“Impossible! Impossible!” How could Deputy Commander Niu kill Yang Jingyuan in the Niu household? Ji Yingying couldn’t believe it, yet she was terrified. She abandoned Niu Fifth Miss and looked toward the training ground.
The hay targets stood in the distance. The ten riders shot forward like arrows from a bow, drawing and shooting at the targets. Ji Yingying watched as those nine men raised their bows, feeling as if at any moment their arrows might turn toward Yang Jingyuan. She could no longer contain herself and screamed: “Third Brother! Yang Jingyuan!”
The instant she called out Yang Jingyuan’s name, Niu Fifth Miss lightly flipped over the railing, hanging in mid-air with just her hands gripping the balustrade.
The silver-red dress flashed in Ji Yingying’s peripheral vision. She instinctively turned her head, her voice becoming a piercing shriek: “Niu Fifth Miss!” She lunged forward, bending over to grab Niu Fifth Miss’s wrist.
Ji Yingying didn’t know how Niu Fifth Miss had suddenly tumbled over the railing. She simply reacted reflexively to save her, gripping Niu Fifth Miss’s slender wrist tightly while screaming desperately for help.
The sharp, piercing screams from high up in Xuanji Tower reached everyone on the training ground. Deputy Commander Niu turned his head to see the silver-red dress floating in the air. Against the brown railing and white walls, Niu Fifth Miss’s figure was strikingly visible. He instantly recognized her and shouted: “Save her!”
A black shadow had already darted past him toward Xuanji Tower.
Deputy Commander Niu was startled, and when he realized it was Yang Jingyuan, his eyes revealed complex emotions.
Riding his horse as close to Xuanji Tower as possible, Yang Jingyuan stood up straight, kicked off forcefully, and leaped onto a nearby tree, rushing toward the tower.
“Yingying, don’t let go!” Yang Jingyuan called up after landing below the tower, preparing to climb up.
At that moment, Niu Fifth Miss gripped Ji Yingying’s hand back and pinched her hard. Her long nails instantly carved a bloody gash in Ji Yingying’s wrist.
“Ah!” Ji Yingying’s hand loosened from the pain, and she watched as Niu Fifth Miss fell backward.
“She’s still smiling.” Ji Yingying clutched her wrist, shocked almost speechless at the smile on Niu Fifth Miss’s face.
As Niu Fifth Miss fell, Yang Jingyuan leaped up and caught her. His gaze remained fixed upward, not even noticing who he had caught: “Yingying, it’s alright now!”
As he spoke, he looked down and almost threw Niu Fifth Miss away: “What are you doing?!”
Niu Fifth Miss looked at him, hazily remembering that year when she had rushed down from Xuanji Tower toward the training ground, twisted her ankle on the stairs, and Yang Jingyuan had caught her just as deftly: “If you dare drop me, I’ll say Ji Yingying pushed me down.”
She thought he would curse her for being blind and refusing marriage, or mock her, wondering if he’d caught the wrong person and wishing she had fallen to her death. Yet Niu Fifth Miss heard herself calmly threatening him, and even though Yang Jingyuan’s grip instantly tightened until it felt like he might crush her shoulders, she still smiled: “My parents dote on me the most. If anything happens to me, Ji Yingying is dead. What does it matter if the Yang family is rich and famous for their brocade? Wasn’t your elder brother beaten half to death by the Military Commissioner?”
Yang Jingyuan’s face turned ashen. He wanted to throw her violently to the ground and leave with Ji Yingying, but something still held him back.
Niu Fifth Miss rested her face against his chest, laughing softly: “Why not just carry me back to my room?”
“Shameless!” Yang Jingyuan gritted his teeth, utterly disgusted.
“Insult me again, and I’ll make you show Ji Yingying just how much you care for me.”
He’d rather die! Yang Jingyuan broke out in goosebumps but carried Niu Fifth Miss swiftly into the hall, throwing her onto the bamboo couch.
Yuyuan had appeared in the hall at some point and went forward to help Niu Fifth Miss: “Miss, are you hurt?”
Lying on the couch, Niu Fifth Miss shook her head, her clear eyes gradually growing unfocused.
Just as Yang Jingyuan was about to go upstairs, he heard footsteps thundering down. He looked up to see Ji Yingying running down. She looked at Yuyuan and demanded: “Where is my maid?”
“My lady!” Ying’er ran in from outside, glaring at Yuyuan. “She gave me a cup of tea, and I fell asleep.”
“Let’s go home.” Ji Yingying pulled at Yang Jingyuan, ready to leave.
At that moment, Deputy Commander Niu and Madam Niu arrived.
“Fifth Miss, are you alright? You scared mother to death.” Madam Niu’s face was like the misty rain of Jiangnan, clouded with worry.
Niu Fifth Miss spoke softly and weakly: “The railing was a bit low, and I wasn’t paying attention, then I fell… Thankfully Yang Third Young Master was quick enough to catch me. It was just a false alarm.”
Madam Niu turned to thank Yang Third Young Master.
Yang Jingyuan made a few modest replies, knowing there would be no more chance to speak with Deputy Commander Niu today, and said: “Second Madam Zhao has had a fright. My wife and I shouldn’t stay long. I’ll have another opportunity to practice with the Commander’s elite soldiers.”
“When does the Third Young Master return to Santai?” Deputy Commander Niu asked casually.
“The day after tomorrow.” Yang Jingyuan smiled and left with Ji Yingying.
As they exited the courtyard, Niu Seventh Miss had just arrived.
Yang Jingyuan’s expression soured at the sight of her: “Yingying, did you give her your gift?”
Seeing Ji Yingying shake her head, his face changed instantly, and he gripped her hand, heading out without giving her any chance to speak with Niu Seventh Miss.
Quick-witted Ying’er ran back quickly, handing Niu Seventh Miss a small package wrapped in red silk: “My lady’s wedding gift for you.”
Watching the three leave, Niu Seventh Miss stormed into Xuanji Tower, shouting: “Sister! Why did you take my guests away?”
Just then, a sharp slap rang out from the hall. Niu Seventh Miss stood in the doorway, stunned to see her father strike her sister across the face.
“My lord! What are you doing? Fifth Miss is already frightened, and instead of comforting her, you strike her?” Madam Niu cried out.
Deputy Commander Niu pointed at Niu Fifth Miss, his face purple as an eggplant: “You wretch! Are you trying to get the whole family killed?”
“You should have let me die when I had smallpox. When my face was ruined, you should have just let me die then!” Niu Fifth Miss covered her face, shrieking as she ran upstairs.
“Fifth Miss!” Madam Niu glanced upstairs, anxiously following her.
“What’s happening?” Niu Seventh Miss looked bewildered.
Deputy Commander Niu flung his sleeve angrily, then turned to see Seventh Miss at the door, his expression softening: “Father is angry at your sister’s carelessness—she scared us to death! Your mother’s with her, don’t worry. Seventh Miss, go check on Sang Fourteen in the guest quarters. Father was so happy to see him, I accidentally… knocked him unconscious.”
“Father! Why did you use such force? Your slap could kill a bull, and he’s as delicate as paper!” Hearing this, Niu Seventh Miss forgot about Niu Fifth Miss and ran out.
Alone now, Deputy Commander Niu collapsed onto the steps before Xuanji Tower, his fan-like hands roughly massaging his head: “This will be the death of me!”