Chapter 19: Old Subordinate
Xi Che calmly placed his belongings aside and pushed open the window, widening it slightly.
As night fell, the once pleasant daytime temperature had given way to a chill.
A gentle breeze swept through the room, clearing Xi Che's mind.
He waited for a while, his gaze drawn to a particular spot in the courtyard with an air of curiosity.
This person's martial arts seemed to be far superior to his own. If they wanted to eliminate him silently, it would be as easy as turning over their hand.
He had probably witnessed most of what had transpired earlier, yet he remained unfazed.
Perhaps... this person recognized him?
His eyes narrowed as he focused on the figure illuminated by moonlight on the ground.
Feigning to close the window and retire for the night.
In an instant, a figure leapt through the open window.
The man was around middle age, with hints of graying hair at his temples. He had strong facial features, a high bridge of his nose, and a somewhat rugged appearance.
Though he was dressed in attire commonly seen in the border region, Xi Che could immediately identify him.
He was a native Bei Di.
Xi Che's expression remained unchanged, prepared to exchange pleasantries and probe the situation. However, upon seeing him, the man was overcome with emotion, breathing heavily.
"Like, like... so much like him."
Xi Che remained silent, merely observing the man before him.
After a while, once the man had calmed down somewhat, Xi Che inquired in a low voice, "Would you like to sit down and talk?"
He had already made several quick guesses, but his demeanor remained respectful, as if he merely considered the man an elder with greater expertise and sought his guidance.
Even his speech revealed a hint of youthful naivety.
He turned to pour tea for the man opposite him, handing him a jade-green teacup.
Before he could extend his hand, the man suddenly dropped to his knees, his upper body pressed firmly against the ground.
"Your humble servant, Wei Zhen, greets the young master." His tone was subservient and devout, a hint of excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
It reminded Xi Che of the way people bowed to his uncle during his childhood rituals.
He could only watch from the shadows, unseen.
But... this was different.
"Senior, you may be mistaken. I am not the young master you speak of."
His features were remarkably similar to his mother's, sharing the same exotic beauty.
Blended with the gentle grace of the Central Plains, his appearance was more refined, a stark contrast to the rugged Beidi people.
This trait became increasingly evident as he grew older.
"You may know my mother... but I am merely an illegitimate child born out of wedlock, far from the Beidi young master you claim me to be." His tone was friendly, yet his words carried a subtle hint of wariness and suspicion.
Wei Zhen was moved by his words. "I cannot be mistaken! You must not belittle yourself, young master!!!"
Xi Che lowered his gaze, neither confirming nor denying his words. He continued, "If you claim to know me, then you should be aware of my background. A person like me is not worth your risk."
His eyes fell upon the old scar near Wei Zhen's ear, pausing for a moment before saying, "Whether you're casting a wide net or have other motives, I care not. I only ask that you leave this place immediately."
He deliberately made his words harsher, and his expression gradually turned cold.
Deep down, he had already confirmed the identity of this person.
He was probably a past acquaintance of his mother.
But that was irrelevant to him.
As the product of a night of secret meeting between the Chongan Emperor and the Bei Di Princess, his life was already stained.
If the previous Bei Di Emperor showed some brotherly love and helped cover up a few things, the current one might not be as forgiving.
That person probably wished he had died five years ago.
"Young Master, I have been a guard in the Princess Yuman's Mansion since I was a child, only loyal to the Princess and the Young Master," he said as he bowed again. "I have always only recognized the Princess's Mansion, the Young Master, and never recognized that traitor Emperor."
Xi Che paused for a moment.
A few steps away, Wei Zhen continued, "Now that I have finally found the Young Master, my only wish is to stay by your side and serve you with all my might."
"In that case, I have no fear even if I die."
The bloodstains on the side of the table had dried up, and the imprints on the paper had solidified along with them.
Xi Che withdrew his gaze from the man's face after several moments of contemplation, his eyes roaming over the man.
He was alone now, with nothing to gain.
Thinking of what his mother had mentioned about him, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
After a while, he bent down slightly to help Wei Zhen up. "Please, stand up, sir."
"You have shown nothing but sincerity," he said with a softer expression. "Thank you for your help. You may address me by my name from now on."
Wei Zhen trembled slightly at these words, then quickly stepped back a few paces and kneeled to express his gratitude.
After chatting for a while, Wei Zhen started caring for Xi Che as if he were a regular elder. "Young Master, you have suffered in the Central Plains all these years."
Xi Che replied, "It's nothing."
He then asked, "I want to ask you, in all these years... are there any other former servants of the Princess's Mansion still alive?"
Thinking of the oppression the Bei Di dynasty had imposed on the Princess's Mansion, he suppressed his emotions.
Seeing Wei Zhen's bitter expression, he understood.
"You have also suffered for so many years," he said, with his own way of treating loyal subjects.
Physically, he had inherited many qualities of his predecessors, and when he spoke in such a gentle manner, it was like a gentle stream that nourished everything silently.
Although his enchanting appearance did not match, he did give off a gentle and respectful air, like a noble gentleman.
Wei Zhen's eyes turned bloodshot. "They are Central Plains people...!"
"Aren't they human beings?!" His voice was filled with hatred, almost tearing apart.
Xi Che thought for a moment and said, "But this is a borderland. Although there are many soldiers training here, when you really think about it, it's not the people here who are inhuman, but those in the capital."
In his subconscious mind, the borderland and the capital were two different places.
"As you said, it is the military trained by the capital and the decision-makers sitting on the throne," his voice also softened, " and... the rulers."
He certainly felt sorry for the people in times of war and turmoil.
But ultimately, the root cause of their suffering was the rulers' mistakes and incompetence.
He added, "It's not appropriate to come in unannounced like this in the future." But he couldn't find a more suitable place for their meetings for now. "How about waiting for me in the temple ten miles outside the General's Mansion around the midnight hour, every day? How does that sound?"
Wei Zhen had come here to reunite with him, so he respectfully agreed and disappeared through the window without a trace, leaving Xi Che to ponder over their conversation.
...
The next day, Xi Che went to find Ji Li as usual.
The temperature dropped abruptly, and it seemed that the shop would have to close in a few days.
As soon as he arrived, he went through the basic exercises as usual.
After a moment, Ji Li came out to find him.
The young girl was dressed in a pale yellow fishbone silk long dress, looking bright and cheerful, as if in a good mood.
As soon as she saw him, the young man was drawn to her like a magnet, "Sister~"
"What are we learning today?" He pretended to casually ask, fearing that she might forget.
Ji Li knew immediately what he meant and said helplessly, "I haven't forgotten, here..." as she handed him a long sword.
"I had someone make a sword for you, and you can use it for practice in the future."
The sword was jet black and shiny, emitting a faint glow under the thin autumn sunlight, with a metallic texture.
A light-colored gem was inlaid on the hilt, adding a touch of radiance to the sword.
The sharp blade showed that a lot of effort went into making it.
Xi Che was touched, his eyes shining, and a hint of undisguised joy appeared between his eyebrows, "Thank you, sister, I really like it."
Ji Li had put a lot of thought into it for him.
Thinking about this, he started to act strangely again, his tone carrying a hint of his own unique playfulness.
When thanking her, he couldn't decide if he was expressing his liking for the sword or for something else.
Ji Li had gotten used to Xi Che's behavior, and seeing his expression, she began to teach him a new martial skill.
She had noticed earlier that he had exceptional talent in martial arts.
As she marveled at this fact, she put even more effort into teaching him.
To make up for her past actions, she tacitly accepted many of his boundary-crossing behaviors.
As a woman, she understood better than anyone the powerful effects of emotions.
Emotions were like an invisible bond, tightly wrapping around and binding people.
A young person's feelings were intense and sincere, and she couldn't be completely unaware of it.
But she didn't know how to deal with it.
Like a tightrope walker, she felt suspended high in the sky, unable to touch the ground.
Beside her, Xi Che's figure moved with her instructions.
He quickly learned and integrated each movement, showing remarkable progress.
Although she had known about his exceptional talents, facing it directly still surprised her.
Perhaps, he would soon become a master in his own right.
A peculiar sensation washed over Ji Li as she contemplated this.
Even she couldn't quite articulate it.
Days passed, and the enigma of that moment remained unsolved.
Autumn leaves withered, and winter's breath grew heavier.
Biting winds threatened to strip one of two bones.
As the custom-made winter garments arrived, she summoned Xi Che to choose his preferred colors.
To her surprise, he readily agreed but secretly scrutinized her expression.
Ji Li: "Why do you insist on these two colors?"
Xi Che: "...They're pretty."
She couldn't resist rolling her eyes. "Choose carefully, young man. Try other colors at your age." Raising her gaze to meet his, she added, "You can't just rely on your looks."
To Xi Che's ears, her words echoed only as praise for his handsome features.
A blush spread from his cheeks to his earlobes, and he cleared his throat self-consciously. "Then, which color do you think looks best?"
Seeing the conversation circling back, she sighed in exasperation. "If you want me to choose, just say so next time." Noticing his silent assent, she pointed to some fabrics nearby. "Watercolor green, lilac white, and scarlet red, all of these would look splendid on you."
The young man towered over her by half a head. She tilted her face up slightly, a hint of bewilderment in her voice. "I can't fathom why you're so fond of black. You'd look far more captivating in any of those other colors I mentioned."
Xi Che averted his gaze, offering no reply.
Beneath the cloak of his robes, his hands clenched into fists.