Just as the flames were about to crawl up the wedding dress and reach An Jin’s hands, Gong Yue quickly grabbed her wrist, preventing her from being burned.
His palm was broad and slightly rough. He had clearly controlled his strength carefully, so An Jin felt no pain.
The man’s eyes, deep as a still lake, fixed on her face, missing none of her expressions.
His voice was low and slightly hoarse.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
A flicker of light shone in An Jin’s eyes as she replied, word by word,
“I’m destroying something that has trapped me for many years.”
The wedding dress was only one of the things that had imprisoned her, but it was the most tangible symbol of her suffering. She could only use it to declare her resolve and vent the pain she had carried for so long.
The corners of the man’s lips suddenly curved upward.
He released her hand.
“Good. Then let it burn.”
An Jin froze and stared at him blankly.
He seemed to smile very rarely. The expression looked somewhat unfamiliar on his face, yet his eyes held such tenderness and indulgence that it seemed he would allow her to do anything she wished.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“After it’s burned,” he said softly, “I’ll take you away.”
An Jin suddenly felt tears threatening to spill over again.
“Brother Yue…”
Outside the embroidery tower, the guards noticed the glow from within. Thinking that the young lady had merely lit a few extra candles, one of them carefully called out,
“Miss, Madam said you have to get up early tomorrow. You should rest early tonight.”
A soft, sweet voice replied from inside.
“I know.”
Satisfied, the guard continued his patrol.
Inside the tower, An Jin hurriedly packed her belongings, her heart pounding like a drum.
She left behind all the rare treasures and expensive jewelry.
She packed only a few sets of spare clothes and took several pieces of loose silver from her jewelry box. Beneath them were large-denomination banknotes, but she left those untouched.
Banknotes were recorded and traceable. If she exchanged them at a money house, she could easily be discovered.
She knew the Minister’s character well.
Once he discovered she had disappeared, he certainly would not report it to the authorities. However, neither would he give up so easily.
Most likely, he would find an excuse to postpone the embroidered-ball marriage selection while secretly searching for her.
He had spent years planning for this day. There was no doubt he would use every means available to find her.
She had to be careful.
Gong Yue stood nearby with his sword in his arms, silently watching her pack.
He didn’t interfere.
However, when he noticed that she had also packed the gifts he had given her, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
“I’m ready.”
The young woman’s face was flushed pink as she looked at him with complete trust shining in her eyes.
“Mm.”
He handed her his sword.
This time, An Jin accepted it without hesitation.
His strong arm wrapped around her waist.
“Hold on tightly.”
An Jin carried her bundle and his sword while he carried her.
Perhaps because he practiced martial arts, his body was unusually warm.
Nestled against him, she felt an overwhelming sense of comfort.
“Wait, the candles.”
She tugged lightly on his sleeve.
They couldn’t let anyone discover too soon that she had escaped.
The man glanced back.
A gust of wind from his palm swept across the room, instantly extinguishing the candles.
“Oh?”
An Jin’s eyes widened in surprise, but before she could look more closely, he gently pressed her face back against his chest.
“We’re leaving.”
…
Early the next morning, Madam Yao made her way to the embroidery tower, followed by a large crowd of servants.
It was a joyous day, and her face was bright with excitement.
“Wei’er, you can’t sleep in today. Hurry and get up.”
Worried that her daughter might not yet be dressed, she knocked first instead of opening the door immediately.
“Wei’er?”
No answer came.
For some reason, a powerful sense of dread suddenly gripped her heart.
Her hand trembled around her handkerchief.
“Someone! Quickly! Open the lock!”
The lock clicked open.
Madam Yao immediately rushed inside.
The moment she entered and failed to see her daughter, her sense of foreboding intensified.
She hurried toward the bed.
“Wei’er? Wei’er? Don’t scare Mother!”
Ignoring all propriety, she threw open the bed curtains.
The bed was empty.
A rush of blood surged to her head, and her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
“Madam! Madam!”
Taohong hurried forward to support her.
Before she could think of comforting words, she caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye.
Her face turned pale.
“Madam, look! What’s that?”
Madam Yao followed her gaze.
The burned remains of the wedding dress lay scattered across the floor.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Her chest heaved violently.
Then she collapsed unconscious.
…
The front hall of the Yao Residence was packed with distinguished guests.
Many of the capital’s most promising young talents had gathered there.
“I’ve long heard of Miss Yao’s beauty. Pure and radiant as the moon itself. I wonder which fortunate gentleman will be able to hold that moon in his arms today.”
“Indeed. A hundred families competing for one daughter. Lord Yao has certainly raised her well.”
The compliments made Minister Yao smile so broadly that he could scarcely stop.
A young man in luxurious robes approached while casually fanning himself.
A confident smile hung on his face.
“The moon should belong with me.”
Minister Yao immediately bowed.
“Your Highness.”
Their eyes met.
Both understood the unspoken meaning behind the exchange.
Everything had already been arranged in secret.
Today’s marriage selection was nothing more than a formality.
“My lord! My lord!”
A maid suddenly rushed into the hall.
Minister Yao frowned in displeasure, but after recognizing her as one of his wife’s attendants, he allowed her to approach.
The guests exchanged puzzled looks.
The maid whispered into Minister Yao’s ear.
His expression changed dramatically.
“What?!”
Without another word, he hurried away, completely abandoning his guests.
Such behavior was extremely rude.
Yet seeing the panic on his face, no one criticized him.
Instead, everyone silently speculated about what could have happened.
Even the Crown Prince’s confident smile froze.
Everyone present was intelligent enough to understand.
Whatever had happened, it likely involved today’s main attraction, Miss Yao.
…
Outside the embroidery tower, a group of guards knelt on the ground.
Minister Yao was furious.
“How does a living person simply disappear? What am I paying all of you for?”
The captain of the guards braced himself.
“My lord, we’ve guarded the place day and night. There was nothing unusual. We’ve investigated thoroughly. There are no signs of a struggle, and Miss Yao couldn’t possibly have been abducted by thieves. Most likely…”
Most likely, she had left willingly.
The thought made cold sweat pour down his back.
He immediately stopped speaking.
Though he hadn’t finished, everyone understood the meaning of his unfinished sentence.
The Yao Residence appeared glorious on the surface, but many people in the capital secretly criticized Minister Yao for treating his daughter as a bargaining chip for status and power.
Minister Yao flew into a rage.
He stepped forward and kicked the guard squarely in the chest.
“Dog slave! Most likely what? Are you suggesting my daughter eloped with someone? Nonsense! Wei’er was personally praised by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!”
He pointed furiously.
“Search! All of you! Search everywhere!”
“If you fail to find Miss Yao, don’t bother coming back alive!”
He then issued another order.
“Not a word about what happened here is to leave this tower. Tell everyone that Miss Yao has fallen seriously ill. The embroidered-ball marriage selection will be postponed until further notice.”
…
Gong Yue had once told her that following him would mean living a wandering life without a permanent home.
Only after she left with him did An Jin discover that he actually did have a residence.
It was hidden deep within the mountain forest outside the capital, the very place where they had first met.
The wooden cottage had clearly stood there for many years.
Yet its interior was spotless.
Too spotless, in fact.
The place felt devoid of human warmth.
Now, however, two red candles glowed softly within.
A newly married couple sat facing one another.
Gong Yue usually dressed in black or dark blue.
Today, however, he wore bright red wedding robes.
The festive color softened the sharpness of his features.
An Jin blushed and scarcely dared look at him directly.
The gentle sound of flowing water echoed outside.
Gong Yue lifted a wine bottle and slowly filled two cups.
His long fingers wrapped around one before offering it to the young woman across from him.
“Do you regret it?” he asked.
There had been no parental approval.
No matchmaker.
No luxurious wedding garments.
No guests offering congratulations.
The clothes they wore were merely simple red garments sewn from ordinary fabric.
Yet An Jin showed not the slightest hesitation.
She met his gaze directly.
Along the journey, he had asked her this question many times.
She knew that if she answered with even a single word of regret, he would immediately return her home and disappear from her life forever.
But how could she regret this?
She accepted the wine cup and looked at him with eyes as gentle as water.
Slowly and clearly, she recited the traditional wedding blessing.
“Today marks the beginning of a blessed union and the fulfillment of a destined marriage. May husband and wife be united in heart and virtue, bringing harmony to the home. May you treat each other with respect, share a lifetime of companionship, and uphold the vows of devoted mandarin ducks.”
There were no guests.
No wedding hostess.
So she spoke the blessing herself.
That alone was enough to complete the ceremony.
Smiling brightly, she linked arms with him and drank the ceremonial wine.
“Husband, I do not regret it.”
The wine itself may have been intoxicating.
Or perhaps it was the way she softly called him husband.
Something fierce ignited within the man’s eyes.
He drew the young woman into his embrace and gently lifted her chin.
His rough fingertips brushed against her soft lips.
Embarrassed beneath his intense gaze, An Jin instinctively turned her head away.
But he gently guided her face back toward him.
A kiss followed.
Tender.
Careful.
Filled with affection and restraint.
Only after confirming that she showed no discomfort did he lift her into his arms and carry her toward the bed.
The summer heat was fading into autumn.
Yet his body remained astonishingly warm.
Pressed against him, she found herself thinking that he would make the perfect source of warmth during winter.
The red candles burned deep into the night.
…
When An Jin woke again, it was already noon.
Her limbs felt weak.
Her head felt heavy.
Even her throat ached.
Although Gong Yue had been endlessly considerate and attentive to her throughout the night, she still felt miserable.
Having never experienced anything like this before, she assumed it was simply normal discomfort afterward.
Thinking of him, she forced herself upright.
“Brother Yue?”
No answer came.
She looked around.
He wasn’t in the cottage.
A mist of tears filled her eyes.
Panic surged through her chest.
Had he left her behind?
Men were always like that, weren’t they?
Once they got what they wanted, they stopped cherishing it.
She knew she shouldn’t doubt his character.
Yet she couldn’t stop herself from being afraid.
If Gong Yue truly abandoned her, she wouldn’t even know where to begin searching for him.
Her shoulders trembled.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
“Brother Yue…”
Just then, the door opened.
Gong Yue stepped inside and immediately saw the tear-streaked young woman sitting on the bed.
His heart tightened.
He strode over quickly.
“Why are you crying?”
“Brother Yue…”
Only after seeing him did An Jin calm down slightly.
Yet she still felt wronged.
Her body ached.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed softly.
“I couldn’t find you. I was scared.”
Gong Yue frowned.
Something about her condition seemed wrong.
He cupped her flushed cheeks and placed a hand against her forehead.
It was burning hot.
His lips tightened instantly.
A wave of self-reproach washed over him.
The night air had been cold when he carried her from the embroidery tower to the cottage.
She had been raised delicately within the sheltered confines of the manor.
How could her body possibly endure such hardship?
She should have spent several days resting.
Instead, he had completely overlooked her condition.
An Jin’s mind felt heavy and muddled.
Her entire body ached.
Now that he was beside her, she no longer felt the need to endure it alone.
Curling into his chest, she spoke through a thick, congested voice.
“Brother Yue… I feel awful.”
Gong Yue immediately lifted her up and helped her into her clothes.
“You’re sick. Be good. I’m taking you to see a doctor.”
“A doctor?”
Despite her feverish confusion, she still remembered that they were runaways.
“We can’t go. They’ll find us.”
His expression grew even more serious.
Holding her securely against his chest, he said firmly,
“We’re going.”
A cold-induced illness was not something that could be delayed, even for a moment.