Chapter 17

“What’s wrong? Are you very nervous?”

Liang Ji brought me a cup of tea, looking at me with concern.

Meeting his gaze, I felt as if I had been burned by fire. I hastily looked away and downed the tea in one gulp.

Ji Wenmu’s words had made me realize the little seedlings of my own feelings. And on the way back, this seedling had grown aggressively, threatening to pitch a camp in my heart. Its imposing momentum left me somewhat panicked, yet seeing Liang Ji, I couldn’t stop my joy.

I could only try my hardest to restrain myself. By the time of our wedding banquet, I was covered by the red veil, holding the red silk ribbon, led into the main hall by him, and with Heaven and Earth as our witness, we completed the rites of husband and wife.

He escorted me back to the bridal chamber, lifted the red veil, and looked at me with a smile under the flickering candlelight before we drank the nuptial wine.

My heartbeat wasn’t gentle for a single moment.

I clenched my fists. It felt as if the candles and oil lamps were burning right next to my face; every bit of heat transferred entirely to my cheeks.

It was clearly just an act, but I had immersed myself… a bit too deeply.

Outside, glasses were clinking; inside, there were red candles and silk curtains.

But it was all an illusion.

I told myself this countless times, finally sobering up a bit.

Just as I was about to speak to him, he placed his index finger over his lips, pointed at the window, and wrote on my palm, “Someone is listening.”

Listening? Was I exposed?

A helpless look appeared in his eyes. I suddenly understood what the people outside the window wanted to listen to, and my recently cooled face began to steam again.

He sat down beside me, lowering his head to write characters in my palm. Every stroke elicited a ticklish sensation that rapidly spread from my palm straight to my heart.

“You prepare here. I’ll go out to toast.”

I grabbed his wrist, feeling a bit worried. He smiled at me, tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, leaned in, and whispered,
“A’min looks exceptionally beautiful today.”

I saw the candlelight cast our shadows on the wall—figures overlapping, intimately close.

The cool breeze from opening the door dispelled some of my heat. Then I heard a burst of teasing laughter outside, fading away along with the footsteps.

I let out a breath. Confirming there was no one outside, I found a quiet spot and set off the signal. A loud boom was quickly drowned out by the noisy voices of the crowd.

The intelligence I had sent out detailed the layout of the bandit lair. I told them I was getting married today and would release the signal at the right moment for them to attack up the mountain.

After releasing the signal, I headed to the main hall. Bandits were cruel; even though Liang Ji had gained their trust, there was no guarantee no accidents would happen.

When I arrived, they didn’t suspect a thing. Instead, they all burst into laughter and pushed me toward Liang Ji.

“Why are you here?”

Liang Ji asked me softly, somewhat surprised. I looked over and gazed straight into his radiant eyes.

“To protect my people.”

He said, “Thank you for your trouble, A’min.”

With a smile on his lips, he raised his wine cup to my lips. I paused for a moment, parted my lips to catch the rim, and drank a small half of the wine from his cup.

“Alright, go toast the Head Boss.”

He took my hand, picked up a wine cup from the table, handed it to me, and filled it to the brim.

“This younger brother and my wife thank the Head Boss for his blessing.”

After the Head Boss downed it in one gulp, the rest of them came over one by one to urge us to drink. I looked at Liang Ji; he didn’t stop them. The wine in his cup was emptied again and again, then refilled.

His lips also pressed against the crimson rouge on the rim of the cup, again and again.

Outside, the sound of weapons clashing rang out. Someone ran in, wounded. “Head Boss, government troops have come up the mountain, they’re about to break in!”

The people here immediately grew tense. Grabbing their weapons, they were about to march out aggressively, but after taking only a few steps, they all collapsed limply to the ground.

The Head Boss’s mountain-like body crashed heavily back into the main seat.

I had already grasped the flexible sword at my waist, preparing to take down the bandit leader while he was off guard. But I couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation that had changed in the blink of an eye.

“Liang Ji, it’s you!” The Head Boss’s voice was like the roar of an angry tiger.

I looked at Liang Ji. He gently placed his wine cup back onto the table with a crisp clink, then bowed to the Head Boss.

“I have received the Head Boss’s unmerited favor. Liang Ji is ashamed,” he stood up straight and said slowly, “but I have no regrets.”

“What’s going on?”

I asked him. He turned to face me, pointed at the wine jug, and stated the obvious, “They’ve been drugged.”

“I drank it too…”

I suddenly remembered the mouthful he had fed me, and my heart abruptly beat faster.

“When did you… why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was not completely certain…”

As he spoke, his expression suddenly changed. He pulled me forcefully toward him, raising his arm to block a blade meant for me.

The smell of blood instantly filled my nose. I quickly drew my flexible sword and finished off the bandit who had come to report. I pulled Liang Ji’s hand down; blood had already soaked through half his sleeve. His originally red clothes were now a dark crimson.

“I’m fine. It hasn’t reached the bone.”

I looked up and glared at him. “Why are you trying to be brave? I am a dignified Fourth-Rank General Xuanwei, do I need you to block a sword for me?”

“Does the General not feel pain as well?”

With half an arm covered in blood, he could still smile. “The General protects the people, and I protect A’min. Isn’t that wonderful?”