Rin swallowed, loud in the silent room. She met her grandfather's silver eyes.
"Grandfather…is there anything you have to say?" She asked slowly.
The old man sat in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. His fists were strangling themselves white.
"How long?" The words came tonelessly, as a statue would speak them.
"Two months." An Sun replied, almost too casually.
Bai Han's gaze went to An Sun's like a snake's to his prey, and his eyes glowed. The air around the young man seemed to tremble slightly, as if with heat or a breeze.
Two months ago. That was when the two went to Shaoshu together…and stayed overnight!
Bai Han's face went pale. He abruptly stood from his seat and reached for his sword.
"Grandfather! That's enough!" Rin's words filled the room, thinning the air until they could not breathe.
All three men appeared stunned. She had never risen her voice like that before. Bai Han stared at his granddaughter's pressing expression and reluctantly sat back down on the floor cushion. His entire face was twitching uncontrollably.
Rin sighed. She had raised her eyes and looked at Bai Han for a few seconds before she said seriously, "Grandfather, you have raised me well enough to make my own decisions. You taught me how to lead, to trust, to value myself. But most importantly…you taught me how to love."
She turned to An Sun, his face framed by the darkness of his hair. He was watching her, his eyes as deep as earth.
She smiled and closed her hand over his. "I love him. And he loves me."
An Sun's breath stopped, his eyes widening slowly. A small wave of heat made its way to the young man's ears. Although he appeared coy, he didn't hesitate to lock their fingers in a tight hold.
The faintest tremor crossed Bai Han's face, but he met his granddaughter's earnest gaze. He looked between the two with a stiff expression.
"Is it true? Do you love her?" He asked.
"I do." An Sun nodded seriously.
"Do you plan to marry her?" Bai Han's eyes narrowed.
"When I can support myself and provide for both of us, I do." His jaw set forward. "That is if she's willing. I will not force her hand."
Silence. Bai Han's eyes no longer held the cold, dark, and bitter resentment from the past. There was only distress. He was like a helpless child who was at a loss.
"Seeing how serious you both are, I'm not one to ruin something real." He sighed in defeat but suddenly looked up with a penetrating gaze. "But if you ever make her cry, I will drag her away from you and beat you senseless until you learn how to properly treat her!"
While Rin's eyes widened in shock, An Sun couldn't help himself from smiling a little. Stubborn and harsh as his words were, he knew this was the old man's way of accepting them.
"If such a day comes, then I will gladly accept your punishment." An Sun bowed his head.
The edge of Bai Han's mouth twitched, beard trembling. He huffed.
"Go." He waved his hand and turned his face away.
After that, there was nothing more to say. Just before leaving, Rin turned to her grandfather and hugged him.
"Thank you," She whispered in his ear before following behind An Sun.
Bai Han watched the girl's parting back. His shoulders, usually so straight and fine, seemed fallen. He sighed and turned to stare at the man drinking beside him with a scowl.
"Was I the only one who didn't know?"
General Guo poured wine into the second cup before passing it to the old man. "You're not the easiest to discuss such news with."
Bai Han accepted the cup with a frown. "I'm starting to realize that now. I've always wanted to be someone she could rely on, but it seems I have ruined that chance myself."
While drinking his wine with a glum expression, General Guo watched helplessly. Truth be told, he hadn't expected Bai Han to take the news of the two's relationship too well. But to everyone's surprise, he humbled himself enough to bear with it.
General Guo briefly remembered the expression on the old man's face when he heard Rin's words. It was then he realized the hardest thing one must face. Watching the little girl they knew, inevitably growing up. As often as Bai Han was confronted with the knowledge, this was possibly the first time he accepted Rin had changed.
Smiling, General Guo poured more wine. "To a new beginning." He raised his cup.
Bai Han grumbled and clinked his cup before chugging down the aromatic, red wine.
…
The sun slid lower in the sky, and the wind was brisk as the two returned to their rooms. Almost absently, An Sun rubbed the back of her palm. It was soft and smooth, always cool to the touch.
It was hard to believe that Bai Han had finally accepted them. This feeling was so…
"Sun?" Rin's voice pulled him away from his thoughts.
He looked down at her and smiled. "Sorry, I'm just…" Happy was the word he wished to say but found it wasn't enough to express his current feelings.
Without finishing, Rin could already guess what he was thinking. She stared at their joined hands and smiled to herself.
"I feel the same." She said softly and lowered her head. "It's a little frightening. These emotions I'm feeling, that is. I can't help but think I've grown foolish."
She lifted her eyes to meet his and saw reflected in them, her uncontrolled thoughts. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again as some fleeting emotion crossed his face. His gaze fell upon her clear emerald eyes and alluring smile. He touched her head, just behind her ear—gently brushing the strands of her hair.
"You're not the only one who has gone foolish." The depths of his eyes darkened. "For the first time, I don't know what I should do to make you stay. Before, all I had to do was threaten your family, and you'd stay by my side.
To his last words, Rin scowled. "Sun…"
An Sun chuckled and rubbed her cheek. "I know, I know."
His smile slowly disappeared, and at the same time, he trailed her into his arms, and nuzzled her hair, breathing its scent. His muscles unwound beneath her as an over taut bow unstrung.
"You're in my arms, and yet I feel uneasy. Isn't that strange?" He laughed, breath almost shaky. He took a deep breath. "I'm scared. Scared to hurt you, to see you hurt. To see you slip from my hands again and disappear. I don't want to lose you. Rin. Rin, tell me what should I do?" His nose slid along her jaw, his lips pressing her ear.
Rin's skin prickled from his needy, sultry voice. She sighed softly and comfortably stroked his head nestled in her neck.
"All you can do is have trust in us. Trust that I will protect myself from harm for you. That I will stay by your side because I care for you and want to be with you." Pulling away, she looked up at him, her eyes itching and her throat aching. "When you love someone, it's as simple as that."
"Is it that simple?" An Sun eyes darkened, doubtful.
Rin smiled helplessly. "That's all I know at the moment."
He couldn't stop the smile forming on his lips. He ran his hands down her arms, taking her hands as he leaned over to touch his lips to her forehead.
"I'll take your word for it."
…
As night settled, Rin resided in her study. The flickering glow of candlelight reflected against the windows. She took out a letter and scrutinized it. As time went on, her expression grew more and more wrinkled.
"Young Master, it's not good to overwork yourself. Your eyes will start to hurt." Wei Jingyi approached with her nightly cup of tea.
"Why have our numbers in the Wang army lessened?" She never lifted her head.
The middle-aged man sighed and gently poured a decent spoonful of tealeaves into a cup. "The Wang army encountered a clan traveling in the east. They fell into a dispute and cost the lives of several men."
"A clan traveling to the east?" Rin finally looked up. A frown etched across her face.
Not too long ago, she recalled the eastern envoy stating the An Clan had allied with foreign clans. Were they the same?
The more she thought, the darker her expression became. Meanwhile, Wei Jingyi had just begun pouring tea, placing it by her side.
"By the way, I heard Bai Han accepted your relationship with An Sun. Congratulations."
Rin froze. Her big, clear eyes blinked once. Heat and shock rushed through her face. Her brows wrinkled into a slight frown, and she turned to look up. She saw the teasing grin he cast upon her.
"Where did you hear that from?" She frowned.
"I was just passing by and happened to oversee something interesting." Wei Jingyi merely smiled and poured himself a cup of tea.
Her scowl deepened as she shifted her gaze to a specific little falcon. He lifted his beady eyes from his wing and blinked innocently at her. Spying on her with the snoopy old man…she couldn't help but feel betrayed.
Just as she was about to speak up, a servant ran in to report.
"Advisor Lan, the Emperor summons you to the main hall."
So late? Although she had this in mind, Rin didn't refute and stood up. When they arrived in the hall, she was surprised to see General Guo and her grandfather present. Before she could say anything, her eyes locked on a particular figure standing beside them.
Her eyes widened.
"Aiguo?"