The leaves in the courtyard rustled in the night wind, and from the branches, birds, sensing something amiss, restlessly fluttered in their nests.
The distant mountains were barely visible in the darkness, their outlines gradually blurring, foretelling the approaching storm.
Jiang Yao stepped onto a stool and nimbly climbed over the window sill.
A few threads of night rain gently landed on her hair and collar.
She softly hummed, “I am Lei Feng, a great role model…” (A reference to a famous Chinese propaganda hero known for selfless service.)
“Who!?”
Jiang Yao’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. Her heart rate violently accelerated, feeling as though it would leap out of her chest.
“Plop.”
A raindrop fell precisely from the eave.
One drop splashed onto Jiang Yao’s face; the sudden coldness startled her awake from her distraction.
Her vision slowly focused, passing through the window and finally fixing on the face that had turned toward her inside.
Those deep-set eyes quietly studied Jiang Yao. After a long silence, his eyes finally shifted slightly, and his eyebrow lifted.
After clearly recognizing the person outside, Xie Yunian’s dark eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.
The barely perceptible smile that had been on his lips paused momentarily, then became even more meaningful.
He rose from his chair, hands clasped behind his back, and slowly paced toward the window.
Jiang Yao trembled all over, watching Xie Yunian close in step by step.
For an instant, she felt as if she were seeing those cold eyes from the lake again.
She wanted to turn and flee, but her reason told her that if she made one wrong move, she could be killed instantly.
The surroundings were utterly silent, save for the gentle sound of raindrops tapping on the eaves.
Xie Yunian stopped right at the window ledge. The two faced each other across the half-open window.
Jiang Yao was much shorter than him. She had to tilt her head up slightly, revealing her neck, which was as white as snow. The faint blue veins beneath the skin were barely visible, making her look exceptionally vulnerable.
Xie Yunian lowered his eyes. His fingers, resting on the hilt of his sword, slowly clenched.
He felt as though he were seeing another scene—a sharp blade slicing through, and blood spurting out.
“Xie Lang, I just heard a noise outside the window and guessed it was you! Was that you just now? Did you remember something?” Jiang Yao’s voice carried a hint of delight, and her bright eyes conveyed a myriad of emotions.
The crimson images in front of Xie Yunian receded like a tide, and his hand stopped mid-air.
His expression changed from sharp to complex.
Where was I just now…?
Wasn’t I just inside the room?
Xie Yunian bent down, his gaze level with Jiang Yao’s. “You mean, I used to tap on your window?”
The murderous intent in his eyes receded, leaving behind a trace of amusement.
Jiang Yao’s body remained tense, and her fingers, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly.
She closed her eyes, putting on a look of profound grief. “It seems Xie Lang still hasn’t remembered.”
“You also used to tap on my window at this hour. I heard the window make a noise just now, so I thought it was you…”
Her voice trembled, her eyes misty with unshed tears, as if raindrops might fall at any moment. Her shoulders subtly hitched, like an irritating but harmless scratch on one’s heart.
Xie Yunian’s smile vanished, and his tone was stiff. “Is that so?”
He had never tapped on anyone’s window in the middle of the night.
How could he, the dignified son of the Earl Chengbo, commit such a rogue act?
The delusions in this woman’s mind were truly outrageous.
But just now…
Xie Yunian remembered something and glared at Seven Yin, who was hiding behind the screen.
He then looked back at the tearful Jiang Yao before him.
Xie Yunian swallowed, feeling his tongue stiffen. “It must have been the wind. Miss Jiang, please go back to sleep.”
Jiang Yao looked genuinely frightened by his cold demeanor. She flinched backward and looked over timidly.
As she looked, she suddenly pursed her lips, revealing a look of grievance and dissatisfaction. Her voice, thick with tears, accused him: “You never used to call me that!”
Her fragmented sobs were like fine rain hitting banana leaves—faint yet clear.
Xie Yunian pressed his lips together and straightened up.
The tiny sobs were like fine needles pricking his eardrums, stirring his thoughts.
A surge of inexplicable irritation spread through his chest.
“What did I call you before?”
“A’Yao. You said that name was reserved only for me.”
Xie Yunian took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, and called out softly, “A’Yao.”
Once the first sound left his mouth, the rest came more easily.
“A’Yao, it’s late. You should go back and rest.”
Jiang Yao finally nodded obediently, her expression full of concern. “Then Xie Lang, you should rest early too.”
Xie Yunian raised his eyes slightly and stepped back two paces, quietly waiting for Jiang Yao to leave.
He watched her retreating figure, his index finger lightly tapping the window ledge, feeling as though he could no longer recognize the words “Xie Lang” (My Lord Xie).
Jiang Yao shielded her forehead with her hand, covering the ground in quick, desperate strides. Her skirt flapped as she ran, looking a little clumsy as she climbed back into her own room.
Xie Yunian watched her awkward retreat, unable to stop his eye from twitching.
Once the opposite window closed, Xie Yunian finally turned around, staring intently at Seven Yin as he emerged from behind the screen.
The room suddenly fell silent.
“Did you wake her up?”
Seven Yin sounded slightly wronged. “A patrol of guards was on the west side, so this subordinate had to climb over the low wall on the south. Who knew Miss Jiang’s sleep was so light…”
Yuan Zheng interjected at the appropriate time, “Your servant thinks Miss Jiang probably hasn’t slept yet.”
“Didn’t the Eldest Miss Jiang say? The Third Miss can’t sleep day and night thinking about you, Master.”
Xie Yunian pinched the bridge of his nose. After a long silence, he told Yuan Zheng, “When you have free time, go get your head checked out.”
Yuan Zheng pouted and lowered his head.
Seven Yin, standing opposite, straightened up, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “Master, do you think Miss Jiang might have discovered something?”
“I don’t know about her, but you… I’m docking six months’ pay.”
Xie Yunian recalled those incessant calls of “Xie Lang,” feeling his fury rise straight to his head.
“Perhaps this subordinate should just…” Seven Yin made a throat-slitting gesture.
Xie Yunian gritted his teeth and asked, “Do you want people to suspect me?”
There are only the four of them in this residence right now; suspicion would inevitably fall on him.
“Then toss her into the mountain for the beasts to…”
Xie Yunian slammed his hand down hard on Seven Yin’s head. “Is your master such a bloodthirsty person?”
Seven Yin flinched, shrinking his neck and lowering his head, terrified that his master would dock his remaining six months’ pay. “Then, then what should we do…?”
We can’t kill her…
“Master, I see that the Third Miss Jiang is truly devoted to you. Why don’t you just give in. Seven Yin trailed off.
In all these years, no other woman had managed to get close to the Master. This Miss Jiang was the only one.
“Thunk!” (Sound of Xie Yunian hitting him.)
“Hiss…”
“Keep a close watch on her. The moment she makes any move, report back to me immediately.”