke down in the mountains.”
Zhao Sheng was not a subordinate of the Jinnan Prince and didn’t have to listen to him, but the matter was too significant to take lightly.
You Yuji frowned, thought for a moment, and then slowly nodded.
Si Que, unlike before, was not sitting beside You Yuji but across from her. He watched as You Yuji turned to look out of the carriage, her movements accentuating her slender waist.
Si Que suddenly turned his head towards Cuiyu and asked, “Do you have any copper coins?”
