“Yo yo, what a stunning beauty, even the Third Master cannot bear to let me take a proper look.”
The newcomer stepped out from behind the screen. His eyes were narrow, sharp with cunning like a sly fox. It was the first time he had seen Lin Third Master so serious, as if facing a great enemy, and it was all because of a woman.
Su Mei stared at the sudden appearance, instinctively moving closer to Lin Yian.
Her unease and reliance were pure and obvious. Beyond the instinct to protect her, an inexplicable satisfaction filled him. He quietly patted her back as a silent reassurance and addressed the newcomer, “State your business.”
“The Third Master is accompanied by beauty, so you are impatient with me.” The newcomer raised his eyebrows and spoke with mock grievance.
“Liu Si.”
Lin Yian said in a low voice.
Liu Si felt a chill and looked up to see the usually gentle man with a cold expression. The simple two-character address carried an unnerving authority.
“I remember you only came of age in August this year. You are clearly two years younger than me. Why are you always scaring me?” Liu Si muttered, then finally put aside his playful expression to speak seriously. “His Highness is very concerned about your leg injury. He blames himself for involving you and wants a way to have the court physician examine you. He also told me to ensure you rest and recover.”
Lin Yian said there was no need to trouble the physician and asked, “Have they found the person causing trouble?”
“They will definitely be found, otherwise you think we just sit around doing nothing?” Liu Si said confidently. Then he glanced at Lin Yian’s legs under the blanket, worried. “Are you sure you do not need a physician? It is said that a doctor cannot treat himself. You have some medical knowledge, but that day, if I had not delivered the medicine in time, you might have ended up in the underworld.”
“No need. As long as it does not delay His Highness’s important matters, nothing else matters.” Lin Yian refused again. “However, there is one thing I need you to handle. There is a letter on the long desk. Deliver it for me.”
A letter?
Liu Si walked toward the long desk with the incense burner and saw the letter lying underneath. He picked it up and glanced at the recipient, exclaiming, “The Wu family in Baoding? You call this a simple errand?”
Clearly, he was being sent out of the capital.
“Keep your voice down. If the guards outside hear you, they will know you are here and will come to greet you, Liu Si.” Lin Yian reminded him, keeping an eye on Su Mei.
The young girl heard the name of her maternal family but did not react. She seemed to have forgotten, but at some point her hand slipped into his sleeve.
Lin Yian had been speaking seriously and now realized her fingers had intertwined with his.
Her fingers were slender, soft and delicate, weaving around his hand like silk, leaving him enveloped in warmth.
Lin Yian shivered inwardly and tried to pull his hand back.
She insisted and followed him, her fingertips brushing his palm and sliding between his fingers, causing an irresistible tingling sensation. Lin Yian’s breathing became disordered.
He tried to maintain a calm expression, keeping his eyebrows still, fearing Liu Si would notice their subtle entanglement. A wave of unspoken embarrassment surged through him.
Fortunately, Liu Si was focused on the letter. He stared at the name of the Wu family patriarch and said with surprise, “Isn’t this the father-in-law of the Zhongyi Marquis? When did you have dealings with him?”
“You may go.” Lin Yian, distracted by her grip, replied briefly. He did not want Liu Si to know too much.
“Alright, alright. You, Lin Third, have done great work. Running an errand for you is nothing. Consider me trying to flatter you.” Liu Si put the letter away and started to leave.
After two steps, he returned, curiously studying the young girl sitting at the edge of the bed. Lin Yian had wrapped her too tightly, revealing only her bright eyes. From her appearance, she seemed just of age. Liu Si could not figure out much.
The normally reserved Lin Third Master actually liked someone so young?
Lin Yian remained tense. Liu Si did not pry further and finally said, “Your stepmother is strange. She moved you here to recover when she could have left you elsewhere. She made it so inconvenient for me to find you.”
With that, he left.
The night wind drifted into the room, causing the candlelight to flicker. Lin Yian shifted inward, leaving a small empty space. Su Mei lost her support, calling softly as she leaned into the space. He finally freed his hand from hers.
Lin Yian supported himself with one hand, breathing uneven, sweat dampening his back.
“Third Master, what is wrong with you?” Su Mei asked, her eyes gleaming under the candlelight as her robe slipped slightly.
Lin Yian tightened his throat and looked away, unsure why she appeared so charming, and did not dare to think too much.
At that moment, perhaps providence intervened. Zikui, noticing Su Mei was missing, had quietly come to rescue Lin Yian.
Zikui approached cautiously and bowed. “Sorry for disturbing you, Third Master. I slept too deeply.” She carefully took Su Mei’s sleeve. “Miss, please return with me. It is not convenient for you to be here at this hour.”
“Does time matter for husband and wife? My sister is speaking nonsense.”
“Third Miss, Zikui is correct.” Lin Yian finally relaxed, returning to his usual calm. “Your evening medicine contained a sedative. The enemy acts in the dark, I act with awareness. If you were discovered, they might tamper with your medicine. Before the culprit is found, cooperate with me and hide from them.”
“Third Master called me Third Miss again.” Su Mei pouted, dissatisfied with the title.
Lin Yian reluctantly called her by her given name. She then asked expectantly, “Will you speak for me, Third Master?”
He nodded. “Yes. Trust Zikui. She would never harm you. With her nearby, you can be at ease.”
She glanced at Zikui and smiled. “I feel an inexplicable familiarity with you too. If the Third Master says so, it must be right.”
Zikui, surprised that Lin Yian defended her, felt grateful as the young lady accepted her.
Lin Yian pondered why they could come and go without being noticed. He realized it was likely due to the sedative in the evening medicine. Lin Henglǐ, seeing Su Mei asleep, had relaxed, and the guards did not pay attention.
Things were indeed as he expected. Thanks to Lin Henglǐ’s arrogance, Su Mei’s courtyard was full of family servants, allowing the pair to move freely under the cover of night.
Since meeting Lin Yian, Su Mei had become gentler and calmer, showing her usual grace. Zikui helped her lie down again, silently thankful to Lin Yian.
Heavens watched over them. When the young lady faced her greatest difficulty, she met a gentleman. Lin Yian had hinted about the medicine, revealing the Lin family’s schemes. She planned to send news to the frontier the next day.
Finally, the moon appeared from behind the clouds. Under its silver light, Su Mei fell into a peaceful sleep. Lin Yian turned restlessly, his hand, which she had taken advantage of, feeling awkward. The next morning, when Shi Tou woke him to replace the dressing on his leg, a dark bruise was visible under his eyes.
“Third Master, did your leg hurt again last night?” Shi Tou asked with concern.
Lin Yian pressed lightly above his temple, unwilling to speak. He asked for a brush and ink, set up a small desk on the bed, and began to write rapidly.
As Liu Si said, he knew some medicine. After tasting Su Mei’s soup yesterday, he had identified the formula and wrote it all down accurately.
When finished, he dried the ink and carefully instructed, “Fetch these herbs from my private store. From now on, only these herbs should be used. Serve them together with Third Miss’s medicine.”
Shi Tou, unable to read the prescription, obeyed. Unaware Lin Yian was prioritizing Su Mei over himself, he had replaced his own dressing with her medicine, ensuring her recovery while preventing tampering.
Lin Yian quietly arranged everything. When the servant brought breakfast, seeing him in bed unattended, they placed the meal on the small desk.
He glanced at the dishes and, accustomed to simplicity, picked up his spoon and slowly drank the rice porridge.
Halfway through, he heard Su Mei calling him sweetly. Her slender figure flashed past the window and soon she arrived with a bright smile.
Seeing him eating simply, she sat at the edge of the bed, surprised there were only a few pickled vegetables and two buns.
“Husband, why are you eating so plain? Where is the meat?” She pulled down his hand holding the bowl, noticing no oil or meat inside.
As she spoke, Lin Henglǐ, who had gone into his uncle’s room, followed. Seeing the pair sitting openly on the bed, his face darkened.
Su Mei asked in his ear, “Who is this? He is so annoying. Why does he live here with us and keeps coming over?”
Her warm breath brushed his ear, carrying a sweet scent, stirring the tingling sensation from last night. Lin Yian’s heart skipped a beat.
“He is my nephew, my junior, and also…” He hesitated, unsure how to explain Lin Henglǐ’s relation to her without alarming her.
Su Mei clapped her hands, “Ah, he is the eldest nephew!” Her annoyed expression softened into a smile as she spoke to Lin Henglǐ, “Nephew came to see your uncle? Come sit and have some breakfast.”
Her gaze toward Lin Henglǐ softened, showing kindness. Though she did not favor him, she showed the tolerance expected of a wife.
Su Mei: I am really a kind little clever one
Lin Yian: I cannot handle this