“There is a celebration on New Year’s Eve, she will be there.” Ning Yi walked to the door and turned halfway to add “Zong Chen said, if that opportunity is missed, then the next opportunity might have to be spring. It is not good to drag this on, let’s try to do it that day. No matter how angry you are at me, some things you should still be mindful of.” 

Helian doesn’t say a word but turned his back on him. As he listened to Ning Yi’s measured steps getting further and further away, the image of a cold and aloof Wei Zhi suddenly surfaced in Helian’s mind. 

That resolute woman, all the joy in her life, was forever buried in the deep snow of the thirteenth year of Tiansheng– all thanks to him. 

He had thought that person finally knew the feeling of regret, finally learned how to sacrifice for her. Although he didn’t forget to jeer at him a bit but in his heart, he was happy for her. He thought, if she didn’t lose her memory, if she knew all that had transpired, perhaps the heart that has been frozen for so long would get some warmth and comfort. But it turns out…it turns out…

Helain feels like a flame is consuming his inside, burning without bounds, instantly consuming the vast wilderness in his heart. 

“Hey!”

The sword flashed, a planter shelf was cut in half and fell to the ground. 

The ear-splitting clatter finally woke Jiarong on the bed. She sat up in shock and rubbed her eyes before she first looked down at the remaining clothes on her then at Helian who had his back to her. Her face blushing red, Jiarong finally asked shyly “Husband…what’s wrong?”

That title, made Helian’s back stiffen and rooted to the spot for a while. 

After a long while, he finally turned around slowly to face Jiarong who is staring at him full of love and trust, and gave her the most amicable smile he could pull off at the moment. 

“…practicing sword, practicing sword…haha…” 

    ========================

From the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, it began to snow in the city of Pucheng. It snowed for many days, causing the collapse of many tents among the poor sections of the city. Naturally, it fell on Jin Siyu to arrange for disaster relief and other related matters. Although he was busy Jin Siyu didn’t forget to spend time with Shao Yao. Whenever he has the opportunity, he would take his work documents into Shao Yao’s place. The two of them would sit across from each other with a fire basin between them, with hot tea in hand, talking and laughing as Jin Siyu finish his work. 

There is actually another reason why Jin Siyu chose to work with Shao Yao by his side and that’s because this woman is very intelligent. Although she doesn’t directly express opinions on government affairs yet her viewpoints are very particular and refreshing. Often, whenever Jin Siyu gets stuck, a causal sentence from her would open up a whole new thought process for him. Yet, her talent doesn’t seem to be world-shattering either– many of her ideas are quite naive and ridiculous, obviously not proficient in political and current affairs. It is only because viewpoints are uniquely refreshing that it allowed him to see issues from a different perspective and gives him inspiration. 

Because of this, Jin Siyu’s recent handling of his government duties has repeatedly been praised by Da Yue’s Emperor. In a short amount of time, Jin Siyu has already been rewarded twice which of course improved his mood and made him appreciate Shao Yao’s innocent intelligence greatly, firmly convinced that her viewpoints and thoughts could only be of an outsider who has never been through the polish of palace politics. 

Since early this morning, someone has been sweeping snow to prevent any possibility of Miss Shao Yao slipping when she comes out. In reality, Miss Shao Yao never comes out and if she did, she would be in Jin Siyu’s arms with a host of guards following anyway so even if she tries to fall she wouldn’t be able to. 

Physician Ruan’s little apprentice was among the snow-sweepers. He took his task extremely seriously and used his hand to pick out even the broken snow in the cracks between the paving stones, causing his fingers to be frozen red. 

Sweeping bit by bit until he made it to the bottom of the steps, seemingly tired, he leaned on the broom, resting under the eaves. 

“Xiao Dai.” The window suddenly opened, revealing Shao Yao’s smiling face with a few hot steamed buns in her hands, “Are you cold? Eat something hot to warm your body.” 

Xiao Dai raised his head to look at her and answered honestly “Cold.” 

She smiled and held out a bag with the buns in it. When Xiao Dai goes to take it, she grabbed his fingers and rubbed them “When your hands get frozen by the snow, you need to rub them.” 

Xiao Dai held the bag in his mouth and in a matter of course manner held both of his hands out for her to rub. 

Everyone in the courtyard looked on with a smile, no one thought there is anything unusual. Even though this youth named Xiao Dai is a bit slow in the head but he is a very diligent worker with cute mannerisms. Everyone in the whole courtyard likes him. Every day, Xiao Dai would brew her medicine and sweep the courtyard. When he swept to the eaves, then she would open the window to say a few words to him or give him something to eat. It has been snowing a lot lately so she would rub his frozen fingers every time. Xiao Dai never knew to refuse and both of them acted so naturally that no one could harbor any weird thoughts about them. Even Jin Siyu didn’t think anything of it when he saw them a few times. In fact, he laughed and said it is nice that the two of them are like sisters and brothers. 

His fingers in her palm. His skin is delicate and warm. The wound on her hand has already healed, slightly deformed but one wouldn’t notice if one didn’t look closely. 

Lowering his eyes, he stared at the warm hands wrapped around his fingers. 

Every day, this is the closest he is to her. 

For this, he rushed to take on all the chores in the courtyard because Zong Chen said it would be suspicious if he suddenly wants to do something he normally doesn’t do. 

So he has single handily taken over almost all the tasks in this courtyard. Therefore, no matter what he wants to do, everyone is happy to oblige. 

He never did chores before so in order to not arouse suspicion over how unfamiliar he is with tasks he should be well versed in as an ordinary apprentice, he would secretly follow Zong Chen in the middle of the night and learn how to do those chores. He wouldn’t sleep but would do the tasks again and again until he becomes familiar with them and people wouldn’t get suspicious. 

When he swept the snow before, he would unconsciously cycle his internal energy through his body to prevent himself from getting cold. Later, he discovered that she is especially sympathetic towards those who suffered from the cold so he no longer runs his internal energy and shows her his swollen red radish-like fingers. 

He secretly matched his fingers to hers as her hand massaged his. 

Zong Chan said, fingers, the closest distance to the heart. 

She covered his hand, and looked up at him, a smile flashed across her eyes. 

He suddenly felt something stuffed into his palm. 

He was startled in that moment– he knew that everyone had been preparing, preparing every way they can for her rescue but all of those things were planned and done by others. All he needed to do was play well his part as the apprentice Xiao Dai. But today is a very special day, she actually chose him to pass on a message. 

She…trusts that he won’t mess this up? 

He opened his mouth causing the bag to fall. He quickly caught the bag, letting the bag cover up the little thing in his palm. 

With her arms resting on the window sill, she looked at him with a smile. 

He was suddenly overwhelmed with great joy– there is only one person in the world who would trust him this much, not treating him like some strange creature or throwing him away, not just protecting him because he is different but is willing to use all of her patience to open his world. 

He left the courtyard with the buns in hand and broom under his arm. As he walked out of the courtyard gate, he met Jin Siyu face to face, he bowed without any hesitation, passing him. 

Jin Siyu didn’t spare him a glance but came in with large hurried steps. Shaking the snow off himself under the porch eaves, he smiled as soon as he stepped into the door, “Are you feeling better today?” 

“Very well.” She gestured to her maid Xiang Xiang to serve tea. Jin Siyu walked in past the medicine bag hanging on the lintel and laughed, “In a few more days, we should have this medicine bag taken down. After sniffing it every day, I feel like my whole body smells like it.” 

“This is good stuff. Doesn’t Your Highness feel particularly alert and energetic lately?” She laughed, “Physician Ruan said this stuff should be allowed to permeate like this in order to get its best effect.” 

“Yes, yes, we will do it as you say. It is indeed good stuff.” He gave her face a playful pinch. 

Xiang Xiang brought in the tea. Because it is New Year, Xiang Xiang dressed very neatly with her hair all done up. Taking a sip of tea, Jia Siyu suddenly laughed, “This girl has put particular care into dressing well today. The fragrance on her is even smelling better than usual.”

“Is that right? I didn’t really notice.” She leaned over to smell, causing the girl to blush and hurry away. 

“Tonight is New Year’s Eve, I thought of something fun for you. You have been much healthier lately so you can enjoy yourself thoroughly, “ Jin Siyu gathered her into his arms and said in a leisurely tone, “Now I think of it, this is the first New Year we are spending together. Once I take you back to the Capital, then we can spend the next New Year there, and the next one after that…thirty years…forty years…eighty years….

She laughed, her voice was delicate, “How can I live that long? It wouldn’t be fun to have chicken skin and sparse hair then either.” 

“It’s the New Year, don’t say anything unlucky.” Jin Siyu gently covered her mouth, “If you are willing, we can live for a long time.”

“Of course I am willing.” She leaned into his embrace softly and smiled sweetly at him. “I am looking forward to it, this New Year’s Eve.” 

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

Judging by Helian’s thoughts on Zhi Wei, we could conclude that Helian is under the impression Zhi Wei truly lost her memory. My personal opinion is that Ning Yi for sure knows that Zhi Wei is only pretending after their little “entanglement” in the study. I am assuming both Zong Chen and Gu Nan Yi knows as well…or would certainly know after Gu Nan Yi shows Zong Chen whatever Zhi Wei gave him. So why doesn’t Helian know yet? I am guessing that passing information around is not easy and when they do they have to pass on the most important information so somehow Helian is still under the belief that Zhi Wei has lost her memory.

Liu Sanhu- Helian

Qiu Shu- Ning Yi

The outer manor servant Helian gave the map to- Ning Cheng

Physician- Zong Chen

Apprentice- Gu Nan Yi 

Jiarong- the maid Helian is romancing to get information. She has a mysterious background. 

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