Jiang Yao spoke with an air of pure innocence and complete composure.
Xiao Wuheng let out a gentle laugh, his voice warm. “Why would I be unhappy? We are here for a spring outing together. All that matters is that Miss Jiang is happy.”
He only said “Miss Jiang”. Although there were two Miss Jiangs present, anyone with sense could tell who he was referring to.
Jiang Ying looked at Xiao Wuheng with some surprise, her face flushing crimson. “I am happy, of course.”
Damn it, he’s so good at putting on a show.
Actually, in the original book, Xiao Wuheng and Jiang Ying did have a sweet period. Otherwise, Jiang Yao wouldn’t have stayed up all night reading the story.
However, after they married, the current Emperor’s health declined rapidly. When the Emperor finally passed away, Xiao Wuheng, as a Prince, was inevitably dragged into a power struggle with the Regent.
They spent less and less time together, and misunderstandings grew like a snowball. The frustrating part was that they communicated like they had no mouths, allowing the misunderstandings to compound until it became a deep, agonizing, and abusive romance.
“Yao’er, what are you thinking?” Jiang Ying called out.
Jiang Yao snapped back to attention, a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes. She then looked earnestly at Jiang Ying. “Big Sister, if you ever have anything unhappy in your heart, you must speak it out loud.”
“What are you talking about? When have I ever been unhappy?” Jiang Ying shook her head, smiling.
“Just… you must speak it out loud,” Jiang Yao repeated.
“Alright, alright. Big Sister, you and His Royal Highness Prince Jin continue your stroll. I’m going to find Master Xie now!”
She winked at Jiang Ying playfully.
Jiang Ying watched Jiang Yao’s lively retreating figure, a hint of pampering affection in her eyes.
Xie Yunian was sitting in the pavilion not far away.
By the pavilion was a small bamboo grove. Several tall, straight bamboo stalks swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows.
A pot of clear tea and a few plates of pastries were set on the stone table. The tea’s aroma permeated the air, refreshing the mind.
He certainly knows how to enjoy himself.
Jiang Yao approached the pavilion and noticed Xie Yunian staring blankly in one direction. Sunlight fell upon him as if he were plated in gold.
Following Xie Yunian’s line of sight, she saw only mist-shrouded mountains in the distance.
Nothing at all.
Her steps were light, her skirt swaying gently with her movement, and the jade ornaments in her hair shaking—like a lively butterfly.
She stopped precisely in front of him, perfectly blocking Xie Yunian’s view.
Xie Yunian slightly frowned, a surge of displeasure rising in his heart.
“Master Xie, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”
Facing her rumored love interest, Jiang Yao tilted her head and raised her eyes slightly to ask.
A faint blush dusted her cheeks, like a blooming peach blossom, showing a touch of shyness and vitality. Her lips were full and rosy, as if she had just tasted fresh cherries.
This is the specific blush I requested today. The slightly amnesiac young master is mine to manipulate.
Xie Yunian’s expression remained unchanged, though a complex flicker appeared in his eyes.
He had already sent people to investigate Jiang Yao and found her experience to be utterly unremarkable and unspecial.
But why…
“Master Xie?” Seeing that he didn’t speak, Jiang Yao called out again.
Xie Yunian pulled back his gaze, returning to his usual calmness and indifference, as if the earlier pause had been an illusion.
His dark eyes fixed on Jiang Yao. He spoke slowly: “I was just wondering why Miss Jiang’s eyebrows are painted so unusually today.”
Jiang Yao’s eyes widened, her peripheral vision catching sight of Jiang Ying and Xiao Wuheng walking toward them.
Xie Yunian waited for her to leave out of embarrassment, but when he looked up, he was stunned. His gaze rested on Jiang Yao’s face with a look of disbelief.
The Jiang Yao who had been perfectly normal just a moment ago now looked as if she had suffered a monumental grievance.
Her eyes were brimming with tears, yet she stubbornly bit her lip, holding back the deluge.
Her shoulders trembled slightly, seemingly trying to suppress her emotions. “Did you truly forget everything?”
“Leaving me alone to cherish the past?”
“Cherish what?” Xie Yunian arched an eyebrow, squinting with a hint of inquiry.
He wanted to hear what was worth cherishing between the two of them.
Jiang Yao said tearfully, “I cherish our deep conversations, I cherish the dreams we shared…”
Whew, almost burst into song.
“What happened here?”
Jiang Ying sensed the unusual atmosphere and quickly walked to Jiang Yao’s side, asking softly.
Xie Yunian: “?”
He wanted to know too.
Jiang Yao raised her head, her tear-filled eyes looking toward Jiang Ying, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know where to begin.
“Big Sister… he remembers nothing. The love and time we shared have all been misplaced!”
She quickly glanced up at Xie Yunian, then recoiled as if pierced by the unfamiliarity in his eyes, her body trembling even more violently. “He used to paint my lips and eyebrows for me, but now he finds me ugly!”
Xie Yunian: ???
Did he?
Jiang Ying’s eyes were full of concern, and she lovingly held Jiang Yao’s hand. “Yao’er, don’t worry. Master Xie will surely remember everything.”
“Wuwuwu! Big Sister, I want to be alone for a bit…” Jiang Yao whimpered twice, then released Jiang Ying’s hand and spoke in a small voice.
Watching Jiang Yao’s disheartened figure leave, Jiang Ying and Xiao Wuheng simultaneously turned to look at Xie Yunian.
Xie Yunian: “…”
The pavilion suddenly fell silent.
Xiao Wuheng pursed his lips, looking at Xie Yunian with some disapproval. “Master Xie, Miss Yao’er only wishes for you to recover your memory sooner.”
Xie Yunian twitched his lips. If he were to “recover his memory,” the first person to hide would probably be Jiang Yao.
“You two were deeply in love before. Don’t you feel any stirring in your heart upon seeing her again?”
Xiao Wuheng was attempting to invoke Xie Yunian’s past beautiful memories with Jiang Yao.
Xie Yunian shot a look at Xiao Wuheng, a vein twitching on his forehead.
No. Only the impulse to kill her.
Seeing his obstinance, Jiang Ying sighed, frustrated that her own sister was so deeply devoted to him.
Yet, she couldn’t bear to see Yao’er continually heartbroken.
“Master Xie, I know you may feel distant because you’ve lost your former memories.”
She took a deep breath, speaking with the tone of someone exasperated by a lack of progress. “But you two secretly pledged your lives to each other before. Since Yao’er learned of your riding accident, she has often wept alone at home and even developed a high fever in the middle of the night. Had she not received timely medical care, the consequences would have been unthinkable… Please, do not betray her utter devotion.”
Wept alone?
High fever?
Utter devotion?
Who?
That little girl who bursts into tears after barely two sentences?
Xie Yunian slowly lowered his gaze, pausing for a rare moment of hesitation. “She likes me?”
“You liked each other,” Jiang Ying corrected him.
“…”
Xie Yunian didn’t indicate whether he believed her or not.
“Oh.”