Ich denke an dich, wenn der Wind weht

Kapitel 39

As for sharing a bed... she was speechless.

Unable to resist her exhaustion, she fell asleep. When she woke up, she found herself nestled in his arms. After thinking it over repeatedly, she had to reluctantly admit that it was indeed a subconscious action.

The practice transformed my constitution into one of yin and cold, making even summer nights extremely cold. Having grown accustomed to the icy feeling in my limbs, perhaps because of the presence of a heat source nearby, I found myself unconsciously drawn closer…

He wisely remained silent, making no frivolous or excessive gestures, simply holding her close.

she………………

She woke up again in his arms.

Human body temperature is very warm.

As I gradually got used to the presence of the man beside me, I would occasionally have the illusion that I wasn't so lonely.

Perhaps... temporary trust is acceptable.

Shangsi

On the night of the Shangsi Festival, lanterns were lit up in unison.

The avenue was bustling with people, filled with laughter and chatter.

A thousand trees in full bloom, ten thousand homes lit up. Taverns and painted boats are filled with beautiful young women, their voices soft and melodious as they sing, their clappers jingling. The lake ripples gently, creating a scene that seems like heaven on earth. Scholars and literati gather on the water to drink and display their poetic talents, while countless beauties, meticulously adorned, vie for attention like a riot of spring blossoms.

The aroma of wine filled the air, and the dancing continued unabated; the entire street appeared as if it were illuminated.

Jia Ye wasn't very interested in the things sold in the market. She glanced at the gemstone pendant that shimmered under the moonlight, then put it down. She did, however, quite like bamboo whistles and water birds, buying and playing with them briefly before putting them down again. Instead, she grabbed a mask made of Kunlun slave material.

“This looks a bit like the one I wore when I killed the King of Shanshan.” She traced the dark mask with her slender white fingertips. “So they have them in Jiangnan too.”

Her childlike lips were slightly upturned, and her bright black eyes sparkled, yet she spoke words completely contrary to her appearance. She smiled, covered her face with a mask, and moved nimbly through the crowd. With her black hair, snow-white skin, slender waist, and graceful neck, her movements were light and silent. The terrifying mask on her figure made her seem like a spirit belonging only to the night.

He tossed some money to the stall owner and kept a close eye on the people ahead, but the crowded market made the chase difficult. Several sleazy-looking people were vaguely visible ahead, one of whom was brushing towards Jia Ye.

Suddenly a scream rang out, and the crowd scattered in a large circle. When they rushed over, they saw what had happened.

Jia Ye stood quietly to the side, while a thug-like man clutched his right hand, writhing on the ground in agony, screaming like a pig being slaughtered. He must have been tempted to steal from her because of her luxurious clothes.

Those around her hadn't even seen her make a move; they only saw the man fall to the ground, howling in pain, after a mere brush of her shoulder. Several accomplices instantly surrounded her, huffing and puffing, hurling vulgarities at her, trying to turn the theft into intimidation and extortion. Many people around, bewildered, pointed and whispered amongst themselves, most feeling sympathy for the delicate girl.

Few dare to provoke Jia Ye, and even fewer survive.

He didn't know whether to feel sorry for him or relieved. The thug's face was pale with pain, which was definitely not an act; his right hand must have been broken.

In the Western Regions, Jia Ye would directly use her sword; she dislikes contact with people, and a sword could solve that problem. But if those clamoring thugs got any closer…

A green shadow flashed by, and several people who were cursing just a moment ago fell to the ground, and a handsome young man appeared in the scene.

Before anyone could even see his shadow clearly, the dispute was swiftly resolved. The onlookers erupted in cheers, thrilled by the heroic rescue, some even applauding.

"Are you alright?" he asked Jia Ye symbolically.

Behind the mask, her expression was unreadable. She wiped her hand on his sleeve, a gesture of obvious disgust that was both amusing and exasperating.

A short distance away, a young man was drawn by the commotion and looked over, his eyes widening instantly.

After finally squeezing my way to the lakeside, the crowds were still overwhelming.

The sound of string and wind instruments drifted on the wind, accompanied by sparse stars and a pale moon, creating a unique and beautiful melody.

"May I come aboard and have a look?" Jia Ye asked curiously, looking at the painted boats with their swaying palace lanterns.

“These pleasure boats have already been rented to high-ranking officials and nobles, and it’s probably too late now.”

"Is that over there too?" In contrast to the spacious multi-story ships, there were also some exquisite boats with colorful lanterns scattered on the lake, and the bows of the boats were full of women in light clothes and with their hair in elaborate makeup.

“Those are different.” He only glanced at them.

"how?"

“They…” He paused, slightly embarrassed. “It’s similar to the situation in Meiyuan.”

Jia Ye remained silent for a long time.

"Speaking of Meiyuan..." she suddenly began. "Aren't you worried about Yanrong?"

"Yan Rong?" He was taken aback, not understanding what she meant. "Jiu Wei will take care of her."

With Jia Ye gone, and Jiu Wei and Zi Su joining forces, Qian Ming is bound to be defeated. It's obvious who will become the next leader; he's not worried about Jiu Wei's situation. As for Yan Rong… she's a good woman, but to him, that's all; she's nothing special.

"Didn't you stay overnight at Qingjia Pavilion? How can you be so heartless? I thought you liked her." Jia Ye glanced at him indifferently, his expression unreadable.

He felt dizzy instantly, never expecting that Jia Ye would know.

He wanted to explain but didn't know where to begin, and was speechless for a moment.

Seeing that he was speechless, Jia Ye rolled up her sleeves, her dark eyes reflecting the hazy light and water, bright yet eerie.

"You seem to have a lot of confidence in Jiuwei, certain that he will succeed to the throne?" The person behind the mask seemed to sneer. "Qianming is not so easy to deal with."

"What's the meaning."

"That day, Qianming had such an inappropriate idea. Guess what method I used to postpone the event?"

He had always wondered why Qianming, who was not someone to be trifled with, had been used as a delaying tactic. There must be a reason.

“It’s simple, a trade of terms.” Ignoring his silence, Jia Ye continued, “I told him that Jiuwei’s weakness lies in Shule. By controlling the King of Shule, we can control Jiuwei’s every move.”

"A moment of pleasure in bed versus a lifetime of supreme honor—Qian Ming clearly distinguishes between what is light and what is heavy. Besides, in his eyes, once he becomes the King of Pop, I will be his for the taking sooner or later."

His palms suddenly turned icy cold, and all he could hear was the soft sound of the lake water lapping against the shore.

"you…………"

"Are you worried?" Jia Ye suddenly laughed, her laughter clear as silver bells, joyful yet mischievous. She removed her mask, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

“Three years ago, I planted a spy in the court of Shule. Before leaving the sect, I learned that the King of Shule was terminally ill and would only have a few days left. So what if Qianming knows? He still won't be able to get this pawn. You can rest assured.”

"You..." With a sigh of relief, seeing her playful smile, he was at a loss for whether to be happy or angry.

"I was just teasing you." Jia Ye tilted her head, like a capricious cat, offering an irresponsible assessment. "Your angry look is actually quite frightening."

"Very interesting?"

As if she hadn't noticed his displeasure, she nodded. "You're just worried. What good would it do me to let Qianming succeed to the throne? How could I possibly let him have it so easily?"

"You don't have a good impression of Jiuwei either."

“That’s right, but Jiuwei isn’t as greedy as Qianming. After becoming the leader, she will definitely spend several years consolidating her power…”

"You can live a carefree life as long as you don't extend your reach to the Central Plains, can you?" the man said irritably.

If Yi Ming were to seize power, based on his long-held obsession and resentment at being used, he would surely use every means to investigate the Central Plains. Although Jia Ye might not necessarily be afraid, he would have more concerns. It would be better to simply let Jiu Wei ascend the throne.

Jia Ye didn't deny it, and smiled slightly. "Now it's clear to outsiders."

“Jiuwei and Qianming are power-hungry, Zisu is lustful and greedy, and what about you?” He couldn’t help but ask, staring at Qingying who seemed like an outsider. “After killing the King of Pop, what do you want?”

"Me?" She paused for a moment, then smiled again, the playfulness gone, replaced by a slightly weary languor. "I just want to see different scenery..." Her cool voice trailed off, almost inaudible.

"...How is it different from what I remember...?"

His heart skipped a beat, and he was about to ask when he suddenly sensed someone to his side.

"Cloud Book!"

The name I hadn't used for years suddenly came to mind, and I almost thought I was hallucinating.

An unmistakable face came into view, and he blurted out.

"A wine cup".

The spirited young man before him was none other than his old companion from their days of wandering the martial world. His face was filled with disbelief and barely concealed joy as he punched the man in the shoulder.

"It really is you! I can't believe it! Where have you been for the past seven years?!"

Song Yushang was a member of the Song family of Jinling, one of the four great families in the Central Plains.

The two families had been on good terms for generations. They met as children, ventured out together, drank the strongest liquor, rode the fastest horses, and vowed to cleanse the world of injustice. Their swords drawn, their spirits unbridled, their righteous vengeance—that kind of sharp, untamed spirit now seems like a joke in retrospect.

After the initial joy of reunion, both were somewhat incredulous, looking at each other with a sense of change. Seven years had passed since they last met, and seeing each other again felt like a lifetime had gone by.

The pain in his shoulder reminded him of reality. He raised his hand to catch another flying fist, and instead of answering, he asked a question.

"When did you come to Jiangnan?"

“A month ago.” His friend pressed him repeatedly, “You’ve been missing for so many years, where have you been? Your older brother was almost driven crazy looking for you back then.”

Countless words welled up in his heart, surging so fiercely they almost burst from his throat, but in the end he only smiled faintly.

"I went to the Western Regions and just returned." He took a silent breath before asking, "Do you know how my family is doing?"

Sensing his reservations, Song Yushang was puzzled. "The Western Regions? Why suddenly..." He glanced at the other's expression and changed his words. "As far as I know, he's alright. Uncle has become quite haggard over your affairs these past few years. I mentioned it when I went to wish him a happy birthday before the New Year. Also, I heard that Aunt's health hasn't been very good lately." Recalling the sadness that his usually stern and taciturn elder couldn't hide when meeting the descendants of a noble family, he couldn't help but sigh.

The air was still; even the music had disappeared.

"You don't need to look like that. Just go back and take a walk, and I guarantee your aunt will be completely cured of all her illnesses and will be as healthy as ever," Song Yushang quickly reassured her.

"It is my fault for being unfilial," he murmured.

Knowing that his parents were within reach, he delayed returning home after escaping his predicament. Boundless regret surged like a tide, drowning out all his thoughts.

"If it weren't for your striking face, I wouldn't have recognized you. Going to the Western Regions is one thing, but why didn't you even send back a letter? It makes me worry about you."

He could only manage a wry smile.

"It's good that you're back. By the way, your older brother has also come to Jiangnan. He'll be overjoyed if he knew." Seeing that he seemed to have something difficult to say, Song Yushang temporarily gave up pressing him for answers and was simply relieved.

"My elder brother also came to Jiangnan. How come you're all together?"

Song Yushang sighed, put her arm around his shoulder, and said with regret, "It's all because of you."

"I?"

"Why did you come to Jiangnan seven years ago? Do you still remember?"

How could I forget? He remained silent.

"Seven years ago, you first visited the Bai family and met their betrothed, yet unseen, eldest daughter. Suddenly, she disappeared, her fate unknown, and a search for her was fruitless." Song Yushang's voice lowered, as if she found it difficult to speak. "She waited for you for five years, but in the end, her uncle said he couldn't waste a young woman's youth any longer and personally went to break off the engagement..."

"This time, I am representing the Song family and your elder brother to come to the Bai family to offer our congratulations. In three days, it will be the auspicious day for the eldest daughter of the Bai family." Even now, the Bai family still regrets the loss of a son-in-law with excellent family background and character. A twist of fate ruined a good match, and everyone who hears about it feels sorry.