Out of the blue, a delicate voice sounded.
"Jiu You, would you like so water?"
Ye Chuang paused.
Feng Yun stopped in her tracks, pressing her hands against her dress, standing still in the wind.
A torch flickered on the shore, casting long shadows of the two figures.
The speaker was Yin Shuang.
She was handing over a water bladder to Jiu You, her voice full of gratitude.
"If it weren’t for Jiu You just now, I would have fallen."
Jiu You said, "It’s a trivial matter. Don’t worry about it."
In a soft voice, Yin Shuang said, "It’s because I’m clumsy. With the sudden misfortunes at ho, my mind has been elsewhere, and I can’t even walk properly..."
"It’s my fault; I startled you by appearing so suddenly." Jiu You looked tenderly at the pitiable yet spirited young lady, "You’ve done nothing wrong, you don’t need to bla yourself all the ti. If I were in your situation, I might not have handled it as well as you..."
Yin Shuang’s brows knit rapidly in gratitude and she offered the water bladder again.
This was her way of saying thanks.
Jiu You took it, tilted his head back to drink, then handed it back to her.
"Thank you."
Without a word, Yin Shuang took the bladder and lightly sipped from its mouth.
Seeing her do this, Jiu You was montarily stunned, feeling suddenly parched.
Though it was winter, his body felt strangely hot...
He lifted his sleeve to wipe his forehead.
Noticing this, Yin Shuang pulled out a scented handkerchief from her bosom and handed it over.
"Jiu You, here."
The fragrance from the lady’s cuff was overpowering, her eyes mournful yet smiling, like crushed petals after rain, emanating a delicate scent that tugged at the heart, making one yearn to crush her in his embrace...
Realizing this horrifying thought, Jiu You’s back was covered in a cold sweat; he beca completely weak as if thrown into a blazing furnace, his breathing tightened, and he accepted the handkerchief, yet he didn’t know where to wipe...
Yin Shuang tilted her head: "Jiu You?"
Startled out of his reverie, Jiu You quickly regained his senses, vigorously wiped his forehead, and his face flushed red.
"I will wash it, wash it and then return it to you."
Yin Shuang held back a smile, "No need, it’s just a handkerchief. I made it myself, it’s not worth much money."
Jiu You’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as he swallowed his saliva.
"Where’s your sister?"
"My sister..." Yin Shuang shyly lowered her head, "My sister... she went to relieve herself. Otherwise, why would I be here waiting, chatting so much nonsense with Jiu You..."
Her ntion of ’relieve herself’, spoken in such an embarrassed manner, made Jiu You’s settled heart lift once more, aimlessly floating, his mind repeatedly filled with images of the lady’s autumn-like eyes...
"Then you should go back early later."
"Mm, I understand..."
As Yin Shuang spoke, she seed to hear sothing, suddenly turned around, and let out an exclamation.
"Sister..."
Jiu You’s brow jumped as he turned around too.
He saw Zuo Zhong walking towards the firelight from the dark riverbank...
In his arm was a girl with a limp body, like boneless, slumped entirely in his embrace, looking completely unconscious.
But strangely, the scene was unexpectedly beautiful; the damsel was soft and flexible, the young man strong and resolute, they appeared so well-matched no matter how one looked at it.
Jiu You’s face changed, and he stood there, stunned.
Not far away, Feng Yun’s attendant Xiaoman seed completely bewildered, her mind buzzing blankly, her legs so weak she could hardly stand...
Ye Chuang gave her a hand.
Xiaoman clutched her chest, feeling a rush of nausea and dizziness coming over her.
Ye Chuang’s brows furrowed unintentionally as he let her lean into the crook of his arm and called Feng Yun:
"My lady..."
Feng Yun did not respond.
She walked slowly down.
Stepping from the shadows into the light, her slow approach startled everyone.
Feng Yun’s face was impassive.
She didn’t look at the dazed Jiu You, nor at the surprised Yin Shuang, not even at Zuo Zhong holding Jin Shuang; instead, she walked past the torch, towards the farther riverbank behind Zuo Zhong...
Until she was out of the torch’s glow.
Then her soft laugh was heard.
"Where did you go, my king? You’ve made search for you."
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