---

“If you’re enjoying this, please support the project on ko-fi! ? Your every contribution really means a lot to me. ?”

---

Chapter 50: Blow

Yu Lingxi was awakened by the faint sound of flowing water.

Perhaps the pain-relieving and calming effects of last night’s medicinal soup worked, as when she opened her eyes, she not only didn’t feel uncomfortable but felt refreshed and clear-headed. Outside the window, the sky was already bright. Next to the washstand, Ning Yin was bare-chested, twisting a pure white cotton towel.

Clear, cool water squeezed out from between his cold and slender fingers, creating a tinkling sound. As if his hands were contaminated with some impurity, he rotated his palms and meticulously cleaned them for a long time.

With force, the tendons on the back of his hand and the muscles of his shoulders and arms also swelled appropriately, as if carved from the finest cold jade, with disheveled ink-black hair and a dampness with a hint of mist.

Yu Lingxi suddenly realized that in the past half-year, Ning Yin’s figure was no longer slender and youthful but had acquired a robust and powerful build, with every muscle filled with potential energy, reminiscent of the strength from a previous life.

Is he just back from outside?

Just as she was thinking, Ning Yin had already wiped his hands clean and picked up the clothes on the wooden frame to put on. Although it was still a snowy robe, it had subtle differences from the one he wore last night.

“Wei Qi.”

Yu Lingxi sat up, her voice hoarse from sleep, soft and gentle, “Did you not sleep all night? Where did you go?”

Ning Yin calmly fastened his belt, twisted a clean cloth, picked it up with whitened fingers, walked to the bedside chair, and sat down with crossed legs, saying, “Lit lanterns.”

Yu Lingxi was puzzled, “Lit lanterns?”

“Lit more than eighty lanterns, it’s beautiful.”

Ning Yin chuckled softly, covering Yu Lingxi’s drowsy and lazy sleeping face with the damp cloth.

Blocked from sight, Yu Lingxi remembered the “sky lanterns” and “beauty lanterns” from his previous life, and then recalled the murderous aura he had just experienced.

Washing and wiping his hands, Yu Lingxi could probably guess what he had done last night. Yu Lingxi didn’t inquire further, just peeled off the cool and damp cloth from her face, obediently wiping her cheeks.

Seeing Ning Yin staring at her, she thought for a moment and then smiled faintly, “If you like lanterns, on the night of Qiqiao Festival, we can go and release wishing lanterns.”

Ning Yin raised an eyebrow slightly.

He knew that Yu Lingxi had figured it out. He had expected to see disgust or disappointment on her face, but what he got was this indifferent remark. She generously dissipated the hostility with the greatest kindness, and Ning Yin also descended smoothly, the tension in his knuckles on the chair’s armrest gradually easing.

With only one usable hand, Yu Lingxi’s face-wiping movements were slow and meticulous. The pure white cotton cloth slowly wiped across her snowy-white face, along the jawline to the beautiful collarbone, and then stopped.

Ning Yin’s fingertip movements on the chair’s armrest slowed down, and his gaze also paused.

“It’s done.” She carefully folded the cloth and placed it on the bed.

Ning Yin looked at her for a moment, then leaned over to pick up the small medicine jar that had been placed on the table for a long time, “Miss, it’s time to change the bandage.”

Yu Lingxi reached out to take it, but Ning Yin withdrew his hand, holding the medicine jar and slowly turning it. Seeing that he didn’t move for a while, Yu Lingxi looked at the bandaged wound on her upper arm and understood his meaning.

After a moment of hesitation, she whispered, “Then I’ll trouble you.”

She untied the ribbon, paused, then continued to untie the thin gauze inner garment on her left side to the bend of her elbow, revealing a section of snowy-white shoulder and the neatly embroidered apricot-colored silk underclothing.

Because of her fair and delicate skin, the wound on her arm appeared even more heartbreaking.

Ning Yin untied the bandage knot, his voice deepening slightly, “Endure it.”

The scab and bandage stuck together and caused some pain when unwrapped. Yu Lingxi curled up her legs, pressed her chin to her knees, enduring the pain with a frowning and breathless expression.

After cleaning the wound, Ning Yin picked up some ointment with his fingers and carefully applied it to her injury, saying, “This medicine can prevent scarring and promote tissue regeneration. It won’t leave any scars on Miss.”

The ointment stung, causing Yu Lingxi to tense up all over. The beautiful and stubborn curvature of her collarbone made the sight even more heart-wrenching. Ning Yin glanced at her for a moment, then leaned in, blowing gently on the red and scabbed wound.

The warm airflow passed by, causing Yu Lingxi to shiver suddenly.

Ning Yin raised his eyes, and his ink-black hair fell from behind his ears, brushing against Yu Lingxi’s fingers on the edge of the bed.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

Enduring the sensitive tremor, Yu Lingxi shook her head with a soft and hoarse voice, “It tickles.”

Ning Yin seemed to discover an interesting secret, chuckling softly.

The warm breath passed over her wound, soothing the burning pain like feather-light strokes.

“No laughing allowed,” Yu Lingxi tightened the bedding, feeling like he was teasing a cat. She couldn’t help but feel powerless and said, “Don’t you ever have a moment when you feel ticklish?”

Only then did she realize that Ning Yin indeed didn’t fear tickling, or even pain.

She was still pondering when Ning Yin said, “There are moments when I feel ticklish too.”

Yu Lingxi was surprised, forgetting the pain for a moment, and turned her head to look at him.

“Where?” she doubted.

Clearly, for two lifetimes, she never knew that Ning Yin had a soft spot for this. Ning Yin raised his eyes, looking at her eyes with ink-like lines, calmly finishing bandaging, then lifted his fingers, gently tapping the corner of her eye.

Seeing her hooked look, he felt very itchy.

Yu Lingxi closed her eyes, feeling the touch of his fingertips and then opened them.

She hesitated for a moment, touched the corner of her eye that he had touched.

After a while of hesitation, she asked, “Touching the eyes… what does it mean?”

…

Guangzha Gate, Yingwei Office.

Ning Tan, who rushed over in haste, looked at the white cloth covering the corpses scattered on the ground. The astonishment in his eyes gradually turned into fear. This fear did not just stem from death itself; it was a terror of helplessness, watching the power of others surpassing his own. A crown prince without his loyal force was just an empty shell, easily toppled with a push.

Moreover, he was no longer the sole prince of the Ning Dynasty.

Ning Tan took a step back, stepping on the slippery blood, staggering as he grabbed Cui An’s garment.

“Who did this? What should I do?” 

With red eyes, he, helpless and defeated, shouted, “Aren’t you the smartest, Cui An? Go and catch the murderers for me, immediately! Torture them a thousand times!”

Cui An allowed him to grab his collar, standing still without moving.

Ning Tan continued to shout on his own, and then in the endless cold silence, he realized: his Yingwei was wiped out, and no one would truly be loyal to him. 

Cui An was loyal to the Empress Mother, and the Xue family’s loyalty was to the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, not him, Ning Tan. Ning Tan let go of his grip, realizing that his wings were gradually being clipped, and all he could do was wail.

Cui An frowned, straightening his clothes, and slowly said, “Her Majesty advises the Crown Prince to temporarily withdraw to the Eastern Palace to avoid trouble.”

Mother… right, he still had a mother.

No mother could bear to see harm come to her child; she would surely stabilize his position as the heir. Ning Tan, in a daze, boarded the carriage and hurriedly went to the Empress’s Palace.

In the side hall, the empress was meditating with closed eyes. Hearing the crown prince entering to pay respects, she didn’t even open her eyes and said, “Didn’t I ask the Crown Prince to stay in the Eastern Palace?”

“Mother, please help your son!”

Ning Tan knelt in panic, crying like a child, grabbing the empress’s sleeve.

“I already know about the incident at the Yingwei Office. As the heir, raising private soldiers is already a taboo. The immediate solution is to clean up the aftermath and leave no evidence behind.”

The empress, with closed eyes, spoke plainly, “Go back. No need to come for greetings in the near future.”

“Mother, your son is the Crown Prince, not a prisoner. How is residing in seclusion in the Eastern Palace any different from being dethroned?”

Ning Tan, full of resentment, spoke without thinking, “Even with so many rumors about you not being my birth mother, attempting to sow discord in our mother-son relationship, I’ve never believed them… Even if the whole world abandons your son, you cannot just sit back and watch.”

The empress moved her prayer beads, paused, and opened her eyes.

The hollow gaze turned toward the crown prince, and she called out, “Cui An.”

Understanding, Cui An stepped forward, standing in front of the sobbing Ning Tan. Before Ning Tan could react, a resounding slap landed on his face, leaving him stunned.

Ning Tan couldn’t believe it; this eunuch actually hit him. He was like a child who lost a toy, eagerly seeking his mother’s comfort, only to receive a ruthless slap.

“The Crown Prince has spoken out of turn,” the empress surveyed him, saying calmly.

Her gaze towards her son remained cold and indifferent, seemingly no different from how she looked at palace maids and servants. Even for disciplinary measures, she was unwilling to personally intervene.

Ning Tan covered his face, still stiff.

Something dark within him was awakened, growing wildly in his heart.

Mother… was she truly his biological mother?

…

Yu Lingxi had her breakfast and felt that the wound wasn’t as painful anymore. She decided to try walking around.

The brothel was liveliest at night, but during the day, it was rather quiet. Just past the morning hour, she heard a few melancholic pipa tunes coming from the elegant rooms upstairs. As she pushed the door open, she saw Ning Yin in pale attire leaning against the railing in the tea pavilion at the end of the corridor. He was looking out of the window with great interest.

Standing beside him were two people. One had facial scars from burns; Yu Lingxi recognized him as the medicine vendor from the black market in the Immortal City. He must be the one Ning Yin had brought to detoxify her. The other was a tall and silent man with a half-height heavy sword on his back, standing in the shadows without making a sound.

Seeing Yu Lingxi approaching, both of them nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then exited.

“What are you looking at?” Yu Lingxi walked over without inquiring why there were so many peculiar people around Ning Yin.

Ning Yin casually pointed to the table, indicating for Yu Lingxi to sit. Following his suggestion, Yu Lingxi sat down and followed his gaze. In the courtyard, a flower girl and a guest were entwined in an affectionate embrace, bidding farewell with reluctance.

The flower girl was only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a beautiful face and loose hair. The guest, on the other hand, was a poor scholar in somewhat worn-out attire.

The scholar hastily dressed and fastened his belt, saying, “Yingniang, let’s put the payment for this time on credit…”

“Do you still not understand my intentions? Saying such things underestimates me!” The flower girl narrowed her eyes, bit her lip, and pushed him away. “Hurry, don’t let Master Gui find out!”

The scholar took out a neatly tied lock of hair from his chest and handed it to the flower girl before slipping out through the back door. Holding the strand of hair in her hands, the flower girl stood in the courtyard for a long time before reluctantly returning to her room.

Yu Lingxi shifted her gaze back and saw Ning Yin holding his cup, sneering, “Originally, it’s a transaction involving money, but willingly engaging in a losing business. Is it laughable or not?”

Yu Lingxi raised the corner of her mouth, thinking, “What’s so laughable about it? Before the parties involved develop genuine feelings, they naturally exchange what they need. But after falling for someone, it’s no longer a transaction. It’s an exchange of true emotions.”

Thinking of the flower girl’s deep affection, she couldn’t help sighing lightly. “Perhaps matters of the heart are not about gains and losses.”

Ning Yin looked up at her.

After gazing for a while, he repeated in a faint tone, “Falling for someone is no longer a transaction?”

Yu Lingxi looked back at him and nodded.

Isn’t it like that? This statement is not wrong.

“I stayed at Miss’s residence for mutual benefit. But yesterday, when I took action to eliminate the assassins, it was entirely a loss-making deal for me, with no benefits at all…”

Ning Yin swayed the teacup, thoughtful, and said, “Miss, what do you think this is?”

A ray of morning light streamed in from the window, falling into the rippling cup in his hand, reflecting an amber-gold gleam in his eyes. Suddenly, Yu Lingxi’s heart skipped a beat. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, too swift to catch, but it disappeared without a trace.

She thought: At least it proves that the Yu family holds a significant place in Ning Yin’s heart, perhaps even more important than other chips he holds…

The original purpose of sheltering Ning Yin had been achieved.

But just now, what was she hoping for?

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

With an open expression, her clean eyes carried the warmth of the sun outside the window. She earnestly said, “But Your Highness can tell me the answer.”

The clouds floated lazily, and the tree shadows swayed gently.

There was a moment of silence between the two.

“Miss has always been clever, why so dull today?” Ning Yin showed a slight displeasure, criticizing her for being a bystander who sees clearly but is confused when involved.

Yu Lingxi didn’t hear the answer and lowered her eyelashes.

Putting down the cup, Ning Yin casually asked, “Is there anything else?”

Only then did Yu Lingxi remember the purpose of her visit and couldn’t help suppressing the ripples in her heart.

“I want to go home,” Yu Lingxi said, “I’ve been out all night, and my parents and siblings at home will worry.”

Ning Yin absentmindedly turned the teacup on the table, his slender fingers flicking and relaxing. Yu Lingxi’s heart also followed the rhythm of the cup, rising and falling.

It wasn’t until her clear eyes showed a hint of uneasiness that Ning Yin finally moved his mouth and said generously, “Wait for another half an hour.”

Yu Lingxi was puzzled, “Why?”

Ning Yin looked at the eaves of the opposite house, his voice cold, “There are too many small flies near the Yu Mansion. They need to be cleaned up.”

At the appointed time, Ning Yin personally drove the carriage and sent Yu Lingxi back to the residence. The guards outside the door saw Yu Lingxi and hurriedly went to report. In just a moment, Yu Xinyi supported Lady Yu, Yu Huanchen led Su Guan, and the whole family came out, surrounding Yu Lingxi with questions.

“Sui Sui!” Su Guan rushed over, probably having cried all night, and her eyes were swollen.

Lady Yu also held her youngest daughter’s hand, repeatedly choked up, saying, “Coming back is good, coming back is good.”

Yu Huanchen stood in front of the steps, frowning as he looked at the young man standing with his hands behind his back next to the carriage. The eyes of the two met, a test, and a confrontation.

“Elder brother, this time it’s thanks to Wei Qi.” Yu Lingxi subtly moved, blocking Yu Huanchen’s overly probing gaze, and smiled, “If it weren’t for him rushing to find a good doctor to treat my injuries, I wouldn’t know what situation I would be in.” The family looked towards Ning Yin, except for Yu Huanchen, whose expression was complicated.

“Elder brother.” Yu Lingxi tugged at his sleeve, her eyes pleading, “If you have something to say, let’s go back and discuss it.”

Yu Huanchen glanced at his younger sister and sighed. He gave a distant salute to Ning Yin, expressing his gratitude, and then led his family into the mansion.

Yu Lingxi took a few steps into the mansion, turned back, and glanced in Ning Yin’s direction.

The vermilion gate slowly closed, the area around the carriage empty without Ning Yin’s figure.

Yu Huanchen paused and instructed Qingxiao, “Go and fetch the imperial physician.”

“Yes.”

Qingxiao, with bandages on his arm, hesitated and asked, “Young General, should we continue investigating Wei Qi’s situation?”

Yu Huanchen looked at his youngest sister, who was being comforted by Su Guan, feeling overwhelmed.

“No need to investigate.”

He snorted lightly, even the fool should have figured it out by now.

—

Inside the study, Ning Yin opened the drawer, placing the retrieved sandalwood box inside. His fingertips slowly rolled over the smooth and cool inkstone made of fine jade, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes.

What kind of pattern should he carve?

Ning Yin tapped his fingertips, leisurely contemplating.

Previous

Next