Naren Temüjin let out a painful cry, immediately releasing his grip.

He wailed in pain, being hit, he staggered back three steps, falling to the ground along with the shadow.

Zhao Chu was suddenly released, taking a step back, and bumped into someone's chest in the strong wind.

A faint scent of osmanthus candy mingled with the soft aroma of flower wine, enveloping him.

The person gently supported his shoulder, steadying him, and then let him go, striding towards Naren Temüjin.

Fang Linyuan.

In the dim light, his slender figure stirred up a refreshing breeze, gently lifting his robe.

It also brushed past Zhao Chu's hair falling on his face.

Like a sword, like a long banner, like a divine light shining without a hint of impurity in a play.

"Come, let your grandpa see how much ‘yellow soup’ (NT: idiom implying that he-drunk a lot of alcohol) you've drunk, daring to be wild here?"

Only to see him raise his long leg, and heavily kick Naren Temüjin's chest.

Fang Linyuan was indeed infuriated.

Fortunately, he happened to take a stroll nearby and just entered this deserted garden! If he had arrived even a bit later... even if it was just for the duration of an incense stick! If Naren Temüjin had really done something to Zhao Chu, wouldn’t he have been finished!

Putting aside the life or death of Naren Temüjin, if His Majesty knew that Zhao Chu was a man, it would mean the extermination of the entire lineage of Fang Linyuan!

He strode forward and immediately saw this creature lying on the ground, wailing and unable to get up, clearly so drunk that his legs were weak.

Unable to stand steady yet still having the strength to defile a woman, truly a beast.

Thinking of his regained family line, Fang Linyuan was extremely scared. Without satisfaction, he kicked him several times.

Having trained in martial arts for years, he didn't hold back at all. A few kicks made this burly brute, weighing around a hundred and eighty pounds, cry out in pain continuously. He was halfway sober from the alcohol, struggling to get up, crawling and begging for mercy.

"Jade Yama, Jade Yama! I was drunk, didn't see who this person was, thought it was just a palace maid, spare me this once..."

Fang Linyuan stepped forward, and a fist landed on his face.

"Do you think I'm also drunk like your ancestors?"

Naren Temüjin's cheek immediately swelled up, still intoxicated, he was punched so hard that he felt dizzy.

As the alcohol subsided, he immediately realized what a foolish thing he had just done. He also knew that if this were to be known, even if he could return to the grasslands alive, his father Khan would strip him of his position as crown Prince.

Feeling guilty and fearing Fang Linyuan, he didn't dare to fight back for a moment. Seeing Fang Linyuan raising his fist to strike again, he quickly raised his hand to block.

"I know I was wrong, Jade Yama, I got my head muddled with drink, I'll go sober up now, farewell."

He hastily blocked Fang Linyuan's fist, then turned around to flee, but unexpectedly, Fang Linyuan grabbed his wrist.

This burly man from the grasslands, was unexpectedly tripped by the tall and slender Fang Linyuan with one hand. Then, with a heavy punch, he struck his abdomen, almost making him vomit with just one blow.

As he staggered and spun, Fang Linyuan let him go.

Naren Temüjin rolled around in agony.

Just as he barely turned his head, he saw Fang Linyuan standing there lazily, dragging his robe, graceful and luxurious, casually clapping the dust off his hands.

"Scram." He sneered with disdain. "Farewell."

*

As Naren Temüjin fled in panic, Fang Linyuan bent down to pick up the decorative sword he had thrown out in desperation earlier to block Naren Temüjin. He brushed off the dirt.

Turning around, he saw Zhao Chu standing there.

Oh no.

Half of his skirt was soaked, and he still remembered to raise his hand to cover the somewhat prominent outline of his chest under the robe. The raised hand was bloody, seemingly injured.

"What happened to your hand?" Fang Linyuan walked over as he hung the sword back to his waist.

"It's nothing."

But as he approached, Zhao Chu lowered his eyes and hid the bloodied hand in his sleeve.

A glint of cold light flashed, and Fang Linyuan saw that he was holding a small but sharp object in his hand.

Blood was dripping down his wrist.

Fang Linyuan sucked in a cold breath.

This person was too ruthless towards him! He had been in the army for several years and had never seen anyone clench a hidden weapon in their palm like this.

"What are you holding?" He quickly reached out to grab Zhao Chu's wrist.

Zhao Chu resisted a bit, but he still grabbed his arm and pulled it up, prying open the tightly clenched fingers.

There, on that slender and fair hand, were crisscross wounds, flesh torn apart, and blood dripping down his fingertips.

The broken jade ornament fell onto the snow, which was now splattered with crimson.

Fang Linyuan looked at the broken jade on the ground with surprise.

"...You crushed it?" He looked up at Zhao Chu.

In the dim light of the palace lamps, he could finally see Zhao Chu's appearance at this moment.

The pearls on his head were slightly scattered, his hair hanging down, falling on the side of his face. Although he had a cold expression, with his eyes lowered, he still had the usual cunning and disdainful look of a fox spirit, but now, because of his dishevelled appearance, he seemed a bit pitiful.

...He must have used the broken jade for self-defense.

A cold wind blew, and Fang Linyuan saw that half of his wet shoulder had a layer of frost on it.

But Zhao Chu seemed oblivious. Hearing his question, he made a non-committal sound, didn't raise his eyes, just silently withdrew his hand and covered his chest, which was pressed tightly against by his robe.

"Let's go." He turned around calmly as if nothing had happened.

Fang Linyuan sighed inwardly.

Just blocking it like this probably wouldn't do. Forget it, considering their intertwined fate... and also considering that he did seem quite pitiful today.

"Wait." Fang Linyuan called out to him.

He raised his hand and took off his heavy and large cloak, walked to Zhao Chu's side, and stretched out his arm, draping the cloak over Zhao Chu.

"Use this to block it." He said. "And don't keep clenching your hand like that, be careful of the shards embedding into your flesh."

The cloak, warmed by his body temperature, enveloped Zhao Chu in an instant.

He stiffened, unexpectedly reminded of the moment at Taiye Pond years ago when Fang Linyuan draped his cloak over him.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity made Fang Linyuan pause for a moment. He looked at Zhao Chu, only to see Zhao Chu raising his eyes as well.

Those eyes, usually charming and as cold as an icy pond, now seemed to reveal some hidden emotions.

"What's wrong?" Fang Linyuan asked.

Zhao Chu looked at him.

"Have we... met before?"

His voice was still very cold, somewhat hoarse, but for some reason, it carried a hint of elusive softness.

It was like cautiously reaching out to touch something.

 

Translator : DarNan