Chapter 28: I Like Him

"Brother, wait!"

Seeing that the situation was taking a turn for the worse, Jiang Zhuo scrambled to her feet to intervene.

"You don't need to speak for him. Ever since we stepped onto this boat, I've felt that this lad was up to no good!" Jiang Lie, currently in a fit of rage, shoved her aside.

"It’s a misunderstanding! It really is!" Desperate, Jiang Zhuo threw herself between Jiang Lie and Bai Feijun.

Unable to retract his punch in time, Jiang Lie struck Jiang Zhuo squarely in the face. A stinging, swollen red welt appeared instantly.

"You’ve only known him for a few days! Why are you protecting him so fiercely?" Jiang Lie stopped, his heart aching with guilt and anger, assuming his sister had been injured while shielding Bai Feijun.

"A foreign dancing girl came to see me just now. We were chatting happily and had a bit to drink. I got a little tipsy, lost my footing, and fell. Brother Feijun was only trying to help me up!"

Having suffered such unmerited misfortune, Jiang Zhuo explained herself while clutching her face, feeling deeply aggrieved.

Jiang Lie paused, his gaze flickering between the injured Jiang Zhuo and the speechless Bai Feijun. He quickly chose to believe his sister.

"Sister, why didn't you say so sooner?" Realizing his mistake, Jiang Lie hurriedly helped Jiang Zhuo up, his voice tinged with remorse.

"Did you give her a chance to speak?" Bai Feijun glared at Jiang Lie, his face dark. He stood up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and complained, "If I may say so, your temper is far too impulsive. And what was that about me being 'up to no good' since we boarded?"

"...Uh." Jiang Lie scratched his head, struggling for words before offering a clumsy explanation. "By 'up to no good,' I meant... unusual. Yes, ever since we boarded, I’ve noticed you’ve been unusually graceful, unusually gentle and considerate, and unusually reliable."

"Is that so?" The corners of Bai Feijun’s mouth curled upward, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Pity that even with such grace, gentleness, and reliability, Brother Jiang still doesn't feel comfortable entrusting his sister to me."

"How could that be?" Jiang Lie’s eyes darted around in a panic. He bit the bullet, grabbed Jiang Zhuo, and shoved her into Bai Feijun’s arms. "Rest assured, I am more than comfortable! From now on, my sister is your sister, and my uncle is your uncle."

Caught off guard, Jiang Zhuo stumbled, but Bai Feijun instinctively caught her by the shoulders to steady her.

"Hahaha, speaking of which, it’s getting a bit stuffy in here. You two enjoy yourselves; I’m going outside for some fresh air." Realizing he had struck his own sister in a fit of inexplicable rage, Jiang Lie didn't dare meet their eyes and fled the room.

Only Jiang Zhuo and Bai Feijun remained.

The two stood very close, face to face. Jiang Zhuo could even feel Bai Feijun’s steady breathing, which only made her face flush a deeper shade of red.

Bai Feijun had already checked the wine cups; there was nothing wrong with the wine, and she hadn't even consumed much. Yet, the person before him was already glowing with a rosy hue. Even if she was usually composed, she was just an innocent young girl who stumbled when she drank.

"Does it still hurt?" Bai Feijun reached out, attempting to touch the swelling on her face.

Jiang Zhuo, burying her head lower, shook her head and avoided his touch. "My brother was only acting out of concern. I hope you won't hold his offense today against him, Young Master Bai."

Though her face remained crimson, her voice had calmed.

"It’s not as if today is the first time I’ve known him." Bai Feijun smiled lightly, leaning in to tease her, "It seems Miss Jiang has sobered up."

"I... I’m going to the deck to catch some air as well." Breaking free from his proximity, Jiang Zhuo hurried out the door.

In truth, even without removing his mask, Jiang Zhuo was about forty percent certain that the general who had recovered her body in her past life was none other than him. She surmised that upon her brother’s death, Bai Feijun, wishing to fulfill his final wish, had traveled to Western Shu, only to discover she had been buried in the wilderness.

She felt a sense of gratitude toward him, but perhaps not enough to pledge her life to him. Lost in these wandering thoughts, Jiang Zhuo stepped out of the cabin.

The wind on the river was strong. She pressed the back of her hand to her cheek, and soon, she felt completely composed.

She found Jiang Lie standing with his back to the cabin, drinking while facing the wind.

"Zhuo," Jiang Lie said without turning around as he sensed her approach. "Do you have someone you fancy?"

"No," Jiang Zhuo shook her head.

Jiang Lie remained silent, staring blankly at the boundless river before continuing, "Is it because of our uncle? When we were at the border, I heard you were smitten with Prince Jing and vowed to marry none other than him. Now that our uncle has passed and the Prince is betrothed, are you..."

It was a heavy topic.

Jiang Zhuo sat down, joining him in gazing at the glistening river. She was silent for a long time before answering, "It is related, yes, but perhaps it isn't. When my father was alive, he never favored my association with the Prince. Now that he is betrothed, I have no such thoughts left."

Was this really the proud, headstrong cousin he knew?

"And so what?" Jiang Lie raised an eyebrow, clearly amazed by his sister’s transformation over the years. "If you still like him, I, Jiang Lie, can be your support."

"Father had only one daughter, and I never understood the intrigues of noble households. If you truly intend to marry me off into such a family, brother, please remember to prepare my coffin in advance." Jiang Zhuo gave a bitter, playful smile.

"...Then what do you think of that, uh, Bai, Young Master Bai?" Jiang Lie shifted the subject.

"Young Master Bai is calm, gentle, and well-versed in both literature and martial arts. I suspect his future rank will be even higher than yours," Jiang Zhuo said firmly. "Such a talented man is following you, brother; you should treat him with the respect he deserves."

"No, that’s not what I meant," Jiang Lie explained, looking awkward. "I meant, do you like him?"

"Huh?"

Now it was Jiang Zhuo’s turn to be shocked. She frowned and demanded, "What are you saying, brother? Father has just passed away—are you in such a hurry to marry me off?!"

"No, no, that’s not it either." Perhaps due to the wine, Jiang Lie’s mind felt like a tangled mess, and he stumbled over his words. "I meant, do you enjoy his company? He suggested he could accompany you back to our old home in Pucheng. I thought the journey was long and arduous—our uncle met his end on the road, and it isn't safe for a girl like you to travel alone. But if you don't like him, I can turn him down."

Though she had the Black Eagle protecting her on this journey, the Black Eagle was elusive, and for all she knew, he could be a spy sent by Ling Heng.

"But Young Master Bai is your military strategist. Won't you need him now that you are taking on your new post?" Jiang Zhuo felt her resolve wavering.

"No... his identity..." Jiang Lie hesitated. "The 'strategist' title was just for show. An official must handle things personally; one cannot rely on others for everything."

Jiang Zhuo nodded, quickly making her decision.

"I quite like Young Master Bai. Brother, you may rest assured and let him accompany me."

*Clack.*

Behind them came the sound of a porcelain bowl shattering.