The riverbank was empty and quiet, with willows and locust trees growing in scattered patches, silently listening to Zhao Xiuyuan’s explosive roar: “…Was our mutual affection all false? I lay sleepless through the nights after learning of this, terrified you would cry and rage and fall into despair. Yet you remain so utterly unmoved, so impossibly calm.”
“Do you have a heart? Did you truly ever have feelings for me? How can you pour salt in my wounds, telling me to my face that you’ll marry another and live happily?”
“I forbid it!”
“Listen well – I forbid it!”
Since entering Old Master Zhao’s courtyard, Zhao Xiuyuan had been suppressing himself bitterly. What wrong had he done? He could have given up the position of future family head to his elder cousin. But could he bear to let his father hand over family leadership to his Second Uncle while still in his prime? To watch his mother surrender household authority and swallow her pride beneath his aunts’ feet? However lacking his parents might be, they were still his parents. What could he do? Should he marry Ji Yingying and let the main branch move out of Yuejin Hall amid the whole family’s contempt? He still had a younger brother. How would Qilang view his elder brother when he grew up? His reputation would be destroyed, drowned in others’ contempt!
Zhao Xiuyuan’s suppressed emotions finally erupted. He didn’t notice how tight his grip was, nor did he see Ji Yingying’s forehead beading with sweat from pain. He shook her, shouting out all the grievances he couldn’t tell his family, all the bitterness he couldn’t share with others.
Yes, she knew it all. She truly didn’t blame him. She had resented that Zhao Xiuyuan hadn’t told her beforehand. But this slight resentment seemed so trivial compared to his impossible situation. Though her arm felt like it would snap from his grip, Ji Yingying endured. Perhaps this pain would help her stay clear-headed.
“What do you want from me?” Ji Yingying spoke, “What can I do? Brother Xiuyuan, we’re not fated to be together. I don’t blame you. Let me go. Go marry the young lady from the Niu family with peace of mind.”
Zhao Xiuyuan was breathing heavily, his head spinning from shouting so much. He didn’t know what it would take for Ji Yingying to calm his turbulent emotions. She told him to marry the Niu family’s daughter with peace of mind. No, she was saying she would marry someone else. He pulled Ji Yingying into his arms, holding her tight: “You’re mine, mine, mine…”
Ji Yingying could barely breathe in his grip. She could hear his heart pounding chaotically. Zhao Xiuyuan seemed possessed, making her feel strange and frightened. How could she be his? If he couldn’t marry her, she couldn’t marry him either. She wanted to explain clearly that their past affection would remain in her heart, and perhaps when they were old, they could look back on their youthful passion. She didn’t blame him anymore, what more did he want from her?
“Let me go!”
“No! You’re mine!”
“Zhao Xiuyuan!”
“I won’t let you leave! Never!”
Ji Yingying couldn’t break free. Her face was pressed against his chest, turning red from lack of air, her words muffled against him. She couldn’t breathe, and her pounding fists gradually lost strength.
Yang Jingyuan had been standing aside listening to their argument, chewing on a tree branch while staring absently at the sky. When Ji Yingying fell silent, he glanced over just in time to see her body go limp, her hands falling helplessly. He froze for a moment, a bad feeling rising in his heart, and rushed over to grab Zhao Xiuyuan’s arm, throwing him aside and catching the collapsing Ji Yingying.
He patted her face: “Hey! Wake up!”
Her body suddenly freed, and fresh air rushed into her nose and mouth. Ji Yingying inhaled too quickly and began coughing violently.
Seeing her gasping for air with closed eyes, her face purple from suffocation, Yang Jingyuan thought to himself how close that had been. He helped Ji Yingying sit against a tree, then looked up at the glaring Zhao Xiuyuan and said irritably: “Were you trying to suffocate her?”
“Who are you?”
Suddenly pushed away by Yang Jingyuan, Zhao Xiuyuan finally regained his senses. He couldn’t remember meeting Yang Jingyuan once before by Huanhua Creek. Seeing his hand supporting Ji Yingying, he only wanted to chop that hand off.
Ji Yingying experienced a brief dizziness as she slowly caught her breath. When she opened her eyes, it took her a moment to realize it was Yang Jingyuan who had pulled her from Zhao Xiuyuan’s arms: “Why are you here?”
“Your brother sent me.”
“My brother? Oh no, he must be worried sick.” Ji Yingying stood up anxiously. Only then did she remember how she had ended up here?
“Yingying, you know him?” Their familiar manner made Zhao Xiuyuan feel uncomfortable.
Before Ji Yingying could answer, Yang Jingyuan cupped his hands in greeting: “Yang Jingyuan of Yizhou City.”
The azure blue brocade with clustered flowers, the endless swastika pattern finely embroidered on the collar and sleeves. Worth a hundred strings of cash. Zhao Xiuyuan immediately made his judgment: “You live in Yang Family Lane?”
“I am the Yang family’s third son,” Yang Jingyuan didn’t conceal it.
So he truly was from the Yang family. Hostility and wariness naturally rose in Zhao Xiuyuan’s heart as he said gravely: “I am speaking with Second Miss Ji. What brings Young Master Yang here?”
Yang Jingyuan turned to look at Ji Yingying: “I promised your elder brother I would bring you back.”
Her brother must be worried. Ji Yingying was anxious to return to Ji Yaoting. With Yang Jingyuan present, it wasn’t appropriate to continue speaking with Zhao Xiuyuan. She glanced at him and said: “Second Young Master Zhao, my brother must be waiting anxiously. I’m leaving.”
She no longer called him Brother Xiuyuan, but “Second Young Master Zhao.” As distant as any stranger. Zhao Xiuyuan exploded in anger, pointing at Yang Jingyuan with a trembling voice: “Yingying, you’re leaving with him?”
What else could she do, ride back with you? You’re already engaged to the Niu family’s daughter. She will surely come to see the Zhao family win the Brocade Prince competition. Too many people already knew about our relationship – wouldn’t this create even more misunderstandings? Ji Yingying nodded: “I’m leaving.”
Three words.
She only said three words to him. Wouldn’t she explain how she knew Yang Jingyuan? She would ride back with Third Young Master Yang? Of course, he was from the Brocade Prince Yang family, and so handsome too… Zhao Xiuyuan felt as if his chest had been pierced, cold wind whistling through the hole. His mind kept repeating: so she had already found a better match. So she wouldn’t even grieve for him.
He stared at her, lips slightly parted.
His gaze was so sorrowful that Ji Yingying felt a bitter ache deep in her nose. She could feel tears welling up. She turned away: “Third Young Master Yang, where is your white horse?”
Hah, she even knew what color his horse was. While he spent nights weaving competitive brocade, thinking of her before falling into an exhausted sleep, she had already found someone else after learning she couldn’t marry him. Zhao Xiuyuan suddenly turned away, untied his horse’s reins, mounted, and galloped off.
The river wind rushed past as Zhao Xiuyuan looked ahead, tears welling in his eyes: “You won’t listen to me now, but don’t blame me in the future.”
And so he left. Ji Yingying watched his retreating figure sadly until he disappeared from view.