Baoyin nodded, then fed Jiang Rongyin another cup of water before leaving.
Jiang Rongyin turned over, closed her eyes, and slept for an hour. When she opened them again, Baoyin had already retrieved the Pengxi Xianzhi.
She lay in bed looking at the places she had previously marked.
Every year, the palace held the Yanshe Yan at the imperial hunting grounds on Xijiao Shan.
Jiang Rongyin had been there before, and she knew that beyond the fence was the entirety of Xijiao Shan.
It connected to the Yuheng Shanmai to the east and west. To outsiders, the endless mountains seemed boundless, but to Jiang Rongyin, they were the hope of survival.
The Yanshe Yan was her chance to escape.
She had previously thought that if she could be granted a marriage and leave, with the emperor's edict as protection, she could also keep Jiang Yun in check.
Now that the plan had failed, she could only use this method.
Besides deciding on Tingzhou, Jiang Rongyin also needed to prepare some loose silver, plan the route, and arrange everything that would follow.
She put the book away and closed her eyes again.
Though there was much to do, the thought of being free of Jiang Yun made Jiang Rongyin feel somewhat happy.
In the afternoon, Jiang Rongyin had just finished lunch when she heard from Baoyin that Xiang Ming had arrived.
"His Highness is at the archery pavilion. He requests the princess to come over."
After delivering this message, Baoyin was still holding the riding and archery attire that Jiang Yun had sent over with Xiang Ming.
He did know Jiang Rongyin's measurements; the outfit was made to fit perfectly.
Although Jiang Rongyin did not want to deal with Jiang Yun, he had already become wary because of what had happened before.
If she defied him, Jiang Rongyin feared Jiang Yun might do something else and directly cut off her chances of going out.
When Jiang Rongyin reluctantly arrived at the archery pavilion, she saw several figures from afar.
A high-spirited youth rested his hand on a longbow, then shot an arrow that hit the bullseye.
"Young Master Qin's riding and archery have improved again."
"Shall we play polo together?"
Several flattering voices rose. Jiang Rongyin tightened her grip on the bow in her hand.
But as she turned, she directly bumped into someone's arms.
"Where are you going?"
The armor on Jiang Yun's body knocked Jiang Rongyin's forehead, leaving a red mark and some pain.
"To find His Highness."
Hearing his voice, Jiang Rongyin stepped back to distance herself from him before replying.
So this was what he had said yesterday—Qin Shiyan was also here.
Jiang Rongyin did not understand why Jiang Yun insisted on dragging her here. Just to see whether she still had the nerve to speak with Qin Shiyan?
"Come here, I will teach you riding and archery."
Jiang Yun said no more. After adjusting the armor on his wrist that gleamed with a cold light, he left only this sentence for Jiang Rongyin.
Jiang Rongyin saw that the several young noblemen who had just been idle were now extremely respectful upon seeing Jiang Yun.
She sighed inwardly and stepped forward.
The youth's gaze immediately fell on Jiang Rongyin, but quickly shifted away.
Jiang Rongyin felt bitterness in her heart, but put on a smile. She could not let Jiang Yun notice anything—absolutely not.
Then a hand reached over and grasped the hand with which she held the bow. Jiang Yun looked at Qin Shiyan and the others and said, "Do as you please. I still have to teach Little Nine."
As these words fell, Jiang Yun's gaze turned to Jiang Rongyin. She, however, kept her eyes straight ahead and did not look at Qin Shiyan even once.
"Shiyan, are you going to the Chu family to propose in a few days?"
Someone in the distance asked, and the words drifted into Jiang Rongyin's ears with the wind.
"When I returned from Jiangnan, I heard the Chu family say that Qin Shiyan ruined the Chu young lady's chastity and wanted me to uphold justice."
Jiang Yun's voice fell at the same time, lifting Jiang Rongyin's hand along with his own.
A sharp arrow was aimed at the scarecrow not far away.
"Little Nine, do you think I am one to destroy a marriage or to help bring one together?"
Jiang Rongyin heard Jiang Yun's words fall one after another beside her ear.
He was testing whether Qin Shiyan still remained in her heart.
Or perhaps, even if he did, she should not dare to covet what did not belong to her.
Whether she wanted to escape him or had someone else in her heart, it mattered not.
As long as Jiang Yun refused to let go, she could not go anywhere.
Jiang Rongyin was like a kite whose string was held by Jiang Yun. Occasionally, when the string loosened, she would want to fly far away, but the one holding the string only needed to give a tug to pull her back.
"Your Highness did the right thing. A woman's chastity is of utmost importance."
Jiang Rongyin said in a low voice, her tone betraying nothing unusual.
Jiang Yun chuckled softly, watching Jiang Rongyin release her grip on the arrow as he asked, "Finally willing to let go?"
"The bow is fully drawn, Your Highness."
If a fully drawn bow was not released, only she herself would be hurt.
It was already no small feat that Qin Shiyan had managed to keep his life in Jiang Yun's hands.
Jiang Rongyin could not cause him any more trouble. From now on, she would pretend not to know him, and let him live well.
The arrow shot forth with a whoosh, piercing straight through the scarecrow's head. The powerful force even sent Jiang Rongyin's body stumbling backward.
"Your stance is unstable. No wonder you tire so quickly."
Jiang Yun stood there, as immovable as a mountain.
But the words he spoke made Jiang Rongyin truly want to hurl the bow right at his face.
"Practice for another half hour on your own."
Seeing Jiang Rongyin's expression of wanting to speak but holding back, the smile on Jiang Yun's face deepened.
Just then, Xiang Ming came over to report something urgent, and Jiang Yun left.
Jiang Rongyin gripped the longbow and nocked another arrow.
But before she could release it, a small eunuch dropped the quiver he was carrying.
Several long feathered arrows rolled to Jiang Rongyin's feet.
She bent down to pick them up and heard a single sentence: "Young Master Qin is by the rockery."
Before Jiang Rongyin could react, the small eunuch had already gathered the arrows and left.
Jiang Rongyin looked up. Behind the rockery not far away, a corner of green robes was visible.
She averted her gaze and did not look again.
Until Jiang Yun returned, Jiang Rongyin continued practicing archery.
The man cast a subtle glance at the rockery, then reached out and placed his hand on Jiang Rongyin's head. "Let's go."
"Not practicing anymore?"
"Do you want to lose your arm?"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Jiang Rongyin pursed her lips and set down the longbow.
She had a vague idea of what Qin Shiyan wanted to say to her.
But this was the imperial palace. Jiang Yun was a meticulous man with an intense need for control. Though he appeared to have left, he surely had eyes on Jiang Rongyin.
If she dared to go see Qin Shiyan, Jiang Yun could keep her from leaving Guanghua Dian for three days, unable to get out of that bed.
After Jiang Yun and Jiang Rongyin left, Qin Shiyan finally stepped out from behind the rockery.
The young man lowered his gaze, a trace of bitterness on his face.
He wanted to explain to Jiang Rongyin that he had not touched Chu Qingyin, nor did he want to marry her.
But Chu Qingyin was someone Jiang Yun had ordered him to marry, precisely to make it impossible for him and Jiang Rongyin to ever be together.
"Young Master, the master is calling you back. It seems… the Chu family has sent someone."
The servant's words made Qin Shiyan slam his fist against the rockery, blood streaming from his knuckles.
What else could the Chu family's visit mean?
He did not want to marry Chu Qingyin. He would rather join the army, or even become a monk at a temple.
The Chu family's arrival was to pressure Qin Shiyan.
"Young Master, your hand!"
The servant Suifeng cried out in alarm at Qin Shiyan's wound, then watched as Qin Shiyan turned and walked away.
At this moment, in Guanghua Dian, Jiang Yun was pressing Jiang Rongyin down to apply medicine to his wounds.
For the past two days, she hadn't noticed the wounds on his body, and he still had the energy to torment Jiang Rongyin relentlessly.
"Little Nine, are you taking revenge under the guise of official duty?"
Jiang Rongyin poured a bottle of medicinal powder directly onto the wound, not caring whether Jiang Yun was in pain, and picked up gauze to bandage him.
Pain? Good, let him suffer—it would be best if he was in so much agony he wished for death, and finally stopped his schemes to torment her.