Chapter 147

The day after Yang Yaozong, Qin Haizhou, and Liao Qiniang arranged everything and hurried back to the imperial capital of Tianjing with the injured Yin Ruyun, young Yang Fan, and a company of men, Nangong Zhan received a letter from beyond the northern frontier.

"Yi'er! Come take a look at this and tell me what you make of it," Nangong Zhan said, summoning only his daughter to his main campaign tent and handing her the received letter.

Nangong Qingyi unfolded the letter and immediately recognized the handwriting. Familiar as it was, upon finishing the contents, her delicate brows knitted together in deep thought. The letter was written in a very straightforward manner, giving them only ten days for the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Grandson, Yang Yaozong, to come and negotiate. If Yang Yaozong could not be seen within ten days, they would launch an offensive even more ferocious than the one from the first three days.

Suddenly, Nangong Qingyi recalled the letter she had received three days ago. Connecting it with this new missive, it was obvious that the writer's sole intention was to see Yang Yaozong. With a soft hum, she said, "Do they think whoever they want to see must be sent to them? I would like to see what methods they have to breach Yanmen Pass!"

Noticing that his daughter's attitude was vastly different from usual and arguably somewhat lacking in composure, Nangong Zhan felt a sense of puzzlement. Frowning as he stared at Nangong Qingyi, he asked, "Yi'er! What has gotten into you? Are you perhaps afraid of meeting Yaozong?"

Seeing Nangong Qingyi gently shake her head, Nangong Zhan sighed and said, "Regardless of how we feel, since the opposing side has made such a demand, we must submit this to the Emperor. As for whether the Emperor will dispatch Yaozong to negotiate, that will depend entirely on His Majesty's will. However, in your father's view, it would be best if Yaozong could come. By allowing him to personally experience frontier defense and warfare, he will be forced to put himself in your shoes, and perhaps hold fewer grievances against you."

Though her mind was a tempest of complex emotions, Nangong Qingyi still nodded silently.

***

On the night of October tenth, after four days of rapid travel along the road, Yang Yaozong finally brought Yin Ruyun, young Yang Fan, and their entourage back to Tianjing.

"Jun'er! Xin'er!" Crying out, Yang Yaozong rushed straight into the courtyard carrying the slumbering Yin Ruxin. Throughout the days of their return journey to the capital, Yin Ruyun had rarely remained conscious, spending most of her time in deep sleep. This had driven Yang Yaozong's anxiety to new heights, making him wish he possessed wings so he could fly home with Yin Ruyun instantly.

Jing Yijun, Yin Ruxin, and Ruyi had originally been sitting together in the front hall chatting. Hearing Yang Yaozong's voice ring out, all three were momentarily startled before their faces bloomed with expressions of pleasant surprise.

Jing Yijun took Yin Ruxin's hand and happily went to welcome Yang Yaozong. But when she saw the tense and worried expression on Yang Yaozong's face, along with Yin Ruyun held tightly in his arms, the joyful expressions on Yin Ruxin and Jing Yijun vanished. Yin Ruxin's face, in particular, instantly turned somewhat pale, her eyes filled with sudden terror.

"Quickly, heal Ruyun's injuries! Do not ask anything yet!" Yang Yaozong urged urgently, staring at the two young women who had already run up to him with inquiring and bewildered gazes.

Carrying Yin Ruyun, Yang Yaozong hurried to Yin Ruxin's courtyard within the estate. After gently laying Yin Ruyun down on the bed, Yin Ruxin and Jing Yijun each immediately took one of Yin Ruyun's wrists and began taking her pulse.

Yang Yaozong watched as both women frowned while checking the pulse, looking back at him—especially Yin Ruxin, whose pearly white teeth were biting hard against her cherry-red lips. Yang Yaozong knew this little habit of hers intimately; she only ever made that face when she was deep in thought and finding something extremely difficult. Growing even more anxious, he asked, "How severe are Ruyun's injuries?!"

Yin Ruxin turned to Ruyi, who was also standing in the room, looking at Yin Ruyun with anxious concern. "Ruyi, first take His Honor out to the outer hall to rest, and then bring my acupuncture kit here."

Knowing that Yin Ruxin was about to begin treating Yin Ruyun, Yang Yaozong cast one parting look of deep concern at Yin Ruyun lying on the bed, nodded to Yin Ruxin and Jing Yijun, and followed Ruyi out of the chamber.

***

The wailing cries of an infant drifted into the small courtyard, reminding Yang Yaozong that when he had carried Yin Ruyun down from the carriage, he had instructed a maid in the estate to take charge of looking after Yang Fan. At this moment, the child must have found himself without the sight of him and Yin Ruyun, causing him to start crying and fussing again.

Standing in the outer hall, Yang Yaozong gently patted the now-asleep Yang Fan while anxiously awaiting the outcome of Yin Ruyun's treatment, pacing back and forth between the doorway of the outer hall and the entrance to the inner chamber.

With a soft creak, the door finally opened.

Yang Yaozong happened to be pacing right near the entrance of the inner chamber and saw Yin Ruxin and Ruyi step out together. Noticing that the rims of Yin Ruxin's eyes were red, clearly indicating she had been weeping, he asked with hurried concern, "Xin'er! How is your sister?"

Ignoring Yang Yaozong entirely, Yin Ruxin stared with furrowed brows at the infant Yang Fan cradled in Yang Yaozong's arms.

Yang Yaozong quickly explained, "Oh! This is an orphan your sister rescued during the earthquake; I gave him the name Yang Fan."

Yin Ruxin nodded and signaled for Ruyi to take the child away. Handing the sleeping Yang Fan over to Ruyi, Yang Yaozong then followed Yin Ruxin back into the outer hall.

*Crack!*

A sharp, ringing slap landed squarely across Yang Yaozong's face.

By this time, Ruyi had already departed with Yang Fan, leaving only Yang Yaozong and Yin Ruxin in the spacious hall.

Though Yang Yaozong was somewhat dazed by this sudden, unprovoked blow, the sight of Yin Ruxin's tear-filled eyes and furious expression told him instantly that this matter was tied to Yin Ruyun. Could Yin Ruyun's injuries be that severe? Not daring to let his mind wander down that terrifying path, he stared fixedly at Yin Ruxin and blurted out, "Xin'er! Is it your sister... is your sister..."

Striking Yang Yaozong's chest with fist after heavy fist, Yin Ruxin finally failed to hold back her grief. Collapsing into his embrace, she sobbed aloud, "My sister is going to be fine! But it was you, wasn't it! It was you, wasn't it, you bad man! You bad man!" Even as she accused him, her fists continued to rain down blows upon his chest.

Hearing that Yin Ruyun was going to be fine, the heart that had hung heavily with worry all these days finally settled into place. Drawing a long breath, Yang Yaozong held the weeping, pummeling Yin Ruxin tightly in his arms and murmured softly, "As long as she's fine, nothing else matters. I am a bad man! It was all my fault, for letting your sister suffer such grave injuries just to save me!"

Pulling back from Yang Yaozong's embrace and fixing him with a piercing gaze, Yin Ruxin demanded, "You didn't know?"

Not knowing what Yin Ruxin was driving at, Yang Yaozong asked in bewilderment, "What should I know?"

Seeing that Yang Yaozong's expression did not look feigned, Yin Ruxin continued to stare straight at him. "What did you do to my sister?"

Hearing this question and linking it to Yin Ruxin's earlier actions, Yang Yaozong's mind instantly flashed back to the events that had transpired in the secret chamber of the Prince of Qin's estate. Nodding, he said, "Even if you hadn't asked, I intended to bring this up." With that, Yang Yaozong recounted everything that had occurred between him and Yin Ruyun in the secret chamber.

Pounding against Yang Yaozong's chest through her sobs, Yin Ruxin cried out, "I knew it was you! I knew you were the one who bullied my sister! Did she forbid you from telling me? Did she?!"

Seeing that Yang Yaozong remained silent, Yin Ruxin said with bitter resentment, "She told you not to tell, so you just kept your mouth shut?! You bad man! You bad man!"

Watching Yin Ruxin weep so bitterly, Yang Yaozong felt a sharp ache in his own heart. Pulling her tightly into his arms once more, he pleaded, "Xin'er! I know I was wrong! It was my fault! I'm a bad man, a scoundrel, a bastard! Won't you stop crying? Hearing you cry makes my heart break. Xin'er, please don't cry."

After a long while, Yin Ruxin's emotional tempest subsided. Resting quietly in Yang Yaozong's embrace, she whispered, "For you and my sister to both live well is the most important thing in the world to me. Therefore, I am not angry with you because of what happened between you and my sister; I am only angry that you didn't tell me about it. When I was just checking my sister's pulse, I discovered that she is with child..."

"What?!" Yang Yaozong pushed Yin Ruxin slightly away, gripping her arms tightly as he exclaimed in shock.

"You said your sister is pregnant?"

Yin Ruxin nodded. "Mn!"

*Slap!*

Yang Yaozong struck himself a fierce blow across his own face.

Yin Ruxin quickly reached out to stop him from inflicting further punishment upon himself, looking at him with deep concern.

With tears welling in his eyes and a burning ache in his nose, Yang Yaozong muttered with bitter self-reproach, "I should have guessed it much sooner. I am such a fool! Ever since I encountered your sister again, I noticed a drastic change in her temperament, yet I foolishly thought you had instructed her to act a certain way. And I... I actually let her take part in so many perilous missions!"

Caressing Yang Yaozong's burning cheek, Yin Ruxin spoke in a gentle voice, "How could you possibly have guessed such a thing? Do not blame yourself, and do not blame my sister either. I know her temperament..."

Drawing Yin Ruxin tightly back into his embrace, Yang Yaozong murmured tenderly, "Xin'er! You won't leave me, will you?"

Nodding softly, Yin Ruxin replied, "Once Xin'er has chosen you, she is yours for the rest of this life. Xin'er also knows how deep your feelings are for her; I would never cause Yaozong heartbreak. But you must treat my sister well, too! She has sacrificed so much for you—you must never let her down!"

Yang Yaozong nodded heavily and affirmed in a solemn tone, "Rest assured! I, Yang Yaozong, will never fail you sisters! I will treat both you and your sister with all the care in the world!"

Though a trace of bittersweet tartness lingered in the depths of Yin Ruxin's heart, a sweet smile bloomed upon her face. (To be continued.)