Ich denke an dich, wenn der Wind weht

Kapitel 83

Thick furs covered her knees, and her hands were tucked into her sleeves to keep out the cold, leaving only the white of snow.

"Are you cold?" Jun Suiyu asked softly. "Or perhaps we could go inside and rest?"

She shook her head. "It's a bit stuffy staying indoors all day; I want to see snow."

What did Xie Yunshu say that day?

She smiled silently.

"He likes you a lot." He knew the answer, and though he knew it was useless, he still gently advised, "Or you should say yes to him."

"Feelings...can't change anything." Her expression was slightly weary, as indifferent as stagnant water. "We shouldn't have started this relationship in the first place."

“He doesn’t think so.”

“He knows nothing.” She raised her slender hand and held it up to the sky, revealing a bloodless, icy white surface in the sunlight. “This is for the best.”

I hope you can be happier.

“It’s good as it is now.” She smiled faintly. “It’s not easy to watch the snow fall so peacefully like this… He will find his happiness someday.”

“Fluttering…” he sighed silently.

"To be fluttering again... it's like a dream." Slender fingers lightly pressed on a patch of snow, leaving tiny palm prints, like an invisible little person walking across the snow.

"If you are willing, you can marry into the Xie family with a proper and respectable status."

“When I was little, I really wanted to be a bride. My mother said I was the most beautiful… But when I grew up, I realized that was insignificant. Many things are much more important, and getting married isn’t as wonderful as I imagined.” She answered irrelevantly. “I’m not a child anymore.”

"He must be very annoyed by your stubbornness." He subtly sympathized with the Third Young Master Xie.

She smiled slightly and admitted frankly, "Yes, but I only feel alive when I'm being stubborn."

The meeting was an unexpected delight, but it also brought trouble. He might not be willing to let it go so easily; perhaps…

"You want to leave the King's Palace." The man's voice was clear and deep, both a question and a statement, leaving no room for evasion.

After a long silence, she let out a soft sigh. "I do have this plan."

The air fell silent for a moment.

She looked up and smiled. "You all have your own power and your identities are extraordinary. If you stay any longer, I'm afraid something might go wrong. Although I've been living a life of ease and indulgence these past few years, I'm still capable of taking care of myself and don't need to worry about you."

"When have you ever cared what others think..." The low voice gradually faded away.

"I'm sorry." She looked at him with a hint of guilt. "I didn't want to make you sad. You've already done so much for me."

"I'm the one who should apologize." His soft gaze was filled with pain and determination as he suddenly apologized. "I promised to let you decide for yourself, but I couldn't keep my promise."

Before she could speak, a hand silently pressed against her back. A surge of internal energy rushed into her meridians, and the instantaneous, sharp pain felt like a blade piercing her chest. She couldn't help but bend over, choking on blood.

Snow falls mercilessly, blood falls silently.

The dazzling crimson slowly fell into the white snow.

The coldness gradually melted away.

Author's Note: There aren't any scenes of swords flying everywhere. Do you think our male lead would be foolish enough to get jealous and challenge his love rival to a duel?

The crux of the dilemma isn't Jun Suiyu, but Jia Ye. Jia Ye is such an independent person; if she wanted to leave, even if the Jun mansion was riddled with landmines, she could still elope. Xiao Xie understands this perfectly well, so she won't naively think that if she wins over Jun Suiyu, Jia Ye will obediently pack her bags and leave with him. That's a weak and indecisive girl, not our heroine, hehe...

So he withdrew to find another solution. Tong Xie, who wanted to see Jun and Xie fight it out, will be disappointed. He should go stand in the corner and reflect on his actions. Hehehe.

Drinking together

A month has passed. The ice and snow have gradually melted, the long-lasting cold has subsided, and the withered grass has turned green again. Only the lingering effects of the dreaded harsh winter remain.

This month has been exceptionally difficult.

No matter when Xie Yunshu went to the Prince's Mansion, the answer he always received was a respectful and polite refusal.

The young lady has fallen asleep, she has not yet woken up... she seems to be asleep forever.

Infiltrating secretly was no longer possible. The guards were several times tighter than before, and despite using every means possible, they were stopped in the previous courtyard. Jun Suiyu, who came out to deal with them, politely but firmly dissuaded them.

He didn't know whether this was at Jia Ye's behest or Jun Suiyu's personal whim.

Even though I know that person is so close, so close... it feels like we're worlds apart.

He even began to doubt whether she was still in the manor, since she couldn't have been unaware of the commotion she caused.

How could she be so heartless?

How could she be so heartless?

They had considered breaking off relations, but within the influence of the King's Mansion, the consequences of causing trouble were predictable.

I'm obsessed with this worry and anxiety; I can't let go.

"Third brother." Xie Jingze stood at the door, looking travel-worn, with Qinglan beside him, who looked resentful.

After patting his fifth brother's head, Jingze stepped into the room alone.

"Let's go back." After listening to Qinglan's story and looking at her third brother's haggard face, she could only say this. "Father and Mother are very worried and want me to take you back to Yangzhou as soon as possible."

He gently shook his head.

“How long are you going to be so stubborn? She’ll have already chosen someone else.” Xie Jingze sighed. “In terms of reputation, Jun Suiyu and you are equally matched, and you’re in the North… you can’t compete with him.”

“I’m not arguing with him.” Xie Yunshu gazed at the daffodils on the table, picking a white flower that was about to fall due to its withering. “I just want to be sure of her heart.”

“If she had feelings for you, she wouldn’t have gone with Jun Suiyu.”

Xie Yunshu remained silent, and Xie Jingze spoke again.

"Even if... Father's opposition back then caused you to separate, it's an unchangeable fact now. Stop trying to salvage it; some things, once missed, are missed forever," Xie Jingze earnestly advised. "If you let go, you can both live well. Why torture yourself?"

"Second brother, I need your help with something."

"Let's leave it at that."

“If… this matter has a resolution, I will make a decision and stop wasting time like this.” He forced a smile. “Second brother, you’ve helped me since we were little, this is the last time.”

“You…” The good-tempered Xie Jingze didn’t know whether to sigh or scold the stubborn person. Seeing his third brother so dejected, he couldn’t bear it in the end.

"Okay, go ahead."

When I stepped into the yard, my arm was still bleeding.

The moment I saw her, I suddenly felt no pain, only a subtle sense of relief and ease.

She is still alive and well.

He was kneeling under a large tree in the courtyard, digging at something, his clothes covered in mud as he absentmindedly poked at the soil. Shuangjing stood beside him, staring at him as if he had seen a ghost.

"What are you doing?"

He had imagined countless times what it would be like to see her again, sometimes so angry that he wanted to strangle her, sometimes wanting to kiss her unconscious, but in the end, it was just a soft, gentle question.

Jia Ye froze for a moment, then looked up in disbelief.

The man stood under the tree, leaning on his hand and looking down at her. He had a deep, long sword wound on his shoulder, looking somewhat disheveled, the sharp lines of his arm now more pronounced. Blood flowed down his arm, staining a large patch of his sleeve red, yet he smiled gently at her as if nothing had happened.

"How did you get in?" Shuangjing asked, voicing her biggest question.

"Force your way in." He was still looking at her, a smirk playing on his lips, a hint of proud arrogance in his expression. "I know Jun Suiyu isn't here today."

He barged into the heavily guarded mansion all by himself... Shuangjing was speechless, unsure whether it was foolishness or bravery.

"I haven't seen you in so long, I'm afraid you've gone somewhere I can't find while I'm not looking." Ignoring the approaching guards, he smiled as if explaining, letting the blood drip down. "Seeing you will put my mind at ease."

Her dark eyes gradually misted over as she stared blankly at him.

"What are you digging for? Let me help you." He squatted down and wiped a bit of mud off his face, his expression gentle.

She blinked, slowly gathering her scattered thoughts, biting her lip and smiling, but it looked like she was crying.

"It's already dug."

There was a dirty jar in the mud pit, which looked like it had been buried for a long time. He picked it up for her, and there was some liquid inside the jar that was sloshing around slightly.

"liquor?"

She nodded, then remained stunned for a long while.

"You've come at the right time. I'll treat you to drinks today."

After dismissing the guards who were on high alert, he was led into a separate room to wait patiently until Shuangjing came to call for someone.

Jia Ye's bedroom remained warm and cozy, with steam rising from the small red clay stove, several delicate dishes, and a clean wine jar. He nestled comfortably on the soft couch, the heavy curtains half-drawn, the silver cups gleaming—everything was so pleasant, especially with the unparalleled beauty waiting to greet him gently.

After changing into a casual dress and loosely tying her long hair in a half-up bun, Jia Ye sat beside him, applying medicine and bandaging his wounds.

Her movements were very careful, her eyelashes drooping like fans, and she kept biting her lip, as if she were the one in pain. He looked at her deeply, greedily as if he wanted to take her into his heart, his gaze never leaving her for a moment.

After bandaging his wound, she had Shuangjing bring a silver basin to wash his hands. She was meticulous and considerate, like a devoted wife caring for her husband. He longed to kiss her gently, yet feared ruining the precious moment. He had dreamt of this kind of time countless times.

After putting away the medicine tray and dismissing the maids, she broke the seal on the jar, and the rich aroma of wine rushed out like a sword, quickly filling the room and intoxicatingly intoxicating.

"Daughter's Red Wine?"

She smiled gently, picked up a silver spoon, and stirred the clear wine. It had been sealed for who knows how long, shrinking to only half a jar, its aroma growing ever stronger. She tried adding new wine, tasting it little by little. Her slightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and finally she transferred it to a silver pot, placing it on the stove to warm it.

"You're right, you really do need to mix it with alcohol when you drink it."

"How many years has this been?"

She smiled without answering, busily peeling a bright red orange. The silver knife spun slowly, and the peel was placed on the incense burner, instantly filling the air with a delicate orange fragrance. Her slender white fingertips then tore off the membrane, feeding him the orange-red flesh.

Cold and sweet.

He couldn't help but pull her delicate body into his arms. She didn't resist and leaned softly against him. Her fair wrists were like frost, her slender fingers like jade, and her dark, lustrous hair cascaded down her back, making her indescribably beautiful and charming.

The wine was warmed to a perfect temperature, and he picked up the pot and poured two cups. The rich aroma lingered on the palate, and the mellow fragrance rolled down the throat, tempting one to drink again and again.

She picked out vegetables for him, and they chatted about casual topics, neither of them mentioning any potentially unpleasant words.

They talked at length, in high spirits, and even recounted their first meeting on the Tianshan Mountains.

"...I was really looking forward to it, thinking that the King might bestow some rare treasures upon me, which I could then use to bribe others. But instead, he gave it to a person instead...it's truly..."

"Are you disappointed?" He wasn't angry. With the beauty of his dreams leaning beside him, what did it matter if he was teased a few times?