Chapter 67

To welcome Prince Yue, Shao Jingyu had granted the entire army a day of relaxation. As night fell, bonfires blazed, creating an unprecedented atmosphere of festivity.
Since Yan Yiming’s passing a year ago, Nan Gongye’s personality had changed drastically. Gone was his former liveliness, and now, standing beside Shao Jingyu, who was of similar age, Shao appeared far more youthful and spirited.
But a man’s ambitions lie beyond the four seas. Though matters of the heart had long haunted him, the affairs of the nation now stirred his blood. The soldiers who had fought in the battle spoke passionately of that desperate day, how Shao Jingyu led them in a fierce resistance against thirty thousand Mongol troops, how Yan Yiming’s reinforcements arrived at the critical moment, and how she captured Cao Hui and other thrilling episodes. Their tales were even more gripping than those told by storytellers in teahouses.
Nan Gongye listened with keen interest, admiring Shao Jingyu’s military prowess while marveling at Yan Yiming’s decisiveness and iron resolve, despite her delicate frame.
Such stories never failed to ignite a man’s fervor. Both Shao Jingyu and Nan Gongye drank a bit too much. Feeling overheated by the fire, Nan Gongye stood up and took a stroll across the grassland to sober up. When he returned, he realized the pouch he always carried at his waist was missing.
In an instant, he was wide awake.
For over a year, only by looking at the contents of that pouch could Nan Gongye confirm the promise Yan Yiming had made before she left, and believe that she had truly come to see him that day.
No matter how fine the wine, Nan Gongye suddenly lost all interest in drinking. Without a second thought, he rose and hurried back to the place he had just visited, not even hearing Shao Jingyu call out to him.
Nan Gongye retraced his steps swiftly, but the more he searched, the more anxious he grew.
To others, it might have been just a few pieces of candy, but to him, they were the only proof of that person's existence and the affection they had once held for him. As time passed, it had even become an obsession.
Nan Gongye refused to entertain the thought of what he would do if they were truly lost. He could only order his men to search again and again until someone called out to him. Irritated, Nan Gongye looked up to see Yan Yiming holding an exquisite pouch in her pale hand, saying calmly, “Your Highness, did you lose this?”
Nan Gongye snatched the pouch from her hand and clutched it tightly, only then did his earlier panic slowly subside.
In front of everyone, he carefully retied the pouch to his waist before finally allowing a smile to return to his face. “Thank you, Commandant Yan. But how did you know this belonged to me?”
“The material of the pouch is not something an ordinary family could afford, and the embroidery is exceptionally fine. Aside from Your Highness and the General, I cannot think of anyone else who would possess such a pouch. I have served the General for a long time and have never seen him with this item.”
Shao Jingyu and Yun Little Approached from a distance, just in time to hear Yan Yiming's words. Yun Xiao exclaimed in surprise, “How did I not know you had such a pouch?”
Shao Jingyu glanced at Yan Yiming, suppressing an obvious smile as he feigned modesty. “Perhaps it's because Yiming cares more about me than you do.”
Having seen Nan Gongye rush off earlier, Shao Jingyu had guessed he might have lost something and, feeling uneasy, had followed to check. His gaze fell on the pouch at Nan Gongye's waist.
It seemed this pouch held extraordinary importance to Nan Gongye.
Shao Jingyu had naturally heard some rumors about Nan Gongye's past, though he knew little beyond what Yun Xiao had picked up during his trips back to the capital.
Though curious, Shao Jingyu knew better than to pry into Prince Yue's private affairs. Suppressing his curiosity, he stepped forward and casually draped an arm over Yan Yiming's shoulder, thinking to himself that her height was just right, any taller would have been less suitable.
Yan Yiming shot him an expressionless glance, which Shao Jingyu pretended not to notice. With a twinkle in his eyes, he said to Nan Gongye, “Seeing you rush off in such a hurry, I guessed you must have lost something.” Then, turning to Yan Yiming, he added, “You're quite clever.”
His words were meant for Nan Gongye, clearly hinting that Prince Yue should reward Yan Yiming.
Nan Gongye understood Shao Jingyu's intention. He had noticed earlier how Shao Jingyu had gone out of his way to seek rewards from the Emperor for Yan Yiming, and now he was seizing every opportunity to help her. Nan Gongye gave the two of them a thoughtful look before laughing and scolding Shao Jingyu, “Who could match your cleverness?”
Nevertheless, since Yan Yiming had helped him retrieve the pouch, Nan Gongye would naturally reward her even without Shao Jingyu's prompting. He went so far as to generously allow Yan Yiming to request her own reward.
Yan Yiming replied indifferently, “This humble officer has no requests. It was merely a small effort.”
“In that case,” Nan Gongye said, “I owe you a favor. If you ever have a request in the future, Commandant Yan, you may come to me.”
A mere reward paled in comparison to a favor from Prince Yue. Even Shao Jingyu was surprised that Nan Gongye had made such a promise.
Yan Yiming finally looked up at Nan Gongye. She was reluctant to owe him any more favors, but then she remembered something else. After a moment of contemplation, she decided not to refuse and said, “In that case, may this general have a few words with Your Highness in private?”
Shao Jingyu was taken aback, and Nan Gongye was also surprised, but he quickly smiled and replied, “Of course, you may accompany me for a walk.”
Shao Jingyu: “...”
He felt as though he were being consumed by flames.
It wasn't until evening, when it was time to rest, that Yan Yiming returned from outside. Shao Jingyu lay on the couch, watching her silently tidy up the small bed in the distance.
After waiting for so long, he had finally managed to wait for her return, only to notice that Yan Yiming seemed somewhat unsettled for some reason. Unable to sleep, Shao Jingyu abruptly sat up and called out to her.
Yan Yiming looked up upon hearing him. “General?”
“I've told you before, there's no need to address me as 'General' in private,” Shao Jingyu said, his gaze fixed on her. In truth, he wanted to ask what they had talked about, what could he possibly have to say to Prince Yue, whom he barely knew? But for some reason, he felt a bit cowardly and didn't dare to ask directly. Instead, he brought up another question that had long piqued his curiosity. “You mentioned before that you don't wish to marry. Why?”
Yan Yiming's movements slowed involuntarily. She thought to herself that Shao Jingyu's so-called “brotherly affection” wasn't as simple as it seemed. Her heart stirred slightly, but her expression remained as calm as ever. After a pause, she replied, “...I just don't want to, that's all. Why does the General ask about this?”
Without a hint of embarrassment, Shao Jingyu lied smoothly, “I have a cousin who is as beautiful as a flower. She has just come of age and would be a perfect match for you.”
“General, please don't tease your subordinate.”
“What did you say? I can't hear you. If you know your voice is soft, why stand so far away? Come sit closer.” Shao Jingyu leaned against the couch and patted the spot beside him. When Yan Yiming approached, he shifted inward to make room and continued, “You know I'm teasing you, yet you don't even crack a smile. You've been gloomy and absent-minded all evening. What's on your mind?”
“Nothing,” Yan Yiming avoided answering his question. After a while, she suddenly brought up an unrelated topic. “I was just wondering how many more days the Prince will be staying.”
Why would he suddenly jump to Nan Gongye?
Shao Jingyu's thoughts faltered. He stared intently at Yan Yiming's face and said slowly, “Probably about three more days.”
“Oh,” Yan Yiming lowered her eyelashes and fell silent. But to Shao Jingyu's shock, he realized that she had clearly been disappointed just now!
Disappointed?
Disappointed about what?
Disappointed that Nan Gongye would only be staying for three days?
Could it be that Yan Yiming's gloominess all day was because of Nan Gongye?
Shao Jingyu was utterly bewildered.
In just a few days, the fruit he had painstakingly cultivated for so long, still uncertain whether it would be bitter or sweet, had been plucked by someone else?
He had been pondering daily whether Yan Yiming was not cut-sleeve, fearing that being too straightforward might come off as presumptuous.
But judging by Yan Yiming’s current behavior, it seemed he wasn’t as straight as he appeared?
This should have been a cause for celebration, yet Shao Jingyu found himself troubled.
Because Yan Yiming seemed to have been just as presumptuous as he had, but the target of that presumption... did not seem to be him.