Clatter, clatter, the sound of hooves echoed from behind. Why did I use the word "again"? Could it be, possibly, no, it couldn't be that coincidental, could it? Just as I turned my head, I saw someone galloping towards me on horseback, with pedestrians on the side of the road hastily getting out of the way. My mood started to sour again; who would be so inconsiderate as to ride so fast within the city limits, causing such a disturbance? I took out a immobilization spell from my bosom, deciding this once not to heed my master's words, at least to teach this rascal a lesson.
I had just silently recited a couplet of the spell when I suddenly heard a scream, "That child!" I glanced over and saw a three or four-year-old boy who had somehow run into the middle of the road. The horse was about to trample him, and in a moment of urgency, I didn't care about anything else. I rushed over at top speed, scooped up the boy, and hastily finished reciting the couplet. Just as the horse's hooves were a few centimeters away from my head, with a "snap!" I managed to slap the immobilization spell on it in time, and the tall black horse came to an abrupt stop.
"Yun, are you alright?" A young woman, her face full of anxiety, rushed over and fiercely hugged the little boy in my arms, expressing her gratitude repeatedly. I let go, stood up with a start, and was about to curse at the person on horseback, but when I got a clear look at his face, I was taken aback. No wonder I used the word "again"; it was indeed that coincidental!
Those dark, narrow eyes, the black attire, wasn't it the man who had given me a ride the last time? But at this moment, there seemed to be a hint of surprise in his usually cold gaze, perhaps he didn't expect us to meet so soon again.
"Wen zheng..." I suddenly remembered his name.
"Yvonne?" So he hadn't forgotten my name either. "What's going on here?" He seemed perplexed by the sudden halt of his horse.
I quickly squatted down and swiftly removed the talisman. The horse, also bewildered, merely let out a low neigh and did not run off. My gaze swept over his hands to see them tightly gripping the reins, and I felt somewhat relieved; it seemed this man wasn't that bad after all, at least he knew how to stop just in time.
"What do you mean, what's going on? Fortunately, you reined in your horse in time and didn't hurt the child," I took the opportunity to shift the blame onto him, and added, "Do you realize how dangerous that was?"
His face turned ashen, a hint of anger brewing beneath the surface. He looked at me, then suddenly reached out, hoisted me onto the horse, and with a squeeze of his thighs against the horse's flanks, galloped out of the city.
"Hey, what are you doing!" Now it was my turn to be bewildered. Was he planning to throw me back to where I came from?
Without a word, he continued to ride forward, and I had no idea how long we had been bouncing around until we reached a place overgrown with weeds, where he finally reined in the horse. As soon as the horse stopped, I jumped down; I didn't want to go any further. He too dismounted and sat silently on a rock. When he dismounted, I noticed the inside of his palm was very red, likely from the force of pulling on the reins just now, and my anger dissipated considerably.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Is something bothering you?" I couldn't help but ask. He looked like he had been hit by something, appearing provoked.
His expression kept changing, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke, "Yes."
"What's the matter? Why don't you tell me about it; it might feel better to get it off your chest. Keeping it inside can make you sick," I paused, then continued, "Anyway, I don't know who you are, so just treat me as a piece of stone."
His face relaxed a bit at this, a hint of amusement flashing through his eyes as he said, "Is there a stone like you?" I gave an awkward smile.
"My father has passed away, leaving only my mother and me. He left us a large inheritance, but my uncle harbors malicious intentions, wanting to seize it for himself, using the excuse that I haven't had my coming-of-age ceremony to oppose me at every turn. Now the whole clan is on his side, any suggestion I make is vetoed, and I have to accept whatever he proposes." There was an inscrutable emotion in his tone.
This seems like a common TV trope; it seems those born into wealth often encounter such issues. Offer him a few words of comfort. "Your uncle is really despicable," I said, looking at him, "You must not be disheartened, you have to fight him to the end. Even if the clan is all on his side, so what? I don't believe everyone is helping him; there must be a few who support you, right? You are the legitimate heir of your father; what are you afraid of? If you can't beat him openly now, you can plan behind the scenes, slowly accumulate power, and deal a fatal blow at the right moment."
He gave me a strange look and said, "It was like this again today; I almost couldn't hold back."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that's not good," I wagged my finger in front of him and said, "If you want to punch someone, is it more powerful to just throw a punch or to pull back and then throw it?"
"Naturally, it's more powerful to pull back and then throw the punch," he replied.
"That's right. You know that tiny sand grains take hundreds of years to become valuable pearls, and an ugly duckling also has to go through hardships to become a beautiful swan. You absolutely must not act rashly before you are certain. For now, a little patience is just to accumulate more power, so that you can deliver a heavy blow to your opponent in the future. I promise you will hit him so hard he'll be looking for his teeth on the ground."
He looked at me in surprise and then suddenly burst into laughter, "Naturally, I wouldn't be so impulsive. I just occasionally get extremely angry. I won't just sit here and wait for death. But you, a woman, have quite a bit of insight. Have you attended a private school?"
"What's so strange about that? You know, the stereotype I hate the most is that women have long hair and lack foresight. Actually, you men also have long hair. I really don't know who came up with that phrase. It must have been a bald man or a monk." I glanced at him and said, looking at how long the hair of ancient men is, I really don't know how that phrase came out.
A trace of smile rippled across his lips as he said, "Which country are you from? The state of Chu? The state of Han?"
"Oh... it's a bit further away. By the way, does it feel better after talking it out?" I quickly changed the subject.
"It does seem to feel a bit better," he stood up and walked to the side of the horse.
"You seem to really like horse riding."
"Indeed, whenever I'm feeling upset, I would ride the horse at full speed, and it would make me feel a bit better."
"I see. Next time you're feeling upset, you should talk to me instead, so as not to disturb the people like today," I couldn't help but laugh.
He looked at me, and the corners of his mouth rose again, "Alright, Stone Girl."
"Oh... My name is Yvonne," I protested immediately.
"It's time to head back, or it would be troublesome if we're discovered," he ignored my remark, glancing up at the sky as if gauging the time.
"Discovered? Did you sneak out?" I questioned, puzzled by his evasiveness.
"Let's go," he changed the subject, offering no response to my query.
"Then I shall call you Little Zheng from now on."
"Stone girl."
"Call me Yvonne!"
"Stone."
"..."
"Hehe."
Soon, it was the day of Xin's departure for war. Naturally, the young couple was affectionate and found it hard to part. However, it was interesting to observe that even though the ancients allowed themselves to feel deeply, they still adhered to propriety. These two, so in love, did not even share a hug. If this were modern times, there would have been a goodbye kiss for sure.
I smiled and turned my head, my gaze just happening to fall on Yue who was standing nearby. He was staring intently at the couple, his eyes flickering with an inscrutable expression, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
"By the way, Yan, if anything happens, just tell Yue. He's like your own brother. Yue, while I'm away, come by sometimes to look after Yan for me." Xin seemed to have complete trust in his younger brother. Sigh...
Yue suddenly laughed, quickly putting on a pleasant expression and saying, "Big brother, rest assured. I will certainly take good care of your future wife."
As an onlooker, I observed every move he made, and a trace of sympathy unexpectedly welled up in my heart. Presumably, within him, there's just a struggling soul, right?
A few days after Xin left, Yue came only once, and he was polite and unexceptional. It was evident that he was trying hard to suppress his emotions. Why did he do that thing that ruined the happiness of three people? I was really puzzled. Can love really make people lose their senses? Like Phoenix, for him, women are like the latest fashionable clothes, constantly changing. He would never lose his senses for a woman, right? As for Sean, he doesn't even need to be mentioned. He's not interested in any woman, so such romantic episodes would never happen to him. As for myself, it seems I haven't met anyone who has moved my heart yet. Even if I did, I wouldn't lose my senses, right.
Uneventful days passed for about half a month. During this time, Yue came intermittently twice, each time only to talk about his brother's recent situation and the progress of the war, to reassure Yan. Although good news from the war kept coming, Yan was still not very reassured. Today, she had everything prepared early and, along with Madam Ming, was ready to go to Wan Temple to pray and seek blessings.
WanTemple is the largest temple in Xianyang and is said to be very efficacious, so it is favored by both commoners and nobles.
The beauty from Xianyang City was indeed as famous as rumored. As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the temple, many people stopped and stood by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beauty's elegance. I couldn't help but chuckle secretly. If Lauren knew that her previous life was so splendid, I wonder what she would think.
Yan got out of the carriage and was about to go in when she suddenly turned around and said, "Wait and bring the offerings in."
I froze for a moment. Offerings? I seemed to have forgotten to bring them. Alas, I really am not suitable for the profession of a maid.
"I, I forgot to bring them," I said awkwardly.
"What! How could you do such a thing!" Madam Ming's face darkened immediately.
"Mom, don't be angry. Let Yvonne go back and get them. We're not in a hurry. Yvonne, you take the carriage and go back to get it, and hurry back."
I nodded vigorously. Yan, you are such a good girl, it's worth me traveling thousands of years to help you.
But she should be fine with her mother, right? I left the temple, went to a secluded place, took out a talisman, and silently recited the spell, starting to summon nearby animal spirits. The talisman quickly transformed into a sparrow in a flash of white light, obediently perching on my palm. It seems that there are many birds in the land of Qin, and there should be many more bird spirits nearby.
"Go, stay by Yan's side, and tell me immediately if anything is wrong." I let go of my hand, and the sparrow flapped its wings and quickly flew towards the temple. This should be safe, I let out a gentle sigh of relief.
Fortunately, WanTemple is not far from the Ming residence, and soon the carriage arrived at the entrance of the residence. Riding in this carriage without springs is simply torture, and I would rather walk. Now I really miss Phoenix's Ferrari, that's what enjoying the thrill of speed is all about, alas...
Just as I stepped down from the carriage, my legs went numb, and I couldn't stand firm, falling to the ground. What kind of world is this? Just as I was about to stand up, I suddenly heard a soft laugh. Who dared to mock me? I looked up angrily at the unscrupulous person, "Ah," I exclaimed in surprise, a handsome young man in a black dress was sitting on the horse with a condescending yet amused look. It's... Little Zheng...
"Why are you here?" How could it be so coincidental? In the short time I've been in the Qin state, I've run into him several times.
He didn't answer, just snorted lightly and said, "You are indeed from the Grand Diviner's residence."
"Yes, what's strange about it? I am a maid from the Grand Diviner's residence," I glanced at him and said. His condescending attitude is the most irritating.
"Maid?" A trace of doubt flashed through his eyes. "By the way," he slowly said, "How long do you plan to sit on the ground?"
Ah, right, I actually forgot that I was still falling to the ground, quickly rolled up, and patted my skirt.
I raised my eyes and was facing his eyes, and there was actually a very light smile in his eyes, which was rare.
"By the way, why did you sneak out again, has your... uncle bullied you again?" I remembered what he said, only when he was in a bad mood would he sneak out and gallop on horseback.
The smile in his eyes disappeared immediately, and it was replaced by a coldness, "His days of doing whatever he wants are probably not long either." For a moment, I seemed to feel two sharp blades emitting a cold chill at the bottom of his eyes. A person with such eyes, it seems, is not an ordinary noble son.
"I finally came out today, accompany me to the outskirts of the city." His tone softened a bit.
I shook my head and said, "No, I have something to do, I don't have time today, another day." I'm still in a hurry to deliver the offering.
"What!" His face changed, his eyebrows raised high, and there was a hint of anger in his eyes: "You dare to refuse me!"
"How about refusing you, I really have something, didn't I say another day to accompany you to chat?" I also raised my eyebrows, what kind of attitude, it's really uncomfortable to listen to.
"You..." He was momentarily speechless, clearly not used to being contradicted in such a manner.
"Excuse me, goodbye!" I made a face at him and quickly ran towards the mansion.
"Yvonne, remember this!" His voice of anger echoed from behind.
By the time I came out with the offering, he had already disappeared. Sigh, it must have been hard for him to sneak out, and as a person like him, he must find it difficult to find someone to confide in. Anyway, I don't know who he is, so he must feel safer confiding in me. Forget it, I'll have a good talk with him next time I meet him.
As the carriage approached the temple, just as I was about to get off, I suddenly heard the flapping of wings. I was startled and quickly lifted the curtain. The sparrow flew in at once. My heart tightened, and I asked in a trembling voice, "Ming Yan, is something wrong?" The sparrow nodded. I immediately jumped off the carriage and ran into the temple after the sparrow. What's going on? It's impossible for that incident to happen in the temple, is there an unexpected accident I don't know about?
As soon as I stepped into the temple gate, I saw a crowd gathered in front of the release pond in front of the Hall. I felt a sense of danger. Could it be Yan? I hurriedly pushed through the crowd and rushed to the edge of the pond. I couldn't help but gasp. There was a woman floating in the pond. Ming's wife and a group of women were crying out beside the pond. It must be Yan! No wonder no one dared to save her. I couldn't think so much. I was just about to jump into the water to save her when a slender figure suddenly rushed through the crowd and jumped into the pond. He struggled to grab the woman in the pond and pulled her ashore. It was a man, a young man.