LF Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Taking the Initiative

The morning dew glistened on the green branches. The hazy mist dissipated, and the golden sun shone brightly.

Forced by the situation, Yan Wanzhi’s gaze seemed to fall on the celestial light and cloud shadows, but in reality, it was lost in the vast and ethereal expanse. She explained in a low voice, “This subject is only fulfilling her duty. I hope Your Highness will not make things difficult.”

Jiang Yinghua chuckled lightly, “I asked you what you were eating, and you’re talking to me about serious matters. Just now I asked you about serious matters, and you pretended to be mute. Who exactly is making things difficult for whom?”

“Your Highness’s manor is not lacking in meat and wine. Pigeons have tough skin and meat, they’re not delicious.”

Yan Wanzhi lowered her eyes, striving to calm her emotions and deal with her. She cursed her own carelessness in her heart. The room was spacious, she should have thoroughly inspected it. To be caught by Jiang Yinghua like this, she truly disgraced the title of Commander of the Secret Agency.

“Forget it, I don’t have time to waste with you. You have your difficulties, and I have my grievances.” Jiang Yinghua released the hem of Yan Wanzhi’s clothes that she was holding, tore the paper she had snatched into tiny pieces, and scattered them into the air.

“Informing is fine, it saves me from writing another memorial. Scholar Yan, let’s make a deal, change the wording, and present each letter to me first, how about it?” Jiang Yinghua turned her head to the side, sizing up Yan Wanzhi, and softly suggested.

Yan Wanzhi’s eyes were deep, she pondered for a moment, then raised her eyes to meet Jiang Yinghua’s gaze, and replied in a neither servile nor arrogant manner, “This subject is, after all, an official of the court. A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated.”

These words amused Jiang Yinghua to the point of bursting into laughter. Seeing the person’s serious demeanor, Jiang Yinghua was momentarily at a loss what to do with her. “I won’t kill you, nor do I intend to humiliate you. Consider this condition carefully. Pigeons are adorable, this Prince will take care of them for you. I’m going to the camp for a while. The matters of the manor are entrusted to you.”

After Jiang Yinghua finished speaking, she lifted her foot and left, leaving Yan Wanzhi alone standing on the high tower, her eyes wandering uncertainly as she gazed at the direction of the Imperial Capital to the south.

Caught in a stalemate between the two sisters, Yan Wanzhi was truly in a difficult position. But this was all her own fault. If she hadn’t harbored thoughts she shouldn’t have, perhaps things would be better right now. No, perhaps not. The feelings of the person in the Imperial Capital towards this girl were already complicated. Even if she single-mindedly pledged her loyalty to only one person, being in this position was still a difficult path.

Because of this awkward incident, Jiang Yinghua hadn’t actively summoned Yan Wanzhi for days, and Yan Wanzhi had never gone to the main hall to seek out Jiang Yinghua. The two tacitly left each other space, one waiting for a response, the other hoping that time would erase the memory.

Five days passed peacefully. On this day, early in the morning, Jiang Yinghua rode out of the manor on horseback, taking a group of personal guards to hunt in the distant suburbs. Yan Wanzhi heard it, but didn’t pay attention, staying in the manor to manage affairs. At dusk, the group returned, dragging their tired bodies. Jiang Yinghua had left riding a horse, but returned in a carriage.

When Jiang Yinghua returned to the manor, the gates were locked. Yan Wanzhi understood her movements and whereabouts, which was enough. Other matters were naturally handled properly by her attendants, and had nothing to do with her, the Imperial Scribe.

As night fell, the stars in the sky twinkled tirelessly. Yan Wanzhi closed her book, lost in thought, but her face showed a hint of fatigue. The carrier pigeon was controlled by Jiang Yinghua, and things would definitely go wrong if this continued for a long time. But the conditions Jiang Yinghua offered, she really couldn’t respond to.

Just as her mind was in turmoil, a little maid hurriedly ran over to knock on the door. Yan Wanzhi got up to look, and it was actually the head maid by Jiang Yinghua’s side, anxiously pacing beneath her corridor.

“It’s late at night, why aren’t you staying by Her Highness’s side? What brings you here?” Yan Wanzhi was puzzled, and her tone was somewhat stiff.

When the little maid saw her come out, she bowed hastily and carelessly, and begged in a flustered manner, “Imperial Scribe, I’m taking the liberty to ask you to go inside the main hall and take a look. Her Highness has locked herself in the hall since she came back. It’s been an hour, and there’s no movement at all, and the candle hasn’t been lit. The guard told me that she seemed to be injured at the hunting ground. I’m really worried, but you also know Her Highness’s temper…”

Before she could finish speaking, the scene of Jiang Yinghua returning in a carriage at dusk suddenly flashed in Yan Wanzhi’s mind. She was in a state of panic, and went straight to Jiang Yinghua’s bedroom in the front yard.

Yan Wanzhi walked along, worrying all the way, fearing that Jiang Yinghua might be feeling down recently, and if she was injured again, she might be unable to think clearly and wrong herself. She walked quickly, and when she reached the door of the hall, it was indeed pitch black, just as the maid had said.

Yan Wanzhi didn’t care about the rules and broke into the room. At this moment, a hazy mist filled the air, obscuring Yan Wanzhi’s vision.

She was startled by the strangeness, and smelled the fragrance of roses in her breath. She instantly realized that she had fallen into Jiang Yinghua’s trap, and turned to leave.

In an instant, the door of the hall was closed from the outside, and the candlelight in the inner room instantly lit up. Jiang Yinghua was in a bathtub behind a screen, her clothes still hanging on the outer rack.

Yan Wanzhi clenched her fists, tightly closing her eyes. Her face was faintly angry, and she questioned in a cold voice, “Is Your Highness trying to force me to submit by such means?”

The Jiang Yinghua in the inner room beckoned to the two female guards serving beside her, and faintly ordered, “Seize her.”

Yan Wanzhi couldn’t escape, and had no martial arts skills to rely on. In a short while, she was pinned to the ground by the two. She tried to struggle, but it was completely useless.

There were a few splashes of water in the inner room. Jiang Yinghua came out of the bathtub, casually wrapped herself in a soft gauze, and walked slowly to the outer room, sizing up Yan Wanzhi, who was lying on the ground, with a playful look.

Suddenly, she chuckled and ordered, “You two search this thief’s body for anything she shouldn’t have. Breaking into my bedroom late at night, is she trying to assassinate me?”

Yan Wanzhi was burning with anger, her face contorted, her eyes glaring at Jiang Yinghua, wishing she could devour her alive.

The two did as they were told and began to search her body. When one of them touched a soft, strange place, her expression instantly changed with surprise. She didn’t stop, tearing open Yan Wanzhi’s collar, and turned to Jiang Yinghua and cupped her hands, “Your Highness, she…she is actually a woman!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yinghua pretended to be incredulous, lifted her foot and stepped forward, carefully examining Yan Wanzhi, half-squinting her phoenix eyes, and said in a cold voice, “Scholar Yan, disguising yourself as a man for many years, this is a crime of deceiving the Emperor.”

Suddenly having her secret, hidden for many years, discovered, Yan Wanzhi was ashamed and indignant, and retorted with her neck stiff, “What about Your Highness? Is it honorable for Your Highness to lure this subject here?”

Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes and chuckled, took the long sword from the guard’s hand, caressed the hilt in her hand, and whispered, “You two step back and guard the outside. Keep your mouths shut about today’s events.”

The two cupped their hands in agreement and turned to leave.

Now only the two of them were left in the hall. Jiang Yinghua gently placed the cold blade of the sword against Yan Wanzhi’s neck, leaned slightly, whispered in her ear, and softly breathed, “You rewrite a memorial, and this matter will be written off.”

Forced by the cold, menacing sword against her vitals, Yan Wanzhi’s body stiffened, and the words she spoke lost their usual confidence, “This subject is only fulfilling her duty, Your Highness is too overbearing.”

“The sword is in my hand, you either obediently listen, or your head will fall. Whether you’re a man or a woman, breaking in while I’m bathing, intending to be frivolous with this Prince is a great act of treason.” Seeing that she still dared to argue, Jiang Yinghua guided the sword’s edge, circling around her soft neck.

Yan Wanzhi closed her eyes slightly, then opened them again. Daringly looking directly at Jiang Yinghua, she raised her hand to push away the sword resting on her neck. Jiang Yinghua found it boring, so she threw the sword aside.

At this moment, Yan Wanzhi suddenly stood up and went straight to Jiang Yinghua on tiptoes. Jiang Yinghua was taken aback, and suddenly felt a soft thing touch her left cheek. It was cold, and her heart skipped a beat.

Yan Wanzhi quickly retreated five steps away, daring to say, “If Your Highness is unwilling to protect me, this subject will not escape death anyway. In that case, I might as well be frivolous once.”

Jiang Yinghua reached out to touch her cheek, her expression dazed, her big eyes full of disbelief staring at Yan Wanzhi a few steps away. She stuttered for a long time before spitting out a few words, “You…you…you’re outrageous!”

Yan Wanzhi was very proud, standing far away from her, figuring out Jiang Yinghua’s ways, and no longer afraid. She retorted provocatively, “If Your Highness’s little thoughts aren’t hidden tightly, don’t blame this subject for taking advantage of the loopholes. Your eyes have already betrayed you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yinghua was too lazy to act, kicked the obstructive sword aside, stepped forward quickly, forcing Yan Wanzhi to retreat to the corner of the wall, with no way to escape.

She smiled, pressed Yan Wanzhi to the ground, her slightly damp hair falling naturally, the ends of her hair sweeping across Yan Wanzhi’s neck, itchy and soft. The faint fragrance after the bath lingered between the two’s undulating bones, and the lingering blush was like the clouds at the mountain pass in the evening, and like the layered red maple leaves in the forest in late autumn.

Jiang Yinghua’s rash actions were unexpected by Yan Wanzhi. Her heart was already pounding, and her breathing became chaotic. Jiang Yinghua pressed her under her body, like an eagle examining its prey, her clear eyes looking at her for a long time before she slowly opened her mouth: “When did you fall in love with this Prince?”

Yan Wanzhi blinked, thinking for a long time, and stabilized her emotions, and said softly, “It should be love at first sight, being pierced into the bone marrow by your poison needle, and then belatedly feeling unbearable. I didn’t notice anything different after a long time, but after separating, I knew that I was thinking about you all night and tossing and turning in sleeplessness. I like you, I love your nitpicking, I love your honeyed words and sword hidden, and I love your sharp tongue and soft heart.”

Jiang Yinghua was a little shy by her nonsense, raised her hand to her lips, and pretended to be annoyed: “Don’t talk nonsense anymore, you are not a well-read talent, you are simply an extremely romantic fox spirit, you really play a good show.”

Yan Wanzhi raised her hand to move Jiang Yinghua’s fingertips away, and smiled slightly: “Your Highness has praised me wrongly, each other.”

Jiang Yinghua was not reconciled, restrained Yan Wanzhi’s restless claws, and then inserted her hands into Yan Wanzhi’s hair. Yan Wanzhi looked away and asked shyly, “When did you realize that I am a woman when you set up this bold plan?”

Jiang Yinghua broke Yan Wanzhi’s turned head, forcing her to face herself, picked up a strand of hair and teased her, and laughed loudly, “Want to know?” Yan Wanzhi blinked desperately, Jiang Yinghua chuckled: “I just won’t tell you.”

Yan Wanzhi didn’t know where the strength came from, taking advantage of Jiang Yinghua’s smug face, she turned over and reversed the situation, and grabbed Jiang Yinghua’s wrist. It was rare for this person to have such courage, Jiang Yinghua was not annoyed, so she let her hold it, and said softly: “Then, change the memorial?”

Yan Wanzhi deeply felt that this person didn’t understand the romantic mood, how could she say these words at this moment, she perfunctorily said coldly: “Can’t change it.”

“No discussion?” Jiang Yinghua blinked her eyelashes and acted coquettishly.

“No discussion.” Yan Wanzhi remained unmoved.

Jiang Yinghua lost her temper, used a little force to restrain Yan Wanzhi’s claws again, smiled sweetly, but said threateningly: “Then I will tell my older sister about your true identity, how about it?”

When Yan Wanzhi heard the words, two rows of shell teeth smiled, and joked: “Your Majesty knew it a long time ago, but you, how do you explain how you caught this subject?”

Jiang Yinghua raised her arm and pressed Yan Wanzhi down hard, punching her arm again and again, muttering: “Too much!”

Yan Wanzhi raised her hand to grab her random fists, and didn’t forget to explain: “Since you want to act, this subject will help you finish the song, how can I be wrong?”

“Your wording is too stiff. If you really anger your older sister, you and I will have to suffer.” Jiang Yinghua propped her hands on the floor, looked down at Yan Wanzhi, and pouted in anger.

“This subject seems to know Her Majesty’s temper better than Your Highness. Why not make a bet?” Seeing that her appearance was very pleasing, Yan Wanzhi became interested for a while and wanted to bet with her.

Jiang Yinghua didn’t buy it, loosened her strength, lay on the floor side by side with her, head to head, and softly asked, “What are your chances of winning?”

Yan Wanzhi tilted her head and pulled Jiang Yinghua’s hand and gently pinched it: “70%.”

Jiang Yinghua tilted her head and glanced at Yan Wanzhi’s confident look, pointed at her tall nose, and said softly: “Up to you.”

Yan Wanzhi simply turned her body over and jokingly asked her: “Do you still want to eat roast pigeon?”

Jiang Yinghua also turned around and faced her, and said very playfully: “Wanzhi, what is your zodiac sign?”

“Rabbit. What are you asking this for?” Yan Wanzhi felt that this person’s thinking was too jumpy, making her unable to figure it out.

“Oh, then this Prince doesn’t want to eat pigeons anymore, spicy rabbit head is good, what do you think? Roast rabbit is also good, plucked the hair and shed the skin, tsk tsk tsk.” Jiang Yinghua raised her hand and pinched Yan Wanzhi’s slightly red earlobe, saying and fiercely twisted it twice, her eyes revealing mischief.

Yan Wanzhi rolled her eyes, raised her hand to cover her aching ears, and then laid her body flat, as if hating Jiang Yinghua’s stinginess, turned her head away and said nothing.

Seeing this, Jiang Yinghua propped her body up with one hand, tilted her head and asked her: “Is it okay for me to let my older sister restore your daughter’s identity? This way, you don’t have to hide it, and it will be more convenient for you to accompany me.”

“No, this subject still has important matters to rely on this man’s identity.” Yan Wanzhi suddenly sat up and refused in a serious manner.

“What is the important matter? You can also be an official woman, why make it difficult for yourself?” Jiang Yinghua had to sit up with her, looking puzzled.

“Please believe in this subject, Your Highness, after that matter is settled, this subject will ask for instructions, and then where to go, this subject will listen to Your Highness’s arrangement.” Yan Wanzhi recovered her past expression and tone, and explained very sincerely.

Jiang Yinghua suddenly felt disappointed, hugged her knees, and ordered: “In the future, when there is no one, you don’t have to call me that, let go of all honorifics.”

Seeing that the person seemed a little unhappy, Yan Wanzhi approached her again with a flattering face, and asked with a smile: “Then, is it okay to call you Hua’er? Or call you, Hua Niangzi?”

Jiang Yinghua raised her index finger and poked her head away, blaming: “Hateful~ Is it too hot to call ‘you’? I find that you are now, that gentleman’s appearance is too much to pretend. Be careful of being seen by the servants, I can’t save you.”

“You are willing to be with this subject, and Wanzhi is satisfied. It’s just that your identity is there, how can the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty tolerate Wanzhi. If there is a mistake, without Your Highness’s help, Wanzhi will take it on herself.” Yan Wanzhi sat upright beside her, lowered her eyes and responded softly, as if she had made a big decision.

Jiang Yinghua didn’t expect this person to say these things, moved her body and moved closer to Yan Wanzhi, leaning together, leaning on each other: “Fool, what nonsense are you talking about, don’t say it anymore. My mother can’t take care of me, we are in the Northern Territory, and Your Majesty can’t see it, no one will know.”

After saying that, seeing Yan Wanzhi lowered her eyes and said nothing, she also imitated Yan Wanzhi’s appearance just now, and gently kissed the person’s forehead, like a dragonfly skimming over the water.

This is the first kiss of this young prince who has just begun to fall in love!

Yan Wanzhi’s body was like an electric shock, and a bright smile spread across her eyebrows.