“San Lang,” Ji Yingying murmured, burying her face against his chest, and feeling his cold, wet clothes.

Nanzhao had large temperature differences between day and night. Winter noons were hot enough for light clothing, but once night fell, the wind carried bone-chilling cold. Knowing Yang Jingyuan had swum through the water channel, Ji Yingying hurriedly pushed him away, worried, “Are you cold?”

Such concern made Yang Jingyuan want to slap himself hard. He stared at her, his eyes gradually reddening: “Yingying, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Ji Yingying shook her head, saying softly: “I’m the wrong one. I knew there would be an ambush tonight, but I couldn’t think of a way to stop you from coming. While you haven’t been discovered, quickly leave – there will be other chances.”

She was truly foolish. She had yearned for him to come to rescue her, not knowing he had doubted her, abandoning her at Baiyan Palace. Faced with such a Ji Yingying, Yang Jingyuan was filled with remorse. He gripped her hand and turned to leave: “Let’s talk after we leave here.”

With a pull, Ji Yingying forcefully held him back, the iron chains of her shackles dragging across the ground with clear, crisp sounds.

“San Lang, there will be changes. I don’t know martial arts – I’ll only burden you and Seven. Please, leave first?” Ji Yingying lowered her head, staring at her shackles. The night was too quiet; they couldn’t break the shackles without making noise. She couldn’t escape tonight.

“I’ve already abandoned you once. I won’t make the same mistake again.” Yang Jingyuan only now noticed.

It was all his fault. If not for his presumptions, she wouldn’t be locked up here by Zhao Xiuyuan. He was so distressed he couldn’t bear to look into Ji Yingying’s eyes, bending down to crouch and grabbing the chain binding her feet, trying furiously to pull it free.

The chain didn’t budge. Yang Jingyuan’s anger rose in frustration, his face flushing red as he drew the precious sword from his back, ready to strike. Ji Yingying spread her arms to stop him: “San Lang, don’t cut it. There’s an ambush outside – if they hear anything and discover you, it will be dangerous. That’s Seven at the door, isn’t it? You have high martial arts skills and can escape. If anything happens to Seven, how would you face Sang Fourteen?”

Yang Jingyuan’s sword-holding hand trembled, tears finally sliding down his cheeks. He lowered the sword helplessly, his knees weakening as he knelt before her.

“What are you doing? A man shouldn’t kneel easily – get up!” Unable to pull him up, Ji Yingying could only soften her knees to join him.

Yang Jingyuan buried his face in her embrace, choking out his confession: “Yingying, I suspected you and Sheng Fengze… In Yizhou City, facing Sheng Fengze, I was like a child. Though I knew his intentions were improper, and knew my father’s death was related to him, I could do nothing against him. I wouldn’t admit that I had always feared him in my heart. That Lantern Festival night when he impersonated me to take you boat-viewing, I watched from afar as you stood beside him, backlit by lanterns, beautiful as a dream. I saw you bandaging his wounds, the lamplight just like that night…”

He had come that night and had seen everything. Ji Yingying started, remembering Sheng Fengze’s silhouette standing at the door all day, finally deciding to let her go at dusk. Hadn’t her heart ached for Sheng Fengze too? How could she blame Yang Jingyuan for the misunderstanding? He had seen everything yet said nothing, only wishing for her well-being. Ji Yingying’s heart ached as she held his head gently, saying: “But he wouldn’t eagerly make porridge for me like you do. Nor would he foolishly climb over my courtyard wall in winter to bring me plum blossoms. That night’s lake view was beautiful because I thought you were by my side. I agreed to marry you because my heart delights in you. Our home is in Mingyue Residence.”

He was like sunlight. All of his nature is exposed to the sunlight. Whether liking or disliking, everything was clear. Ji Yingying couldn’t remember when she had started liking him. It seemed to begin with resignation, but that resigned engagement had brought her joy.

Yang Jingyuan said nothing, kissing her lips. He kissed her reverently, tears streaming down his cheeks with their salty taste.

In his youth, he knew to yield before his stepmother. He was, after all, his father’s most beloved youngest son, and the lonely legitimate wife had once truly cared for him. Apart from envying his brothers’ careers, he had lived quite freely and easily.

He believed himself already excellent enough. He liked the vivacious Ji Yingying. Her family background also happened to match his wishes. He cared for her, openly showing her his favor. Thinking of her, he disregarded propriety to climb her family’s walls. He had always thought between them, he was the one who gave more. He had even secretly guessed that her love for him was somewhat out of gratitude. Today, hearing her say she delighted in him and therefore agreed to marry him, Yang Jingyuan was so moved he wanted to cut out his heart for her.

Thinking of Niu Seven keeping watch at the door, Ji Yingying pushed him away, face flushed with embarrassment. Looking into his earnest eyes, Ji Yingying couldn’t help cupping his face, her hand brushing over his proud eyebrows as she said softly: “You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”

Those words made Yang Jingyuan’s spirits soar. He lifted her into his arms, leaning against her devotedly: “You must tell me often in the future. Tell me your heart delights in me.”

“Yes.” She had said too little before. That’s why he hadn’t trusted her. Their marriage had faced too many obstacles, making him always doubt her. How much must he love her, to doubt her yet never mention it? Ji Yingying sighed quietly, saying softly, “San Lang, go now. I know you’ll think of a way to save me.”

While the mountain remains green, there will always be firewood. The Zhao family couldn’t maintain an ambush every day. Yang Jingyuan understood she was right, but couldn’t bear to leave her in the Zhao residence a moment longer. He hesitated, deciding to risk it: “Seven?”

Niu Seven was shivering at the door, hearing muffled whispers from inside, moved to tears. All the sins of her sister and brother-in-law made her feel deeply guilty about Ji Yingying.

Hearing her name called, Niu Seven poked her face through the door crack: “I’m here. No movement outside.”

“Come look, can you break this chain?”

Niu Seven entered the room, smiling ingratiatingly at Ji Yingying: “Second Lady Ji, don’t worry, I could push down this whole wall.”

Ji Yingying couldn’t help smiling, remembering how Sang Fourteen had been frightened by her supernatural strength in childhood.

“This chain is nailed into the wall, I just need to pull it out.” Niu Seven tugged at the chain, finding it was forged from fine steel that couldn’t be cut without precious swords. Confident about pulling the chain from the wall, she rubbed her hands together, preparing to use her strength.

“Seven, wait, listen to me.” Ji Yingying understood Yang Jingyuan’s plan. Even if pulled out, if they couldn’t break it, she couldn’t silently swim through the water channel with such heavy iron chains. Even if Yang Jingyuan carried her, at least a hundred catties of weight would only burden them. “Rather than being discovered and burdening you, better to keep things as they are. They don’t know San Lang has reached Nanzhao. We’re in the shadows – there will be many opportunities.”

Hearing this, Niu Seven looked at Yang Jingyuan.

“San Lang, you’re a general. You know how to weigh priorities.”

Yang Jingyuan knew she was right, but still couldn’t bear to part.