Chapter Sixty: The Tragic Ying Xuanyu

“Someone like you, the young master of a wealthy family, must be sleeping outdoors for the first time, isn’t it?” Feng Qiuji poked enthusiastically at the fire with a thin stick, thoroughly engrossed in her play.

“Hm?” Ying Xuanyu paused, surprised by her words. Did she mean she often camped out in the wilderness? “Yes, it’s my first time.”

“That must be tough for you.” Feng Qiuji sighed. Who knew how much farther they’d have to travel tomorrow? She was truly starving.

“I’m fine, but I’m worried you won’t be able to handle it physically.” Ying Xuanyu smiled. For some reason, he always felt a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

“Ying Xuanyu,” Feng Qiuji suddenly felt the urge to interview him. After all, it was only upon coming to this ancient time that she had the chance to meet someone like the richest man in the country, and who knew if she’d ever have the opportunity again. She ought to seize the moment. “I’d like to interview you.”

“Hm?” Several of her words were foreign to Ying Xuanyu.

“Do you often feel happy?”

“No, not really.” Ying Xuanyu shook his head in confusion, not understanding why she would suddenly ask something like that.

“Ah, people really don’t appreciate their blessings when they’re surrounded by them.” Feng Qiuji shook her head as she looked him up and down. “Do you have any idea how many poor people there are in this world?”

“Such as?”

“Such as me.” She shot him a look, remembering the fifty thousand taels Ling Zetian still owed her. Who knew when she’d ever see that money? For Ying Xuanyu or Ling Zetian, it was nothing, but for her, it was a fortune—enough to last her a lifetime, and if she were frugal, her children’s lifetimes too.

“Uh…” Ying Xuanyu was even more confused. In his view, Feng Qiuji was the prime minister’s daughter and an empress—how could she possibly lack money? “If you ever need money, just tell me.”

“Really?” Feng Qiuji’s eyes lit up immediately when she heard this.

“Yes. My family has branches in all the major cities across the country, so it doesn’t matter where you are.”

“That’s wonderful! I want to do business with your family.”

“Business? What kind of business?”

“You’ll know when the time comes. You promised, remember?”

“Yes.” Seeing her so delighted, Ying Xuanyu felt warmth bloom in his heart. “But why did you become a bandit?”

“Oh, that’s a long story…”

And so, Feng Qiuji and Ying Xuanyu passed the night chatting and laughing together.

When Feng Qiuji woke the next morning, Ying Xuanyu was already gone. Only the ashes of their fire remained at the cave’s entrance. Anxious, she hurried out to search for him, eventually spotting Ying Xuanyu sitting on a smooth boulder not far away, his gaze fixed on the east.

“Hey, what are you doing?” she called out.

“Waiting for the sunrise.” Seeing her awake, Ying Xuanyu smiled at her.

The winter morning was bitterly cold, but upon hearing about the sunrise, Feng Qiuji’s interest was piqued. She hurried over and sat beside him. She’d always wanted to watch the sunrise from a mountaintop, but had never found anyone to go with her. Now, while fleeing for her life, she’d caught such an opportunity—what a pleasant surprise.

The sky was just brightening. Though the east was aglow, the sun had yet to rise, only coloring the distant clouds with gold and pink—breathtakingly beautiful.

Feng Qiuji filled her lungs with the crisp air. The air was so much purer in ancient times, and here in the remote mountains, it felt even fresher, invigorating her with every breath.

They sat quietly as the morning breeze swept through the forest, brushing past them. Feng Qiuji shuddered; the cold was biting and her clothes were too thin for such weather.

Seeing this, Ying Xuanyu shifted closer to her, angling his body to shield her from the wind. “Once the sun’s up, we’ll continue on our way.”

“Alright.” Feng Qiuji nodded, her mind wandering to Yang Siyuan and the two brothers, worried about their injuries. If Ying Xuanyu had truly hurt them badly, she’d regret it for a lifetime.

“Feng Qiuji…” Ying Xuanyu gazed at the horizon, quietly uttering her name. Then he fell silent, unsure how to broach the subject weighing on his mind.

“Hm? What is it?” She glanced at the seriousness etched on his profile, as if he were about to discuss something grave. Yet after a long pause, he still said nothing.

“Can you let go of the past…” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “It’s all behind you now. There’s no need to let it make you unhappy…”

“What?” Feng Qiuji looked at him, puzzled, with no idea what he meant.

“I mean, we should look forward in life. Even if there were unhappy things in the past, it’s all in the past, isn’t it?” Ying Xuanyu met her eyes and spoke earnestly.

“Oh, I see what you’re trying to say.” Suddenly, Feng Qiuji looked enlightened.

“What? You understand?” Ying Xuanyu was baffled—he hadn’t even gotten to the point, yet she claimed to understand.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hold anything against Sakura Luo. She’s just a child, and I do have that much magnanimity.” She patted Ying Xuanyu’s shoulder. “Besides, I think both you and your sister are good people. She may be a bit spoiled, but she has a kind heart.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“I… I…” Ying Xuanyu faltered under her gaze. Last night, after Feng Qiuji fell asleep, he’d watched over her for a long time. Fearing she’d catch cold, he had covered her with his own clothing. But as he kept watch, he’d heard her murmur “Ling Zetian” in her sleep. At that moment, his heart shattered. Anyone would feel hurt hearing the one they care about call someone else’s name in their sleep. Still, Ying Xuanyu was resilient—he didn’t reveal his feelings, just lay down beside her, determined to give her a lesson in matters of the heart when she woke.

He didn’t know exactly what Ling Zetian felt for Qin Ruyan, but he knew they’d known each other for years. If Feng Qiuji kept this up, she’d only end up hurting herself. As for his own feelings, if he were Ling Zetian, he’d never take Qin Ruyan back. But he couldn’t speak for Ling Zetian, and even as childhood friends, he had no right to interfere in another’s private affairs. If Ling Zetian rekindled his feelings for Qin Ruyan, Feng Qiuji would stand no chance at all, and Ying Xuanyu truly hated to see her suffer.

Feng Qiuji herself used to hope she’d marry someone who’d never had a girlfriend before—previous loves were just too much trouble for her taste. Unfortunately, she’d fallen for someone with an ex.

So whenever she had nothing to do, her mind would wander: Had Ling Zetian ever kissed Qin Ruyan? Under what circumstances? Had they hugged? Where and when? Had they ever slept together? She suspected they had, making her first two questions moot. The more she dwelled on it, the more despondent she became.

“What is it?” Feng Qiuji frowned. Ying Xuanyu was normally so direct—why was he being so hesitant now?

“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

A gentle breeze passed, leaving Feng Qiuji momentarily stunned. Ying Xuanyu was so earnest, both in expression and in his eyes, that she felt the sincerity of his words.

He didn’t want her to be hurt.

What did that mean? Concern? Or was it affection?

Did he like her?

“Heh… heh…” All Feng Qiuji could do was laugh. She was increasingly convinced that Ying Xuanyu was an odd one. “I know. Someone as afraid of pain as I am would never let herself get hurt. But thank you for your concern.”

Could it be that Ying Xuanyu was attracted to older women? She’d heard that some men had an Oedipus complex and preferred mature women. Otherwise, in such a traditional society, with his advantages, why would he like a woman who’d already been married and divorced?

“Actually, I…” Seeing her nonchalance, Ying Xuanyu resolved to be more forthright. “I’ve always liked you…”

“Wow! Look, look! The sun just shot straight up!” Feng Qiuji cut him off, clapping and pointing east in excitement.

Ying Xuanyu was momentarily stunned, then could only join in her applause. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

He didn’t know if Feng Qiuji had heard his confession. It was the first time he’d ever told someone he liked her. Though he was a grown man and not embarrassed by such words, the abrupt way it ended left him uneasy and a little frustrated.

He wanted to ask if she’d heard him, but seeing her so happy, he didn’t have the heart to spoil her mood and simply joined her in her silly joy.

The sun rose, glowing red and bright, filling people with warmth. After a night of darkness, Feng Qiuji found the sunrise incredibly endearing, almost lovable.

In truth, she had heard Ying Xuanyu’s words. She was momentarily taken aback, remembering when Ling Zetian had once told her, “I like you.” Back then, she’d thought he was joking, and she no longer cared to question its sincerity.

Now, here was a young nobleman—good-looking, well-built, the richest in the country, clever and kind—confessing his feelings. In the past, she would have been overjoyed, eager to accept. But now, she realized that, aside from Ling Zetian, she had no real interest in anyone else. Even hearing Ying Xuanyu’s confession brought her little excitement. If that was the case, perhaps it was better to pretend she hadn’t heard, so they could remain friends.

———End of Chapter———

Ah, I updated late today—
Ran six laps and nearly collapsed, tt