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墨書 Inktalez
It had been a while since she last saw Dong Dong, and it felt great not to have anyone watching her. However, Ju Rong had ordered her not to run around and to stay at home, which was somewhat disappointing.
With her restless personality, how could she possibly stay put? Back when she was in Niushan Village, she would often sneak out of the village. If she really had to stay indoors without stepping out, she would get restless in just a couple of days. She went to ask Madam Ju if she could pick out some dowries that she liked.
Madam Ju hesitated but eventually agreed after being pestered for a long time, only requesting to accompany her. San Chun pretended that she wanted some quiet time alone and declined. It was a joke; with her as a spy following her, how could she enjoy herself?
After leaving the residence, she took a stroll around the Weapon Shop, hoping to choose an Iron Sword.
She had already returned the Famous Sword that Qing lent her. He hadn't intended to take it back; it was just that one day when he saw her propping the window and couldn't find a wooden support, she ended up using his sword. Naturally, he couldn't leave it with her after that.
While the sword was still with her, it didn't feel like much; but now that it was gone, it felt like something was missing in her heart. After two days of missing it, she decided to find another Famous Sword to keep by her side.
However, Famous Swords were always hard to come by. She searched for a long time in the Weapon Shop but couldn't find one that suited her. Instead, the shopkeeper looked at her with a shocked expression. Perhaps he didn't expect that there were still women who would come to choose weapons themselves.
The swords in the shop were somewhat crudely made, and the edges weren't polished very well. San Chun picked up an Iron Sword that looked a bit rusty and wiped her hands with a handkerchief before asking the shopkeeper, "Do you have any better ones?"
"There are some, but I wonder what you need a sharp sword for?"
"For self-defense," she replied casually as she reached for another sword.
"Then please wait a moment." The shopkeeper went into the back room to look for swords, leaving her alone in the shop.
She casually browsed through the weapon rack when suddenly a hand reached over and picked up a Diamond Flower Sword that she was about to take.
San Chun looked up and saw a gentle smile on a familiar face.
"Young Master..." she called softly, unable to hide her joy upon unexpectedly seeing Ji Xun here.
From the first moment she saw the Zhao Country Prince, she felt a strange sensation towards him, as if someone was tickling her heart, making her feel both sweet and numb. Sometimes, she would inexplicably feel a pang of sadness and wanted to shed a few tears.
She couldn't quite understand this feeling, but she knew she liked him; it was the genuine admiration a woman has for a man. Ji Xun had that kind of charm that made any woman unable to resist being captivated at first sight.
"I came specifically to find you, I wonder if you would be willing to share a conversation," Ji Xun said with a smile, making an inviting gesture.
San Chun nodded slightly; she also wanted to have a good talk with him.
By the time the Shopkeeper rushed out, drenched in sweat and carrying several fine swords, there was no sign of San Chun left in the shop. He was so angry he nearly jumped up and down, thinking he had almost been deceived; how many women could wield a sword? That woman was probably just playing tricks on him.
San Chun and Ji Xun found a nearby tavern, ordered a pot of wine and several dishes, and sat across from each other to drink.
Ji Xun poured a cup of wine, holding it with both hands and presenting it to her with a gentle smile, "Please drink."
This scene felt familiar; she paused for a moment before accepting the cup at his reminder.
Although they had met several times, they hadn't spent much time together. When they weren't seeing each other regularly, it didn't feel like much, but the more they met, the stronger that sense of familiarity grew, and she increasingly wanted to be close to him. His eyes seemed to have a magical quality; the more she looked into them, the more she felt herself getting drawn in.
She reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyelids. Ji Xun looked puzzled, "What are you doing?"
San Chun dared not look at him and turned her head to murmur to herself, "Could he possibly have magic?" Otherwise, why did her heart race faster just from looking at him?
Ji Xun chuckled softly, grasping her outstretched hand and whispering, "A-Dan, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you."
She felt her cheeks heat up; wanting to pull her hand back but feeling reluctant instead, she stammered, "What does Your Highness want?"
"Years ago, you asked me if I would take you away to travel far away. I want to tell you that this is exactly what I wish in my heart. As long as you are willing to nod your head, I would go with you even to the Cape of the End of the Sea."
San Chun touched her nose and wondered if she had ever asked him such a question.
Ji Xun sighed, regretting that he had been too considerate in the past, and never had the chance to speak these words. Otherwise, they would have long since flown together in a beautiful place, living carefree, and would not have ended up with their bones lost to time.
He said, "Today I will only ask you one question: are you willing to leave with me?"
San Chun fell silent. She knew about the marriage proposal he had sent, but what she didn't understand was how a Zhao Country Prince could have feelings for her.
She replied, "Your Highness may have mistaken the person."
"Whether mistaken or not, that is not what I am asking. I am not asking about the past; I am asking about the present. San Chun, are you willing to leave with me?"
The hand he held was warm, and his gentle gaze rested on her, causing her to feel momentarily dazed. Her mind became chaotic, and she almost agreed. But she could not forget that she had just become engaged and was to marry the King of Yan.
In this world, there are always misunderstandings; fate is often like this. She sighed, "Your Highness, you are a step too late; spring has already been promised to someone else."
"You agreed to Zhong Xue?"
"It is not Zhong Xue; it is Qi."
Ji Xun was taken aback and suddenly stood up. "How can you marry him? You and he are..."
"What about him?"
He hesitated for a moment but did not speak. Perhaps in the past, she and Qi were like siblings; now they were merely distant relatives.
"You'd better not marry him." Otherwise, one day when she regains her memory, she might not be able to accept this reality.
San Chun shook her head and said, "If Your Highness is fine, I will take my leave." She stood up, bowed, and hurried away.
Looking at her back, Ji Xun sighed softly. Fate had missed him time and again; did he really have to resort to force to win the heart of the one he loved?
A gentleman is ultimately a gentleman; he cannot compare to the actions of others. At most, he could only think about it, but some dared to act. Thus, being refined sometimes does not solve problems for a man.
By the time San Chun returned to Ju Mansion, it was already getting late. She had visited two more Weapon Shops and bought seven or eight Iron Swords before heading back.
When Madam Ju saw her return with a large bundle, she thought she had purchased some silk ornaments. But upon seeing the cold and grim weapons, her face changed in anger. Although Ju Dan had eloped with someone before, she had never done anything so outrageous.
With trembling fingers, she pointed at her and said, "You weren't like this before; have you been possessed by a ghost?"
Recently, Madam Ju had encountered several strange occurrences. Gold that had been well hidden was mysteriously stolen, and she had woken up in the middle of the night to see a man standing by her bed grinning foolishly. Now seeing San Chun looking as if possessed by a ghost was too much for her to handle.
San Chun instructed someone to help Madam Ju inside quickly. She felt a pang of discomfort in her heart; even Ju Rong remarked that she was not like her old self. Could it really be that she had changed so much because of amnesia?
Back in her room, still pondering this matter, she looked up to see Qi standing inside. She was taken aback; he hadn't come by for two or three days. As an engaged couple, they were not supposed to meet before marriage, and she thought he might not come again.
Qi frowned and said, "Where have you been? I've been waiting for a long time."
San Chun placed the large bundle of weapons on the table and smiled, "I went out to pick up a few swords for self-defense."
Qi picked up one sword and looked down on its quality. "If you want swords, there are plenty in the palace; why go out to buy them?"
San Chun knelt down quietly for a moment before suddenly asking, "If I buy swords, wouldn't the king find it strange?"
Qi shook his head; she used to have her own dedicated armory. Buying a few swords was nothing unusual.
"I know swordsmanship. Don't you find it strange?"
Qi shook her head again. Her swordsmanship had been taught by a renowned master, and she had even instructed him a few times. In a way, she was his mentor.
San Chun asked again, "I don't know embroidery. Don't you find that strange?"
Qi found it even more amusing. What would a prince know about embroidery?
His behavior made her even more suspicious, so she asked, "I've changed and am not the same as before. Don't you find that strange?"
Qi looked at her deeply. She had indeed changed a bit after losing her memory; at the very least, the original her wasn't so chatty, asking endless questions.
He said, "You haven't changed at all. Not one bit. You're just overthinking."
She seemed different today, or perhaps she was recalling something from the past, or maybe she felt something. But no matter what it was, he hoped she wouldn't remember the past. If she did, he could only be her brother and could never become her lover.
"It's getting late; you should rest early. I'll come to see you again in a couple of days."
San Chun chuckled, "You're about to get married soon; how can the groom keep running to the bride's place?"
Qi's cheeks flushed slightly. The thought of them about to get married made her feel a bit shy. He had waited for this moment for an unknown number of years, yet as it approached, he felt increasingly nervous.
In her impression, he had always been polite and composed; she had never seen him look so bashful. His slightly flushed cheeks gave him a childlike cuteness.
Under her sparkling gaze, Qi felt her face burning hot and hurriedly said, "I'll come back tomorrow," before rushing out in a fluster.
San Chun saw him off at the door and watched him walk away, unable to help but sigh inwardly. Even though she was to become his wife, there was not a trace of love in her heart; instead, there was a painful sting that felt quite uncomfortable.
She sniffed, wanting to shed a couple of tears to match the moment, but after taking two breaths, all she could smell was a faint aroma of the food.
Which kind-hearted person knew she was hungry and brought food over?
“Xiuzhen, Xiuzhen—” she called for her maid, but there was no response. As she turned around, she found two more people in the room.
The kind-hearted person had appeared.
Zhong Xue was kneeling at the table, while Dong Dong was arranging plates of dishes on it.
As soon as she saw him, San Chun felt a wave of unease wash over her, but the enticing smell of food was too hard to resist. She held back and walked over to sit across from him.
Just as she was about to reach for the chopsticks, one of them came over and struck her hand sharply.
“Not listening, still want to eat?” Zhong Xue shot her a cold glance and picked up a piece of chicken to put in his mouth.
San Chun sighed lightly; it turned out he had come here specifically to annoy her. If she couldn't eat, then so be it. Once he left, she could call the kitchen for a late-night snack, but getting rid of him wouldn't be easy.
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