Chapter 31: The Fallen Chen Yi

It was nearly dusk when Yu Xian finally returned to Building Number Two of the Heaven Ward.

Chen Xiao followed behind him, his entire figure shrouded in a wide, black hooded cloak. While his features remained obscured, he exuded a cold, forbidding aura that kept others at a distance. This was, naturally, not a sudden whim on Yu Xian’s part to give his brother-in-law a makeover. After all, Chen Xiao was the assassin who had attempted to kill Prince Fu, and his face had been seen by many. To avoid unnecessary trouble, the poor brother-in-law would simply have to remain in hiding for a few days.

In the courtyard, the first thing Yu Xian noticed upon entering was a strange woman. She appeared to be in her twenties, with delicate features and no makeup. A white gauze dress made Yu Xian think of a lilac in a rainy alley—melancholic and lost. Yulan was chattering away beside her; she listened quietly with a faint smile on her lips, yet there was a sense of world-weary isolation about her, as if the liveliness of this place had nothing to do with her.

Chen Yi sat in the center, brewing tea with slender hands. Amidst the rising steam, her movements carried a newfound lightness and joy. Beneath the swaying osmanthus tree, the three women—each distinct in appearance and temperament—formed a harmonious and beautiful scene as they sat around the stove, chatting and enjoying the quiet. Yu Xian paused to admire the view, unwilling to disturb such beauty.

Chen Xiao, however, was not so sentimental. Having finally regained his freedom and reunited with the sister he had missed day and night, he was overcome with emotion and hurried forward.

"Xiao Yi!"

"Who are you?"

Chen Yi’s movements faltered, a look of confusion on her face. Chen Xiao pulled back his hood, his voice filled with delight. "It’s me, your brother."

"Brother?"

A stiff smile slowly formed on Chen Yi’s face, her eyes instinctively darting toward Yu Xian, who was watching the scene with amusement.

Yu Xian spoke with a straight face, "What a wonderful day—siblings reunited, sisters gathered. I suggest we have a barbecue to celebrate. Yulan, have the kitchen staff send some people over, and tell them to bring plenty of ingredients."

Yulan, unaware of the underlying situation, replied happily, "You got it!"

The autumn night was dim, with few stars to be seen, and the evening breeze was somewhat chilly, yet it could not dampen the lively atmosphere in the courtyard. Sparks crackled and danced from the charcoal fire. Slices of meat sizzled on the iron grate; as the rendered fat dripped onto the burning coals, flames flared up, curling the edges of the meat. A whole lamb, held up by an iron rack, turned over the bonfire as the cook brushed it with a secret sauce. The aroma of roasted meat and spices mingled in the air, stirring the hunger in everyone’s hearts.

Chen Xiao, clutching a jug of wine, drank until his face was flushed. With hazy, drunken eyes, he rambled to Yu Xian, slurring incoherent threats like, "If you dare bully my sister, I’ll slaughter you," "My sister won’t be fickle; I’ll keep an eye on her," and "Father, Mother, your son has been unfilial." As he spoke, he began to sob. After his tears, he drifted into a drunken sleep amidst the empty wine jars, finding a form of peace and relief under the vast sky.

Yulan, having learned a drinking game from somewhere, insisted on challenging Chen Yi. Naturally, glass after glass followed; before she had eaten much meat, she was already drunk. Xu Meng’er seemed to dislike meat, eating only a few pastries brought from the kitchen before sitting quietly to watch Yulan and Chen Yi play. A faint smile hung on her face, yet she remained distant, as if wearing a mask that separated her from the world.

Yu Xian remained indifferent to it all. Before him sat a lamb leg just roasted by the kitchen staff, accompanied by plates of stir-fried seasonal vegetables and refreshing side dishes. He drank and ate in solitude. Their joys and sorrows had nothing to do with him, yet he did not find the noise bothersome.

The barbecue lasted for over an hour. The kitchen staff were professional and efficient, cleaning the courtyard thoroughly before leaving, with only the faint scent of charcoal lingering in the air as evidence of the recent festivities.

Beneath the osmanthus tree, Yu Xian lifted his wine gourd—now polished to an amber sheen—and took small sips, silently circulating his internal energy to dissolve the medicinal potency of the wine. His tolerance had been increasing lately.

Suddenly, he felt his head sink into something soft, like a sponge, and two delicate hands reached out from behind to embrace him. Yu Xian rubbed his head comfortably against her; even without using his spiritual sense, he knew exactly who it was.

"I like this position. I approve."

Chen Yi did not mind his teasing, or perhaps she had simply grown used to it. She rested her head on his shoulder, their bodies pressed tightly together, as if that alone could bring their hearts closer.

"I’ve fallen in love with you." Her voice trembled, hiding a nervousness she did not want to reveal.

Yu Xian’s retort was equally sharp: "I’ve fallen for you too. Now we’re both running toward each other."

Chen Yi: "..." Damn it! Where had the tenderness and affection of this man gone? She angrily grabbed the wine gourd from his hand and took a large gulp, but because she drank too quickly, she began to cough. "Cough, cough... You’ve left a blemish on our memories."

Chen Yi coughed until her face turned red, her hands locking tightly around Yu Xian’s neck, as if she intended to strangle him.

"Like this, will you stay?" Yu Xian’s voice remained nonchalant.

Chen Yi fell silent, her grip gradually loosening.

"Even if I say I love you, you won’t stay. So, why burden yourself with extra guilt?" Yu Xian picked up the girl’s hand, playing with it—it was white, tender, and smooth.

"Why are you so good to me?" Chen Yi murmured. She was struggling internally, tempted to stay and spend her whole life with Yu Xian. Was the world of cultivation she dreamed of truly as wonderful as she imagined?

Yu Xian replied honestly, "Of course it’s because you’re beautiful, I’m greedy for your body, and I want you to willingly go to bed with me. Otherwise, did you think I was just being kind?"

Chen Yi realized that Yu Xian was being unusually crude and blunt tonight, as if he wanted to shatter every bit of romance and beauty between them. But she was a smart girl, and she quickly found the reason: *He’s only saying this on purpose so that I can leave without regret.*

She suddenly asked, "Are you trying to make me hate you on purpose?"

"How did you—anyway, whether you like me or hate me, it doesn't stop me from sleeping with you!" Yu Xian’s voice seemed to grow a little irritated, and he pulled the person behind him into his arms, burying his head deeply against her.

"Haha..." She held his head tightly, letting out a wild, ringing laugh. Her eyes shimmered like the reflection of spring on a lake—breathtakingly beautiful.

After a long while, "I really love you so much. Please don't forget me, okay? I promise you, my body will always belong only to you." Chen Yi lay on Yu Xian’s shoulder, breathing slightly. She sat astride his lap, her arms wrapped around him, her blouse left half-open, her dark hair cascading down like a waterfall. She radiated a lazy, carefree allure.

That night, the cold could not overcome their burning hearts. Chen Yi was exceptionally proactive, and even the wind grew humid and intimate.