Chapter 109

When Jiang Yi learned that Yan Yiming was also skilled in martial arts, he knew that aside from being the Crown Princess and the actress, she had another identity.
He had considered that she might be a chivalrous heroine from the martial world or a mysterious assassin. At the time, he hadn’t imagined she was the very Mulan who had once shaken the capital years ago, until Shao Jingyu began showing her unusual attention.
Born into poverty, she should have been illiterate, yet she was well-versed in poetry and literature, even familiar with military strategy, and excelled in all the arts. These were inexplicable mysteries.
Perhaps these alone weren’t enough to prove that the female general from back then was Yan Yiming, but Jiang Yi had already witnessed far more absurd things. With all the coincidences and doubts piling up, though he phrased it as a question, his tone was unequivocally certain.
That female general happened to have a red mole at the corner of her eye too. What do you think?
Jiang Yi’s cool fingers still cupped her chin, his touch at the corner of her eye gentle, his voice equally soft. Yet, as she met his unfathomable gaze, Yan Yiming felt a wave of unease.
Her thoughts were straightforward and simple. Even after living in this era for eight years, she could still describe her current feelings with a modern term.
I’m screwed.
Stiff and uneasy, she sat rigidly on the stool, her back straight. With great effort, she averted her gaze and let out a weak, awkward laugh. “Maybe that’s the case...”
Jiang Yi let out a soft sigh. “I thought A’Ming would know more clearly than I do.”
Yan Yiming: “...”
She was truly afraid when Jiang Yi spoke in that tone, knowing everything yet still forcing her to admit it herself. Since he was pushing her like this, then she...
Fine, she’d admit it. He had already guessed anyway.
Once Yan Yiming came to terms with it, she was no longer afraid. She reached out and removed the hand supporting her chin, glanced at Jiang Yi, then lowered her head and said, “I do have another identity. You guessed correctly, three years ago, I followed Shao Jingyu and took part in the Mongol Battle.”
She already had Nan Gongxuan and Jian Yuyan to deal with; adding one more Shao Jingyu wasn’t something to fear, Yan Yiming thought to herself.
Jiang Yi watched her quietly for a long time before speaking inexplicably, “I heard that the Crown Princess, after meeting the Crown Prince in her youth, declared she would marry no one else. Later, because the Crown Prince was heartless, she abandoned him and gradually developed feelings for Prince Yue, who had always admired her.”
Yan Yiming had thought she wouldn’t be afraid anymore, but after hearing these words, she couldn’t help but shiver again. She kept her head lowered, not daring to move, and could only listen as Jiang Yi continued, “Later, the Crown Prince finally came to his senses. The Crown Princess, in order to save Miss Jian, accidentally had physical contact with the Crown Prince and had no choice but to marry into the Eastern Palace. A’Ming, being so clever, would certainly not foolishly waste years chasing after the Crown Prince. So, if I’m not mistaken, the one who abandoned the Crown Prince, drew closer to Prince Yue, and made the Crown Prince realize his mistake, that Lady Yan is the real you. Am I right?”
Jiang Yi pulled her up and led her into the inner chamber, seating her on a chair beside the soft couch. His expression remained gentle, and he even thoughtfully asked why her hands were so cold.
Yan Yiming’s hands trembled slightly as she pretended to praise him, “As expected of the Young Lord, you’re absolutely right.”
“I’m not as clever as A’Ming,” Jiang Yi said, looking at her with a smile. “So, from the time Lady Yan became estranged from the Crown Prince until the Crown Princess passed away, it was eight months and five days. Jian Yuyan and A’Ming knew each other for exactly ten months. After the Mongol Battle, Shao Jingyu returned to the capital from the north, falsely claiming that the Marquis of Yiyong had died. It wasn’t until the following autumn, during the grand birthday celebration of the Dowager Madam Shao, that it was revealed the Marquis of Yiyong was still alive. From late spring to autumn, that’s another half a year.”
Jiang Yi paused here for a moment, taking advantage of Yan Yiming’s distraction to grab her hand and pull her closer, his grip firm.
Caught off guard, Yan Yiming stumbled into Jiang Yi’s embrace. He forcibly seated her on his lap, holding her tightly. She instinctively lowered her head to look at him, and only then did Jiang Yi finish the words that had left her bewildered.
“From the time Shao Jingyu left the capital until he returned to the northwest, it took three years. So, A’Ming and Shao Jingyu were together for three full years,” Jiang Yi said, his arm around her waist tightening uncontrollably. Though he was looking up at her, a position that should have seemed weaker, his presence felt even more overwhelming than if he were looking down on her.
He could set aside Nan Gongxuan and Jian Yuyan, but Shao Jingyu was different.
He had heard how she had been injured countless times to save Shao Jingyu. They had spent three whole years together. And now, while Nan Gongxuan and Jian Yuyan hadn’t recognized her, Shao Jingyu had suspected, and even recognized her.
Why had Shao Jingyu recognized her? Because he knew her well enough. And why did he know her so well? Because they had faced life and death together.
Compared to Jian Yuyan and Nan Gongxuan, Shao Jingyu's presence made him feel an unprecedented sense of crisis and jealousy. Jiang Yi held her tightly in his arms and murmured, “A’Ming, you spent three years together with him.”
Yan Yiming was taken aback for a moment, hesitantly placing her hands on Jiang Yi's shoulders. “But we've been together for even longer, haven't we?”
“Can the tenderness of youth compare to the trust forged in battle?”
Yan Yiming suddenly understood Jiang Yi's feelings, his unease at this moment. She couldn't quite explain why she tolerated Jiang Yi, but she could clearly articulate the differences between Jiang Yi and Shao Jingyu.
“It can,” Yan Yiming said. She lowered her head to glance at Jiang Yi before speaking softly, “After Commandant Yan's death, Shao Jingyu no longer held any trust for me.”
“You died to save the Crown Prince, scarred your face for Jian Yuyan, and nearly lost your life multiple times for Shao Jingyu. Yet all you left me was a single day of missed opportunities,” Jiang Yi said. “If Shao Jingyu has lost all trust, then what about me?”
Yan Yiming was stunned. Initially, all of this was merely to complete the game objectives, but now, as Jiang Yi listed them one by one, Yan Yiming suddenly realized that the time she spent with Jiang Yi had been too peaceful. It was precisely because it was too peaceful that it seemed as if she had left no trace of caring for Jiang Yi.
However, after a long silence, Yan Yiming finally said, “Compared to them, your trust is truly much greater.”
Jiang Yi's arms around her trembled slightly, and then he let out a low chuckle.
The shadows beneath his eyelashes concealed the ambiguous expression in his eyes. Jiang Yi sighed inwardly, for he was the one who was truly untrustworthy.
Abruptly, Jiang Yi stood up and swept Yan Yiming into his arms. Yan Yiming inwardly exclaimed that even a frail scholar could be quite strong, but she was already placed on the bed by Jiang Yi. Lifting her eyes to meet his deep gaze, she heard his low voice say, “Even if A’Ming says so, I am still very angry.”
Yan Yiming blinked, lowering her voice cautiously. “What will you do when you're angry?”
“Me?” Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, the smile fading from his face as he stared intently at her, speaking slowly, “I will lock you up, or chain you, so that you can never leave my sight and can only stay by my side, unable to go anywhere.”
It sounded like a joke, but Yan Yiming couldn't detect any humor in his tone.
She also knew full well that Jiang Yi couldn't possibly confine her; once the time came, she could still leave. So there was no reason to be afraid, yet at this moment, she couldn't control the urge to distance herself from Jiang Yi.
Yan Yiming looked into Jiang Yi's eyes for a long while before pushing against his chest. “Shaojun, stop joking around.”
“I'm completely serious. Ever since I recognized you, I've been thinking this every moment,” Jiang Yi said softly, his fingers gently stroking her cheek. “A’Ming, aren't you skilled in martial arts? Why aren't you pushing me away?”
Yan Yiming: “Shaojun, please don't do this.”
“Don't do what?” Jiang Yi lowered his head and kissed her earlobe. “Not like this?”
The loose belt fell away, revealing glimpses of alluring spring scenery. “Or like this?”
Feeling the chill on her skin, Yan Yiming shivered slightly. Her chaotic mind flashed through many thoughts, remembering the young Jiang Yi's adorable coquettishness by her side, and recalling how not long ago, a drunken Jiang Yi had asked if she was a fox spirit descended to the mortal world.
Slowly, Yan Yiming withdrew the hand that had intended to push Jiang Yi away.
She had always owed him. If her body could compensate him somewhat, perhaps it wasn't entirely unacceptable.
As her garments gradually slipped away, Yan Yiming made no further moves. But in the end, it was Jiang Yi who helped straighten her clothes.
He lifted his head, the earlier gloom completely vanished from his eyes, which remained clear and smiling. He leaned down and placed a light kiss by her lips, teasingly asking, “Are you scared now?”
Yan Yiming was bewildered. “Of what?”
“You asked me what would happen if I got angry. Are you scared now?”
Yan Yiming opened her mouth, staring into Jiang Yi's untroubled eyes. After a long moment, she rolled over, put her clothes back on, and whispered in reply,
“I'm scared.”