The bitter scent of herbal salve filled her nose as she slowly opened her eyes.
The unfamiliar wooden canopy above her and the sunlight replaced by candle lights dragged her back to consciousness.
She tried to move her legs.
A sharp stab of pain shot up her body, reminding her of why she lost consciousness.
Ah… still alive, then.
"Miss, please don't move!"
Hua was quickly at her side, her face flushed and eyes red with worry.
Her hand gently helped Ruyi into a sitting position on the bed.
"You're awake. Thank the heavens."
She pressed the back of her hand to Ruyi's forehead.
"Your fever is also gone." Hua sighed in relief.
"The physician said you will heal quickly as long as you don't strain yourself. We were so worried about you when you suddenly passed out."
"How long has it been?" Ruyi squinted a bit.
"Two days." She packed the wet clothes into the tray. "Miss, you had a fever for a whole day. I thought..." Her voice cracked. "I thought you wouldn't wake up."
"Don't worry. I won't die. Not yet." Ruyi murmured, her dry throat made it hard to speak.
Ruyi hesitated. "Was my brother here when the…" Her hands inched towards her injuries.
"No, miss. The young master wasn't in the room when the physician dressed the wounds."
Ruyi didn't want him to see her scars.
He would blame himself for leaving her to suffer, raging until the whole manor shook and she didn't want that.
Hua wasn't finished. "Why did you sacrifice yourself? If I hadn't gotten the message to the young master…"
"But you did." My legs are on fire, but I'm alive. And the plan worked. This was the only way." She shook her head. "It's not like this is the first time."
"Miss…" Hua sighed. "You need to care more about your body."
Ruyi ignored that. "Where are we?"
"The back courtyard of a manor. Not far from the barracks, so I heard," she explained. "The young master refused to let you stay in the tents."
"This place…", she gestured towards the medium sized room, "…is part of a compound owned by one of the generals. He is rarely around, so it's mostly used by his servants and physicians."
"Is it safe?" Ruyi asked.
Her eyes took in the room.
It wasn't as big as her bedroom but the architecture was well made and spacious. It smelt heavily of herbs and tea.
"Yes," Hua nodded quickly. "The young master made sure that no one could disturb you."
"Your medicine, miss."
Hua lifted a bowl of ginseng soup and gently helped Ruyi take a sip of it.
Ruyi drank, grimacing at the bitterness. Hua wiped her mouth and gave her a candied sweet.
"Did you pack my books?"
"Every single one, miss."
Ruyi hadn't been away from her courtyard in years.
Those books were her lifeline. If Concubine Shen laid hands on even one…
"Keep me updated on the manor. And find out who this general is."
"Yes, miss. Madam told me to wish you good luck." Hua giggled softly. "She also told me to tell you not to worry."
Ruyi's lips lifted.
"Get some rest, miss."
Hua stood up and carried the empty bowl out of the room, leaving Ruyi to her thoughts, which didn't last long before she fell into a deep sleep.
By the next morning, the pain in her legs had dulled to a constant, aching throb.
She rose slowly, swaying slightly as she came down from the bed. She gathered herself together and stepped into the courtyard.
Hua was nowhere around when she called out.
The courtyard was larger than she'd imagined. Narrow stone paths wound through the grounds, bordered by low stone walls and flowering trees.
To the right, a small building separate from hers with doors open, revealing herbal rooms and store rooms.
From the look of things, the courtyard must be at the backend of the manor as she could see the back gate on the wall of the fence from where she stood.
Young servants passed quietly with baskets, while a few men that had the build of a soldier moved about, nodding courteously as they passed.
She could make out a pathway between the building she was standing in and the other.
She paused and leaned, letting her weight settle against railings of the small deck.
Below, a narrow pond curved beneath the wooden bridge.
The smell of the air was more pungent than she had perceived in her room, minty and smoky.
A patch of garden caught her eyes.
Neat rows of dang gui (Chinese Angelica Root), huang qi (Astragalus Root), ban zhi (Barbat Skullcap), and other medicinal plants, each neatly labeled.
She limped towards them, bending slightly to touch a leaf.
"The owner of this house must know a lot about herbs," Ruyi murmured aloud.
"He does," came a voice from behind her, "Even more than the names of his soldiers."
She turned carefully to find her brother standing arm crossed.
Today, he was dressed in a green round-collar robe with the collar flap open and a leather belt around his waist. His hair was well hidden under his black hair wrap.
"You shouldn't be out of bed yet," he said, frowning.
"I felt cramped." She gave a small, guilty smile. "It was just a short walk, Da'ge. If you keep worrying like this, you'll age before Father does."
His gaze softened instantly.
He hasn't changed at all.
That's why her gamble worked. He would always take her side. Always run to her.
I'm so sorry, ge'. I just had to.
"Does this always happen…"
"Wen'ge, it is fine. I'm fine." Her answer was too quick.
She knew he would feel more guilt about not being there to protect her.
He impatiently said. "Ruyi"
"Ge'…" Ruyi shook her head. "I'm fine. Really."
He stepped forward, offering an arm which she accepted. Together, they walked back slowly.
"Where are we?" she asked, studying the building.
"This compound belongs to a good friend. One of the generals," he said.
"It's a half mile from the barracks. He rarely stays here, so physicians and other workers stay here."
"Am I intruding?" she asked softly. "If it's any trouble, I can stay in the barracks with you, I don't mind."
"That is not happening. I can't have you staying there. It is uncomfortable and not safe for a lady." Ruwen assured her. "You'll stay here."
"Don't worry about the owner of this manor. I sent word to him. I'm sure he won't mind. The house already has a lot of people anyways."
"Still… I'd like to thank him properly. When will the general return?"
Ruwen gave her a dry laugh.
"That's hard to say. He's doesn't like staying put, always wandering off.."
'Wandering off?" Ruyi repeated. Something suddenly sparked. "Then… did His Highness return with you from the front?"
Ruwen was taken aback.
Before he could speak, a soldier approached, bowing sharply.
"Commander Cai."
His expression shifted and he turned to his sister.
"Go inside. I'll be back."
She nodded. "Okay, gege. Be careful!"
He strode off quickly.
Ruyi watched him go, lips pursed in quiet thought.
He didn't return that day or the next.
Ruyi knew that he was busy with work and she understood. He hardly visited the Cai manor since he returned.
By the third morning, her legs ached less.
She sat at the table in her room, threading the final knot of a small silk sachet.
The scent of dried suan zao ren (spiny jujube seed), bai zi ren (arborvitae seed) mixed with lavender filled the air.
She had asked permission before taking herbs from the garden, only to be told that it was free for use
Thank you, generous master.
Although she had not been able to go beyond the garden in her courtyard, Hua had been her eyes and ears.
From the head steward Old Ren who hardly raised his voice, the physicians that took care of the herbs, the cooks in charge of the food, servants in charge of cleaning and housekeeping, and the guards out of uniform that help with security and heavy work.
Ruyi was quickly informed about each of them.
But despite the absence of the master of the house, everyone did what was needed of them.
Hua was arranging herbs into little bundles when Ruyi murmured,
"I wonder where he is…"
She still hadn't gotten any report of his presence in or around the capital.
Did he stay behind at the Northern Front?
Hua glanced up. "Hm? Did you say something, miss?"
"I want to go see my brother," Ruyi folded the satchel into her pouch. "He looked like he hadn't been sleeping well the last time I saw him."
"Do you need me to send for him, miss?"
"No, that won't be necessary." Ruyi stood up. "Let's pay him a visit instead. We can get some fresh air."
"Are you sure it is just the commander you want to see?" Hua wiggled her brows at her mistress.
Ruyi just shook her head while smiling.
By the late morning, the carriage stopped at the barracks entrance.
The camps came into view with the clang of blades and shouted drills echoing through the grounds.
A young soldier hurried over, confused at the sight of the two well-dressed women.
"Miss…is something the matter? What brings you here?"
"We're looking for Commander Cai," Hua said.
The soldier hesitated, already assuming the usual. Maybe some noble family's daughter chasing their newly famed commander.
"Ah… the Commander is in a meeting right now, but I can take you to wait."
"That would be appreciated," Ruyi said with a smile.
He blinked at her.
He led them towards a shaded area overlooking the training field.
Soldiers on break subtly stared while those training trained harder at the sight of beautiful ladies.
As they walked, Ruyi scanned the grounds.
Would I even recognize him after so many years?
"Do you know if all the soldiers returned?" she asked casually.
The soldier scratched his head. "I don't know, Miss. Most stayed back in the north. Some returned with the troops, others came later…"
"Ruyi?"
Her head turned immediately.
"Gege!"
Commander Cai came toward them with quick strides, his expression a mix of surprise and worry. The nearby soldiers exchanged shocked glances.
One whispered.
"That's the commander's sister?"
Hua curtsied.
The soldier who escorted them straightened.
Cai Ruwen gave a curt nod to Hua and the soldier beside her, then turned to his sister.
"You shouldn't be here. Your legs are not fully healed."
"I'm fine… see? No limping. I want to give you something." She brought out the sachet from her purse. "I made this for you. To help you sleep."
"Of course. Still, you shouldn't have come here. You could have sent word." His expression softened slightly as he took it. "I would have come."
She smiled. "I just wanted to see you."
And someone else, maybe.
"Besides… I needed to get a little air."
He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while. Things here are… chaotic."
She could tell. His eyes were tired.
The capital demanded far more calculations than the battlefield.
In the north, everyone was a trained soldier but here, the lives and comfort of the civilians have to always be considered.
"I understand. You don't need to apologize."
Before she could say more, a soldier rushed up, saluting sharply.
"Commander Cai, the southern quarter sent news."
Commander Cai Ruwen's expression darkened as the soldier finished whispering in his ear.
"The town three li east of here," the soldier confirmed. "Bandits struck two caravans. Left the guards alive this time, but barely."
He turned to his sister. "Wait for me in my tent. I'll be back soon."
Ruyi gently shook her head. "You're busy. I only came to see you. I'll return to the compound."
"Wait…"
She smiled softly. "It's alright, Gege. Really. Go."
He hesitated, then sighed in defeat.
"Fine. But you're not going back alone."
He gestured to one of the soldiers nearby, a lean, quiet man who straightened at the command.
"Escort my sister and her maid safely to the compound. Do not let her out of your sight."
"Yes, Commander."
Ruwen turned back to his sister, his voice lower. "Be careful, A'yi."
"I will. And you too, gege."
She waved, watching as he left.
She had other intentions of coming. Now, she has to leave disappointed.
Feeling too confined inside the carriage, Ruyi asked the soldier to stop the carriage.
"Miss, Do you need something?" Hua asked.
"The manor is close. Let's walk the rest of the way," Ruyi said, needing air.
As they passed a fork in the road, Ruyi paused.
She frowned. "Did you hear that?"
Hua stiffened, fingers tighten around her sleeves. "Is that an animal?"
Before anyone could answer, the faint sound came again.
The soldier unsheathed his sword, ready for action.
"Lady Cai, stay behind me."
But Ruyi had already moved.
"Miss, wait!"
They weren't animal sounds.
Ruyi slipped off the path, pushing past low-hanging branches as the cries grew clearer, Hua and the soldier hot on her heels.
Then she saw him, a small boy, curled beside a tree trunk, face covered in tears and dirt.
Ruyi dropped to her knees beside him. "It's alright. You're safe now…"
The sound of voices, rough rose behind them.
Bandits.
Six of them stepped out of the shadows.
"Miss, run!" The soldier shouted, his sword meeting the first blade head on.
In the chaos, Hua was pushed to the ground by one of the bandits.
Ruyi lurched towards her.
"Hua!"
"No! Miss, run! Go!" Hua shouted, eyes wide with fear.
In a panic, she grabbed the child's hand. "Come!"
They ran.
Branches clawed at her sleeves but she didn't stop. She couldn't dare look back.
Then,
Her foot caught on a hidden tree vine, her shoe lost in the process.
Before she could scream, the ground disappeared under her.
She twisted her body mid-fall, pulling the child against her chest as they rolled down the steep slope.
Pain exploded in her ankle as she slammed it against a rock while falling, rolling until her body came to a stop.
The child scrambled out of her hold, whimpering. "Miss!"
"I'm…alright," she rasped, cold sweat on her brows. "I'm okay."
My leg…
She dragged herself upright, breath shaking.
She tore a part of her skirt and wrapped it tightly around her swollen ankle, hissing as the cloth pressed against her skin.
She pulled the child close and guided him towards a hollow beneath the roots of an old tree.
She might have lost a shoe, but at least her coat was still on her. If not, they would die sooner from the cold than from hunger.
Her mind drifted to the soldier and Hua.
Were they alive? Did they manage to escape?
She held the shaky child close to her, swallowing.
I shouldn't have left… I should have stayed. Someone… please find them. Find us…
Even if she knew, she was in no condition to walk.
All she could hope was that someone found them soon. The temperature was bound to drop dangerously once it got dark.
Minutes turned into hours.
Night fell over the forest. The wind howled and strange noises rustled the leaves.
Her hope in being found was waning gradually.
"I'm cold." The child's voice was small and shivering.
She wrapped him more tightly in the folds of her coat, drawing closer as his teeth chatter.
"Will we die here?" He whispered.
She willed a fake confidence. "Someone will find us soon. Soon."
An howl echoed across the forest.
The boy stiffened. So did Ruyi.
Then, footsteps.
Crunching leaves. Snapped twigs. Movement coming closer.
Ruyi's finger trembled, holding unto a long branch that she had picked on the ground.
A pathetic weapon… but it was all she had.
If it's just one animal, I can distract it while the child runs. But, if it is more than one… heavens, please… not more than one.
Footsteps inched closer.
"Miss," The child said, pulling closer to Ruyi. "I'm scared."
"Shhh," she whispered, hearing the sound come closer. "Stay quiet."
Footsteps grew louder, coming straight at them.
Her heart hammered so loudly and her hand tightened around the branch.
"Who's there?" Ruyi called out, keeping her voice as steady as she could.
No answer.
Then a shadow emerged through the trees, alone.
She could handle one person.
I couldn't.
"Stay back," she warned, raising the branch with both hands.
The figure stepped forward, into the moonlight with a torch in his hand.
Ruyi couldn't see his face, but from the way he was dressed and his mannerism, he couldn't be a bad person.
Still, she wasn't too sure.
As he came closer, she shifted deeper into the groove, holding tightly to the child until the stranger was at eye-level.
His skin was pale as if he lived in a place without warmth.
His face wasn't recognizable, but his eyes…
Those eyes.
"You—" her voice caught. "It's…you."
The moment he lowered his torch to her face, he froze. His grip tightened on the wooden shaft of the torch.
A woman.
He hadn't even registered the child she shielded in the curve of her body.
Her hair spilled loose, caught the light in uneven strands. Her robe was muddied, the hem torn, a strip of fabric tied clumsily around her ankle.
There was nothing grand about her except a single jade pin glistening in her dark hair.
And still, he found himself staring.
Haifeng inhaled sharply, too sharply.
What am I doing?
Have I spent too much time among men that the sight of a woman was making me feel this way?
He caught himself staring and forced his jaw tight. Foolish. Dangerous.
He shouldn't be staring like a man who has forgotten his discipline.
His gaze swept over her quickly for injuries, noticing the cloth tied to her ankle and the boy in her hold.
"You're hurt."
Ruyi's head lifted weakly at the sound, the sound of him. She blinked, as though seeing something entirely impossible.
Was she hallucinating from the pain or…
Her fingers loosened around the stick. "Your Highness…" she breathed inaudibly.
The child in Ruyi's hold jolted, scrambling between them. His tiny arms spread wide, trembling.
"Little child…" Ruyi faintly said.
"Don't hurt her!" He cried.
Haifeng froze mid-step.
The child shook his head violently, still blocking Ruyi from him. "Go away! Leave jie-jie alone!"
Haifeng blinked, caught off guard.
Ruyi stirred behind the child, leaning forward weakly. "Don't… don't. Be good… he is not a bad man…"
The child pouted and went towards Ruyi. His eyes watching Haifeng suspiciously.
Without hesitation, he slid the torch into the cold earth and knelt beside her. His hair was tucked away pinned at the top by a black cloth covering.
He simply reached out, slowly to her. His hand hovered over her ankle, eyes searching for permission.
She relaxed a bit.
His hand tested the swelling with a little pressure causing her to wince.
"Not broken," he murmured to himself. "Can you stand?"
Ruyi managed a nod, cheeks burning from the cold or from his close proximity to her.
She needed to gather herself together but her eyes struggled to remain open.
"I don't know" She choked out.
The instant she tried to stand, her body bucked. She fell downward just to be caught by him before she hit the ground.
Her smell draw him in, he lost himself for a second to take a sniff before catching himself.
Control yourself.
He steadied her, putting a bit of distance. But his eyes glanced abruptly to a dark stain at the back of her skirt.
It wasn't dirt.
"You're bleeding." He said concerned. He could see the crude linen bindings around both calves. "Old injuries?"
She shook her head, tugging her skirt down. Her movement was sluggish.
He turned to the little boy. "What happened?"
"Bandits," the child said with a small voice. "She saved me. But we fell… and got lost."
"Which village are you from?"
The child was hesitant to reply to him. But then he shakily replied.
"By the cedar ridge."
Haifeng couldn't tell if the boy was shaking from fear of him, a strange man or because of the temperature.
Her clothes said noble-born but the injuries and location of where they were raised questions.
Her herbal scent, even more questions.
Nothing like a typical noble lady, one that you would assume would lean towards floral and soft scents like jasmines or vanilla.
He could pick up faint notes of agarwood, licorice and mudan. Scents he was very familiar with.
Despite the cold, she was breaking out in sweat.
She was running a fever. He needed to get her to safety quickly.
He could see her eyes struggling to stay open.
"Stay awake!" He tried to hold her gaze but she was failing.
Those questions would have to wait. He needed to get them to safety.
"Hold the torch," he told the boy, who obeyed instantly.
He shrugged off his cloak, wrapped it around her. Without further debate, he crouched down in front of her with his back to her.
"Come here."
With the help of the boy, he carried her on his back.
"Hold tight." He murmured.
He hooked his arms under her legs and rose.
They moved through the pines: Haifeng's steady boots crunching the crispy grass while his mind focused on the way.
***************************
Concubine Shen sat before here dressing table, her brows pinched together while her hand massaged a growing headache.
The maid unpinned her hair with trembling fingers.
A single oversight and she had spent the entire evening coaxing the master.
A hairpin slipped and clattered against the floor
"Out," she said. her voice was soft, yet every maid flinched. "All of you."
The attendants scurried out.
The door slid open with eagerness.
"Mother!" Ruxin bounced in, skipping with delight. "Cai Ruyi's gone! Finally! Did you see how father—"
"Kneel"
Ruxin froze mid-step, the smile dying on her lips. "M-mother?"
"I said kneel."
Her daughter's knees hit the floor. Concubine She watched the confusion present on Ruxin's face.
"Mother, why are you angry? Isn't this what we wanted? Ruyi was sent away…"
Concubine Shen tapped the table with the tip of her finger, slow and rhythmic.
"She knew."
"W-what?"
Tell me," Her voice trembling with barely contained fury, "how many times have I warned you about consorting those men?"
Concubine Shen threw the letters she had seized on the floor in front of her daughter.
The look on Ruxue's face crumpled. "Mother, I—"
"You, daughter of Cai, would throw away everything for lowborn men."
"I didn't…"
"She knew." Concubine Shen's voice cracked. "She rewrote those letter with her own hands. Openly mocking you."
Ruxin stuttered. "But… why would she…?"
"She saw the letter. She placed them with the hairpin, where it could be found."
Ruxin's eyes widened with dawning horror.
Concubine Shen's own spiraled.
If she found the letters, why expose them this way? What are you planning, Cai Ruyi?
Ruxin whispered "But she didn't expose me, Mother. She—"
Shen's fingers curled around her daughter's chin, jerking her face forward to meet her eyes.
"You gave her that knife. Now, she is waiting for the perfect moment to gut us with it."
Ruxue paled.
Concubine Shen straightened.
"Someone!"
A servant hurried in, bowing low.
"From this moment," She said flatly, "Fifth Miss is confined to her courtyard. She will copy 'Classic of Filial Piety' ten times a day. Two maids will remain at the door, day and night. She is not allowed to leave. Understand?"
"Yes, Madam."
Ruxue stared stunned. "Mother…please."
Her plea fell on deaf ears as two women in plain gray entered and took her by the arms.
Concubine Shen's voice tone dropped to a hiss. "One more step toward that place and I'll tear it down myself."
"Take her away."
"Mother!" Ruxue sobbed as she was dragged away.
Concubine Shen's tapping filled the silence. "She let herself take the fall ruining her reputation and leaving the manor. What is she planning?"
The biggest question on her mind was about the missing letter and what Ruyi was going to do with them.
"Wan'er!"
The maid bent to the level of the seated woman.
"Yes my lady."
"Keep an eye on Ruyi. I want to know everything that happens."
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