Only after returning to the Su Residence did Su Niao finally breathe a sigh of relief. She immediately sent people back to the capital to report her safety and request additional guards.
When Su Niao left the capital, her parents, Liu Ruyu and Su Xun, were already consumed with guilt. Then news arrived that she had disappeared while hunting.
Liu Ruyu was frantic with worry and had already dispatched people toward Yunzhou when she received the messenger Su Niao had sent to report that she was safe.
In her letter, Su Niao apologized for worrying her parents. She casually mentioned that she had wanted to personally hunt a fox and make a fur cloak for her mother.
As a result, Liu Ruyu felt both ashamed and deeply touched.
Duke Ding, Su Xun, was similarly moved. He sighed and sent another squad of guards to Yunzhou.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Su Xuan was playing chess with the Ninth Princess at Wangjiang Tower when the voice in her head suddenly sounded again.
Pleasure -10. Halo -10.
Her hand paused briefly. Then she summoned her personal maid and quietly issued some instructions.
Soon afterward, the maid returned with a report.
Learning that Su Niao had escaped unharmed, and that their parents had even sent more guards after her, Su Xuan clenched her fists in secret.
Across from her, the Ninth Princess, Xie Mingyue, kept glancing out the restaurant window. She was clearly irritated.
A thoughtful look flashed through Su Xuan’s eyes before she smiled and asked gently, “Is Your Highness troubled by something?”
Xie Mingyue waved her hand. “Mother says Father intends to marry me to Shu Xuanqing. But I haven’t seen him in years. I’ve heard the frontier is bitterly cold and the people there are rough and uncultured. If he proves difficult to look at, I’d rather find a way to cancel this marriage sooner rather than later.”
Raised by Noble Consort Rong, the Ninth Princess had become close to Su Xuan after Su Xuan’s engagement to the Fifth Prince.
Seeing Xie Mingyue’s irritation, Su Xuan casually remarked: “Speaking of coincidences, I actually ran into Young General Shu on the street not long ago. He was even the one who escorted Niao Niao home.”
Xie Mingyue froze.
Remembering Su Niao, the woman who had falsely claimed credit and nearly stolen both Su Xuan’s marriage and her fifth brother’s future wife, she frowned.
“Why would Shu Xuanqing escort Su Niao home?”
The Shu family had likely already heard of the Emperor’s intentions regarding the marriage. Yet he still dared to become entangled with another woman?
Su Xuan hurriedly explained: “The other day, my younger sister encountered danger on the street. Fortunately, Young General Shu rescued her. She was badly shaken and asked him to escort her home.”
As though she hadn’t noticed Xie Mingyue’s darkening expression, Su Xuan continued gently: “The young general is righteous and generous. Had it not been for him, my sister might truly have been in danger that day.”
Xie Mingyue let out a cold laugh. “You, her elder sister, were right there, yet she didn’t return home with you and instead latched onto another man.”
Su Xuan quickly said: “Your Highness mustn’t misunderstand. Niao Niao is simply carefree and uninhibited by nature. She meant nothing by it.”
Xie Mingyue sneered. “Carefree and uninhibited? I’d call her frivolous and indiscreet.”
As if recalling something, she smiled coldly. “She’ll be returning to the capital in a few months, won’t she?”
Su Xuan nodded.
Xie Mingyue then curled her lips. “Then I’ll wait until then and properly meet her.”
Pleasure +10. Halo +10.
The voice in Su Xuan’s mind instantly swept away her previous displeasure.
Su Niao really was remarkably good at making trouble. Even all the way out in Yunzhou, she could still keep their parents worried about her. But so what?
Su Xuan had the heroine’s halo on her side. Adding to Su Niao’s cannon-fodder value was effortless.
Unaware that she had gained another enemy without even setting foot in the capital, Su Niao spent the next two days recovering from the trip through the mountains.
The new guards sent by the Duke’s household also arrived.
Lichun hesitantly asked whether someone should be sent to check on Chen Yan.
“After all, he did save you, Miss.”
Su Niao curled her lips. “I’m not going. Just have Steward Jing send some silver over.”
She paused, then added with deliberate indifference: “That’s enough.”
Since she was planning to kill him eventually anyway, what was the point of going back and forth, acting as though they shared some deep bond?
For that reason, after returning home, Su Niao had no intention whatsoever of visiting Xie Chenyan.
That was, until she learned that a fully armed detachment of soldiers had appeared outside the Chen family courtyard. A terrible premonition instantly rose in her heart. She rushed to the gate and peeked over.
Sure enough, it was Ye Linlang.
Su Niao’s heart nearly stopped.
In her previous life, Xie Chenyan had first become connected to Ye Linlang. After following her back to the capital, he had eventually recovered his memories through a series of fortunate circumstances.
Su Niao had worked so hard to prevent the two of them from ever meeting again. Yet somehow, they had still crossed paths. Why was she always so unlucky?
Anxiously pacing around her room, Su Niao walked in circles for quite some time before suddenly slapping the table.
“Go. Bring Chen Yan here. Tell him I need to see him.”
No matter what, she had to sever his connection with Ye Linlang. She absolutely could not allow them to become allies again.
Meanwhile, inside the Chen family’s main hall, Ye Linlang sat at the table with a cup of tea before her.
“I’ve been tracking that group for a long time. I never expected them to be hiding right under my nose.”
“Fortunately, you and Miss Su escaped unharmed. Rest assured, with the clues you’ve provided, we’ll definitely wipe them out this time and won’t let them come after you again.”
As she spoke, Chen Xu hurried in from outside.
“Big Brother! Big Brother, thank goodness you’re all right. Thank goodness!”
On the day Su Niao and Xie Chenyan ran into trouble, Chen Xu happened to be escorting his teacher to Yunzhou Prefecture for medical treatment. He had only returned today and learned from his mother that something had happened to his brother. Without even taking a drink of water, he had raced home. Only after seeing his elder brother safe and sound did he finally relax. Then he noticed there were guests present.
Seeing Ye Linlang’s soft armor and imposing bearing, Chen Xu politely asked: “And this is… one of the Su family’s guards? How is Miss Su? Was she injured?”
The concern and anxiety in the young scholar’s eyes were impossible to hide.
Ye Linlang raised an eyebrow subtly and smiled faintly. “I am not one of the Su family’s guards.”
Immediately embarrassed, Chen Xu apologized. “My apologies. I meant no offense.”
Then he turned to his brother. “Big Brother, I’ll go start preparing dinner.”
And with that, he practically fled the room.
Watching him leave, Ye Linlang smiled and turned to Chen Yan. “Your younger brother seems quite concerned about that Miss Su.”
Without giving Chen Yan a chance to deny it, Ye Linlang continued: “However, forgive my frankness, but given the difference between your family’s circumstances and the Su family’s status, the gap seems far too great for a match.”
Chen Yan glanced at her and replied calmly, “General Ye misunderstands. Miss Su has been kind to my family. Beyond that, there is nothing else.”
Realization dawned on Ye Linlang’s face. “I see. Then I was being presumptuous.”
She rose to her feet. “In that case, I won’t impose any longer. By the way, your aunt mentioned that you’ve already repaid your debt to the Su family and have no further ties with them. Have you given any more thought to the invitation I extended last time?”
Chen Yan stood as well and was about to answer when Xiao Wu, the captain of the Su Residence guards, knocked at the courtyard gate and entered. “Brother Chen, Miss requests your presence.”
This was the first time Su Niao had sent for him since they returned from the mountains.
Chen Yan glanced toward the Su Residence and said, “There are guests here. Please ask Miss Su to wait a little.”
To his surprise, the baby-faced Xiao Wu smiled politely but insisted: “Miss said she would like you to go now.”
Ye Linlang raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t it just said that Brother Chen no longer has any connection with the Su family? Strange that Miss Su can still order her neighbor around so imperiously.”
Xiao Wu merely glanced at Ye Linlang and ignored the remark.
Chen Yan paused briefly before clasping his hands toward Ye Linlang. “I have some matters to attend to, so I won’t keep General Ye any longer.”
Ye Linlang had already intended to leave. Smiling, she nodded. “Then let’s head out together.”
Once outside the courtyard, Ye Linlang went east while Chen Yan headed west toward the Su Residence.
After taking a few steps, Ye Linlang looked back, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
Chen Yan did not seem like a fool. Surely he would not reject her offer simply because he was dazzled by a woman’s beauty.
As soon as Chen Yan entered the Su Residence, he was brought directly to Su Niao.
Only moments earlier, Su Niao had been pacing in circles like an ant on a hot pan. The instant she heard he had arrived, she darted back into her chair and forced herself into an air of calm dignity. Suppressing the urge to get straight to the point, she put on a show of concern instead.
“How are your injuries?”
Chen Yan looked at her. “Much better. Thank you for your concern.”
“Oh.” At last, Su Niao could no longer hold back. “I heard that General Ye came looking for you?”
The question was outwardly casual, but clearly probing.
“Are you very close to her? It was nearly dark, and she was still at your house?”
Chen Yan raised his eyes to meet her catlike gaze. After a pause, he replied calmly: “That is my private business. It has nothing to do with Miss Su.”
Su Niao immediately became anxious. “How dare you speak to your master like that?”
The words had barely left her mouth when Xie Chenyan reminded her in an even tone: “Our debts have been settled, and the period of service has already been bought out. Perhaps Miss Su has forgotten.”
Su Niao was instantly struck speechless. She regretted more than ever her momentary impulse to let Xie Chenyan “get lost” back then.
Without the servant-master relationship, many things had suddenly become very inconvenient. Looking at the man standing opposite her, composed and expressionless as ever, her eyes darted about. Then she suddenly cried out: “Ow, my foot…”
Having been mischievous since childhood, she had long ago mastered the art of faking injuries and illnesses to lessen her punishments.
As expected, the man who had just been completely indifferent immediately frowned and stepped forward. “Your foot still hasn’t healed?”
Leaning against the chair, Su Niao lifted her injured foot and nodded pitifully. “It hurts so much.”
Then she watched Xie Chenyan crouch before her and, very naturally, reach for her foot to examine it. She hurriedly pulled it back.
“No, no, it’s fine. You’re not a servant of the Su Residence anymore. I shouldn’t trouble you.”
Chen Yan paused. Then he heard the pampered young lady let out a melancholy sigh.
“I thought that after spending time as master and servant, and after surviving life and death together, there might be some friendship between us.”
“Who knew… it was only my own wishful thinking.”
He knew perfectly well she wasn’t a sentimental person. These words were obviously affected, exaggerated, and utterly insincere.
Yet after a brief silence, he finally indulged her. “General Ye came to discuss the mountain bandits.”
Su Niao was unconvinced. “Just that?”
Chen Yan glanced at her. “And to recruit me.”
Su Niao was alarmed. Just as I thought!
The two of them were about to get involved with each other again. Next, he would follow Ye Linlang to the capital. Then he would recover his memories. Then he would enter the Eastern Palace, and when that happened, how was she supposed to take revenge?
No. Absolutely not. She could not let them get together.
Having made up her mind, Su Niao’s expression grew even friendlier. Tentatively, she asked: “So what are you thinking? Are you planning to follow her and risk your life in the army?”
She spoke as if giving serious advice: “The military isn’t like other places. It’s dangerous, with death lurking around every corner. Why take such a risk?”
Chen Yan lowered his eyes. “For me, such things are nothing.”
Su Niao immediately became anxious. “What do you mean they’re nothing? People only have one life! Why gamble your life away for a future that may never come? If anything happened to you, just look at your family…”
Putting on a concerned expression, she continued: “How about this? If you’re looking for something meaningful to do, come work with me instead.”
Chen Yan looked up at her.
Su Niao wore a completely serious expression. “As it happens, I’ve recently been wanting to find a martial arts instructor. Your skills are excellent, we already know each other well, and we live close by. Why don’t you teach me martial arts?”
In reality, she had no desire to learn martial arts at all. She simply needed an excuse to keep him tied down and prevent him from getting involved with Ye Linlang.
Become her martial arts master? A strange look flickered through Chen Yan’s eyes, though nothing showed on his face.
“There are plenty of guards at the Su Residence. Besides, martial arts training is no trivial matter. It requires enduring a great deal of hardship.”
Without hesitation, Su Niao replied: “I’m not afraid of hardship at all. Besides, no matter how many guards there are, there will always be times when they aren’t around. Other people can’t always be relied upon. I need the ability to protect myself, don’t I?”
Suddenly, Chen Yan remembered the scene in the mountains a few days earlier, when she had thrown herself from the horse without a moment’s hesitation. For someone like her, learning some means of self-defense was indeed not a bad idea.
Su Niao pressed on relentlessly: “If you teach me properly, I’ll pay you…” She paused dramatically. “…twenty taels of silver a month in tuition. How about it?”
She feared that offering more money would make him suspicious of her motives.
Chen Yan knew perfectly well that, for him, twenty taels of silver a month was insignificant compared to what he might earn through military service. At that moment, a slender, fair hand tugged at his sleeve. “Chen Yan, come teach me, won’t you?”
Su Niao stared at him without blinking.
If he still refused to appreciate her generosity, she was ready to have him tied up outright. That would still be better than letting him get involved with Ye Linlang again.
“Fine.” Xie Chenyan’s reply cut off the schemes racing through her mind.
Su Niao’s eyes lit up immediately. “You agreed? Then it’s settled. We start tomorrow.”
Without drawing attention, Chen Yan gently withdrew his sleeve from her fingertips. “Tomorrow, at a quarter to six in the morning, I’ll come teach you martial arts.”
“A quarter to six… in the morning?”
Su Niao stared at him in disbelief. “T-That’s a little too early, isn’t it?”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than he sent her a cool look.
“If Miss Su is not sincere about learning martial arts, then there is no need to waste either your time or mine.”
“Who said I’m not sincere?” Hardening her resolve, Su Niao declared: “A quarter to six it is! Just come tomorrow!”
Chen Yan looked at her face, so full of determination and confidence. One eyebrow lifted almost imperceptibly. Then he nodded. “Very well.”