Night Song

Chapter 52

"Your martial arts skills were learned from your mother?"

"I've memorized the mental techniques and instructions she left behind, as well as all the things I needed to know, countless times." Su Yan felt a pang of nostalgia as she quietly watched the shimmering ripples on the lake.

"Including the cost of training?"

"She also warned me against reaching the peak in everything I practiced."

"Didn't you listen?" The calm voice carried a hint of reproach.

“There’s no other choice. To survive and kill the King, you need sufficient power.” She said nonchalantly, lifting her sleeve to reveal her slender wrist. “With such weak bones and muscles, you don’t have enough strength or speed; you’d be barely capable of being a Seven Killer.”

Despite his best efforts, he nearly lost his life if he hadn't returned in time. His childlike body helped him avoid greedy gazes, but it also made him far less physically capable than the average person.

"You plan to die together with him?" He looked into his watery eyes, where there was not a trace of lingering fear.

“That’s a good ending,” she admitted, flicking the willow catkins off her skirt with her slender fingers. “It’s the best I could hope for.”

"Why didn't you choose to run away?" he asked in a very low voice. "Your mother didn't want revenge, she just wanted you... to live well."

Jia Ye was taken aback.

“Someone once said that to me before…” She lowered her head, the river water gently lapping against the hull of the boat, causing it to rise and fall with the waves. She was somewhat dazed and momentarily disoriented, unsure of where she was.

"Huaiyi?"

Every unusual occurrence was due to that person; it wasn't hard to guess. "What kind of person is he?"

His dark, bright eyes were misty, as if shrouded in a thin, hazy smoke, as he looked at another person through them.

“He…looks a bit like you.” As she spoke, she herself began to drift into a daze. “…He’s a very good person, very…”

He responded softly, waiting for her to continue.

“Only he saved me.” She pulled her legs back, hugging her knees as she recalled. “Like you and Jiuwei, when we fought our way out of the Cuifeng Camp, I was inexperienced and almost lost my life. He took a sword for me… I became Qisha, and he became a shadow guard because of his status, and he always took care of me… And then…” As if startled by something, she interrupted her dreamlike recollection.

Gazing at her face, he gave up on asking questions.

The distant singing from the ship could be heard from afar, mournful and sad, as plaintive and poignant as rain falling on the strings of a pipa.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he blurted it out.

"Is it because I look a lot like him that you... are you taking extra care of him?"

Once this possibility arises, my heart feels as if it's being squeezed shut, and I'm even afraid that she'll admit it.

Jia Ye did not answer directly. She glanced at him with her slightly moist eyes and then lowered them.

“He wants to return to the Central Plains just like you. There are people here waiting for him…” The vague murmur seemed to have been buried deep in his heart for a long time. “So I came to see for him. If only I could go and exchange places with him… Anyway…”

Anyway, no one will wait for her.

The landscape of Jiangnan remains as I remember it.

No lingering affection remains, only melancholy, as if stepping into a dream long lost, only now more clearly aware that it can never be returned to.

Qingyan was as lonely as snow, and he couldn't help but hug her tightly.

Although her soft body was in my arms, I felt an inexplicable unease, as if she might disappear at any moment.

Nothing else matters. Even if she is just using him to make amends to someone else, he doesn't mind that all the reasons are just feelings of guilt. The initial suffocation suddenly becomes insignificant, and he feels fortunate instead.

On that dark, cold, and bloody road, someone once gave her such warmth, won her complete trust, and left a soft spot in her heart...

That's really lucky.

"Sailing under the stars, Young Master Xie and Miss Ye are in high spirits."

The sudden sound shattered the silence.

Dozens of feet away, a luxurious, brightly lit ship approached from afar.

The tall, handsome man stood by the railing; though the distance was great, his words seemed to be right next to my ear.

They exchanged a glance, Xie Yunshu released the beauty, stood up, and bowed.

"More than a month has passed since we parted. I wonder when the young master arrived in Yangzhou."

The man standing at the bow of the ship was none other than Xiao Shicheng, the heir apparent of the Prince of Nanjun.

They were once at each other's throats, but when they met, they remained polite and courteous, making those unaware of the situation believe they were bosom friends.

The tall, magnificent ship was filled with music and bustling activity, surrounded by countless beautiful women laughing and chatting, their voices like the warbling of orioles, as if it were a gentle paradise on the water.

Several others also came over. Bai Fengge stared at them with deep resentment. No matter what, she couldn't pretend to be angry at the enemy who had tried to destroy her family a month or so ago.

Song Yushang kept a close eye on everything on the ship. Xie Quheng stood tall and imposing, bowing respectfully on the surface, but in reality, he was on high alert.

Xiao Shicheng returned the greeting with a slight smile. Behind him, a group of glamorous beauties, adorned with pearls, curiously peered out. They all stared with great interest at the Xie brothers and Song Yushang, chattering incessantly, their voices a mixture of dialects from various regions. They were probably gathered by the Prince of Nan from all directions.

"Thanks to the Third Young Master, I finally managed to finish dealing with the trivial matters in Nanjun. I accompanied my father to Hangzhou on business the other day, and unexpectedly we met here. It's truly fate."

He said it so casually, but behind my back he must have been seething with resentment countless times.

Jia Ye suppressed a smile, leaning lazily against the soft chair, showing no intention of getting up. The four wings had vanished without a trace, undoubtedly hiding in the cabin, probably peeking through the crack in the door.

After exchanging a few casual words, Xiao Shicheng nodded to Jia Ye.

"How is Miss Ye's injury? She seems to have lost a lot of weight."

She gave a forced smile.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, for my poor health and inability to pay my respects. The weather has been hot lately, and my injury has been recurring and is not getting better."

"That was my fault. I will send you some medicinal herbs to help you recover another day."

The man smiled, seemingly genuinely apologizing.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I dare not trouble Your Highness with such a concern." She smiled slightly.

"Since you're all going to Yangzhou anyway, would you do me the honor of traveling together? It'll be more lively with more people." The man smiled and gestured. The beautiful woman beside him was overjoyed and, without any hesitation, cast a flirtatious glance at Xie Yunshu and the other men, making a bold invitation.

"It would be impolite to refuse Your Highness's kind invitation, but I am too weak to accept it and dare not spoil Your Highness's enjoyment of the trip." Jia Ye chuckled inwardly as he casually remarked the polite words. The unenthusiastic refusal immediately provoked the beauties' coquettish displeasure. Though they didn't say anything, their frequent eye rolls were quite obvious. However, when they glanced at the man nearby, their expressions changed to one of delight.

Xie Yunshu ignored the many ardent gazes and stood guard beside her, his expression indifferent.

"In that case, I will find another opportunity to host a banquet when I arrive in Yangzhou. I hope you will all do me the honor of attending."

"Your Highness is too kind. The Xie family will naturally host the trip to Yangzhou." Xie Quheng's words carried a hint of sharpness. "How could I dare to trouble Your Highness?"

"You're too kind. Hope to meet again in Yangzhou someday."

Xiao Shicheng cupped his hands to Xie Quheng, glanced at Jia Ye with a smile, and then turned to order the boatman to sail away.

The luxurious and magnificent ship gradually sailed away, and Xie Yunshu looked down at her.

Jia Ye continued fiddling with the ice cubes as if nothing was wrong, completely unconcerned.

“Xiao Shicheng seems quite interested in Miss Ye,” Song Yushang couldn’t help but say, watching her reaction.

"Young Master Song seems quite interested in those beauties." She rested her chin on her hand, offering a cool, sarcastic remark.

Having been rebuffed, Song Yushang felt embarrassed, while Xie Yunshu suppressed his laughter and pretended not to hear.

Four wings emerged from the cabin, whispering and discussing among themselves as they gazed at the distant sails.

"Luckily I dodged it quickly."

"So what if I saw it? I've already offended them anyway."

Are you afraid of him?

"The person I'm afraid of is you..."

"………………"

Returning Home

The spring breeze blows along the ten-mile road of Yangzhou, but nothing compares to the beauty of the rolled-up beaded curtains.

As the boat enters the winding canal with its willows, the silhouettes of ancient temples and pagodas on both banks come into view.

The water town features winding bridges suspended in mid-air, and narrow paths connecting farmhouses under the shade of green fir and bamboo. Boats shuttle back and forth, and cormorants on fishing boats call softly. Occasionally, an arrow plunges into the river, splashing water with its wings.

The noise grew louder, the shadows of the trees stretched endlessly, the summer sun began to shine through, and pedestrians changed into light silk garments. The boat sailed into the city and stopped at the busiest part of the market, following the waterway. Xie Yunshu helped her ashore and walked straight into the most luxurious inn in the city.

The steward, who had come upon hearing the news, had a shrewd look on his face. He quickly ushered the two into the inner room and knelt down on one knee respectfully.

"Your subordinate greets Third Young Master." Shen Yi's voice trembled slightly at the end. Xie Yunshu helped him up, also expressing his feelings. "Uncle Li, there's no need for such formalities. It's been several years since we last met. How have you been?"

"Everything is fine, but I was worried about the safety of the Third Young Master. Madam has been depressed, and my wife often sheds tears with her." Rarely showing her emotions, she couldn't help but be excited to see the child she had watched grow up return safely. "Now it's all good, the Third Young Master is safe and sound, it's truly a great joy."

"I'm sorry to have troubled Uncle Li." Xie Yunshu nodded and gestured for the person behind him to come over. "This is Miss Ye. She'll be resting here for a while. She's not feeling well, so Uncle Li will have to take good care of her."

"Young Master, you flatter me. Since you're here, young lady, you're an honored guest. We should serve you with utmost care and not be negligent in the slightest." His experienced and shrewd eyes subtly observed the petite girl with a friendly smile. He noticed the jade pendant on her skirt and was secretly startled, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Young Master intends for Miss Ye to stay here..."

“Summer Garden,” Xie Yunshu interrupted. “Is the scenery still the same?”

"How could I dare to disappoint the young master? In the past two years, some new lotuses have appeared, making them even more beautiful than before." Li Shufen replied with a gentle smile, not daring to slack off in the slightest. He personally led the two to the front of the garden before knowingly retreating.

"Are you really not coming to the Xie family with me?"

"Um."

He silently led her through layers of curtains and onto a winding bridge.

A refreshing mist wafted over, and large lotus flowers bloomed on both sides of the long bridge, their pink, white, and red blossoms vibrant and beautiful. The round, green lotus leaves covered the water's surface in layers, and occasionally, fish would playfully nibble at the leaves, causing the flower branches to sway gently in the breeze, instantly dispelling the dryness.

A long bridge leads directly into the water garden, where the exquisite water pavilions are elegantly and tastefully decorated, making them instantly appealing. Under the eaves hang extremely fine shrimp-whisker curtains, as thin as hair, intertwining like wisps of smoke suspended in the air. Looking through the windows, it's like viewing flowers through a mist, adding to the enchanting and mysterious atmosphere.

"This is Xie family property?" She was a little surprised as she gently stroked the hibiscus flowers arranged in the jade vase.

"It's something the Xie family does secretly; outsiders don't know." He lifted the curtain, and the fragrance of lotus blossoms wafted in, elegant and pleasant even without the need for incense. "Or I could call Silver Swan and Jade Falcon to keep you company."

"Forget it, it'll be more peaceful being alone," she retorted bluntly. Knowing he couldn't win, he still couldn't shake his worries, even though the old injury hadn't recurred since its flare-up…

“Go back, the ship is waiting for you.” She smiled calmly, ignoring his hesitation. “You’ve kept your promise by coming to Yangzhou, don’t try to control me.”

"I'll come see you soon." He frowned helplessly. "Don't wander around since your injury has just healed. Just let Uncle Li know if you need anything."

He watched as the obedient maidservant brought him a plate of tea and fruit, then went out to give the steward some instructions. He glanced back at the water garden. A jade-like figure leaned lazily against the railing, only half of her jet-black hair visible.

Jia Ye... seems to have something on her mind too.