Yuancao's Themewrote in 2018
The blood rendered her world.
The person who fell in a pool of blood has already lost her breath. The messy clothes and bare skin were severely ravaged. The long hair covered her face, making her expression unclear.
The juvenile standing by her side was also in messy clothes. His sword was stained with blood and gleamed with terrifying light, but his face was expressionless, or even scared to the point of no expression.
Nobody knew.
“Nan…why…” The girl’s question wasn’t answered. A crazy look appeared on her face: “Ah—”
The fierce scream was as tragic as a female ghost. Hatred and tears cut the girl’s delicate face.
She hates him. He killed her mother. She hates her Nan, her Nan, Jinnan Sa!
“…Guard Lan…Right Guard Yuancao Lan!” A male voice makes Yuancao comes back to her senses. The man is wearing a black robe with a light blue ice pattern embroidered on it, as the Ruthless represents, like ice that never melts.
“What’s the matter?” Yuancao asks. She is still wearing that red tulle, which is very different from this cold sect, like a fire that burns everything.
In Ruthless, everyone must wear a uniform, otherwise, the Master will impose punishment, but for Yuancao, he has repeatedly tolerated it, and no one knows why.
Many people said this is because the Master likes Guard Lan, but the indifference of the two being close to strangers makes them dispel this idea.
Perhaps only the two know the reason.
“Master Sa is looking for you.” The man says respectfully: “Master is in the cemetery.”
“Okay, you can go now.”
“Yes.”
It is an extremely simple tomb, but it is a hole in her heart that will never be filled because it is her mother’s tomb.
“Master.” She raises a fascinating smile, but her voice is extremely cold.
“That person is in the Edo Castle.” Jinnan says lightly. He still has his back to her. A few bitterness flashes in his eyes.
“OK.”
“Because of the injuries in our sect, I plan to write a post and ask her to fight a month later. What do you think?”
“OK.”
“…Yuan.” Jinnan finally turns his face to her.
“I’m not Master’s relatives, you should call me Yuancao.”
“…You can go now.”
“Yes.” Finish speaking, Yuancao leaves without looking back.
Jinnan looks at her back, showing a wry smile.
Yes, they are strangers.
Nan and Yuan only existed in the fantasy.
It was all just fantasy.
“You two look the same.” In the nigh of Edo Castle, the orange-haired juvenile lands in the Room of Sunflower.
“Mr. Hakage.” Jianxue raises her head.
“Ha, nice to see you again, Miss Yang.” Hakage smiles: “I went out for other tasks, and didn’t expect the General to be replaced.”
While talking, he walks to the desk and takes a look, then curls his mouth: “I never knew Master Iemitsu worked so hard!”
“Maybe it’s because I’m not familiar with government affairs yet. If it’s Sister Iemitsu, she doesn’t need to spend lots of time.” Jianxue smiles. The smile of the juvenile always relaxes her a lot.
“True.” Hakage seems to think of something, with a serious look on his face: “It’s great that Miss Yang can stay here.”
“Um?”
“Because, if the ‘General’ disappears, the entire Edo City will not function. Although Master Kasuga always acts so rude, he actually cares about the safety of the city more than anyone.”
“However, Miss Yang must be troubled to be involved for that purpose…” While saying, Hakage lowers his head.
“…No, I survived because of you, so I will try my best to repay your kindness.” In fact, Jianxue wants to ask Hakage what the meaning of “that purpose” is, but she doesn’t say anything because he seems doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Miss Yang…” Hakage suddenly smiles: “Thank you.”
“I have to protect Master Iemitsu, so I can’t be here all the time, but I will stand by your side.” Finish speaking, he hides in the darkness again.
Jianxue looks at the corner where Hakage disappeared with a smile on her face.
There is someone that still cares about her.
Early in the next morning, Jianxue feels dizziness coming towards her.
It seems that she is over-tired. After all, her body can’t bear the exhaustion caused by staying up late.
Whatever, she will find a time to rest today.
“General.” Just as she is completely dressed, a voice comes from the door. Unlike the past, this voice is not Eikou or Kasuga.
“Come in.” She responds in the General’s tone and sees Natsu walks into the room.
“I would like to advise you. “ Natsu salutes: “In today’s meeting, there should be an important minister who will continue to trouble you. Please ask him about the ‘account book.’ It should make him shut up immediately.”
“I got it.” Although she is full of doubts, since Natsu doesn’t mean to continue, she doesn’t ask anything.
“The General arrives — ” The loud voice resounds throughout the lobby again.
“Let’s start.” Her cold eyes make everyone afraid to neglect her.
“General, this will not work, please think twice.” As Natsu said, there is really one person at the meeting who constantly opposes the opinions of others.
“Hey, that’s enough, how many times have you opposed today!”
“Yes, indeed! The method you suggested is even worse.”
“Quiet!” Jianxue immediately shouts when everyone is starting to lose control. Hearing the word, the people suddenly calms down, and she turns to that minister.
“By the way, let me ask you, how did you handle the account book?”
“Ah! This…this…”
“Continue.” Seeing that he has stopped speaking, Jianxue says to everyone.
Today’s tasks also end smoothly, and everyone quickly leaves the lobby.
“That was not bad.” Kasuga squints his eyes and says: “Although I don’t know where you obtained the information on the ‘account book,’ in terms of cramming for one night, it's okay overall.”
“Thank you for your affirmation, Mr. Kasuga.” Jianxue says lightly. She is also surprised that the two words could have such power.
“Start from tomorrow, I will thoroughly teach you the knowledge and behavior that a General should have. You should take a rest today.” Finish speaking, Kasuga leaves the lobby and probably continues to work.
By the way, thanks to the information given by Mr. Natsu this time…maybe she should say “thank you” to him?
While thinking, Jianxue walks towards Ooku.
Sister Iemitsu’s house is so big. Jianxue walks in Ooku. Although her purpose at the beginning was to find Natsu, she is now facing another problem: she is lost.
Yes, correct, she is lost. Actually, she can’t be blamed. After all, during the Daily Summon, she just walks along the corridor and then turns back again. She has never officially stepped into the Ooku. Also, the scenery of this place looks almost the same. Anyone will get lost with little distraction.
At this time, Jianxue can do nothing but only move on. She finally comes to a courtyard with rockery, flowing water, and wooden bridges. There are a few carps in the pond. The only drawback is that there is not a single person here.
“Hey.” Suddenly, a male voice comes from behind. Takatsukasa walks towards her quickly.
“What? Want to be the Principle Husband?” Although the words show sarcasm, Jianxue’s eyes don’t show any emotion. It seems that she is just acting according to the agreement.
“Beware of Natsu.” Takatsukasa completely ignores her words and says unawares.
“What do you mean?” She still remembers what he said to Mr. Natsu a few days ago, but now he is telling her to beware. Did he find anything?
“I mean his behavior is not simple.” He frowns as if he doesn’t want to say more about it: “I just want to tell you this, bye.”
“Wait, why…” Why does he want to tell her that? Jianxue’s words haven’t fallen yet, her eyes suddenly go dark.
Is this dizziness caused by staying up late? Just as this thought flashes in Jianxue’s mind, sharp pain from her heart breaks her naivety.
This…this is…
“Hey! Are you all right?” Takatsukasa hurriedly holds Jianxue, but she can’t say a word already.
“General, General!” Ogata’s shout comes. When he sees the figure lying on the ground in the garden, he immediately stuffs a black pill into her mouth: “Move her to the clinic!”
“Um…” Jianxue slowly opens her eyes. The smell of medicinal herbs fills the surrounding area. The pain in her body has disappeared. Did she survive? Ha…great…
On the side table is a mask of Iemitsu. Her mask has been removed.
The door is pushed open, and Takatsukasa walks in.
“Did Mr. Takatsukasa move me here?” Jianxue asks first.
“Yes.” He just nods, seems thinking about something.
“Thank you.”
“…Don’t you want to run away?” Takatsukasa says somewhat depressed.
Hearing the words, Jianxue only pauses a second and then smiles.
“Yes, but nothing will change. That blood that needs to shed won’t be less.”
The specious answer seems to answer his question but also her talking to herself. Perhaps she doesn’t even know what she is talking about.
She feels that his question has opened the lock in her memory, the memory she desperately wants to escape. What was it that carved deeply but also makes her trying to avoid?
She shakes her head and throws her thoughts away: “Whatever. By the way, Mr. Takatsukasa came to see me like this, don’t you afraid of being suspected?”
“Don’t worry, usually no one will come in the back room of the clinic.”
“Really? Thanks for the information.”
“I say…” Takatsukasa suddenly puts his hand on her pale face and then squeezes it lightly.
“…Mr. Takatsukasa?” The sudden action makes Jianxue doesn’t know how to respond.
“Stop calling me ‘Mr.,’ and don’t use honorifics.”
“…Yes.”
“No, ‘yes’ is not the right word.”
“…Um?”
“Good.” Hearing the word, Takatsukasa satisfactorily smiles.
“Uh…Why?” Jianxue doubtfully asks.
“Nothing, it just feels uncomfortable when people are so submissive to me.” He shrugs.
Facing his unaffected remarks, Jianxue silents lost in her thoughts. She always thinks that people make friends for interest and survival, but she forgets that there are still people who live simply in this world, just like him.
They all thought the masks they forced themselves to put on are indestructible. The thing they don’t know is, the thick walls seem firm only need a little sincerity to collapse.
Different from his alienated appearance in front of others, this frank appearance seems to be his real nature, making Jianxue’s heart flows a trace of warmth.
He opens his heart and talks to her, making her unconsciously unload her defense.
“What’s wrong? Staring at me like this…” Takatsukasa mumbles uncomfortably.
“Um? Ah, nothing.” Jianxue comes to herself, smiles at him: “Nice to meet you, my friend.”
“Hmm!” Facing her smile, Takatsukasa embarrassingly looks away: “You…you know you can’t talk to me like that in front of others, right?”
“Um?”
“Uh…I mean…”
“Knock, knock,” just as Takatsukasa is speaking, a knock on the door interrupts him. Ogata comes in with a bowl of soup, smiling: “Oops, did I bother you again?”
”Oh, no, no…” Takatsukasa embarrassingly turns to Jianxue: “Sh, yes, you need to rest, then see you later.”
Jianxue doesn’t stop him, drinks the medicine, and lies down.
She was originally there to find Mr. Natsu, she didn’t expect things to be like this. However, what did Takatsukasa mean to beware of Mr. Natsu? Did he notice something?
Whatever, she will trust him for now, she will meet Mr. Natsu at the Daily Summon tomorrow anyway, she will talk to him then, it’s simple.
“The General arrives — ” The door is open, men kneel neatly on the two sides of the hallway.
“Natsu.” She stops in front of Natsu: “Your information yesterday was successful. Thank you.”
Unexpectedly, the entire hallway is suddenly in an uproar, making Jianxue, who is just about to leave, stops.
“The General talks to him!”
“This is unprecedented!”
Hearing these, Jianxue slightly frowns. What happened? he was just talking to him…
“Master Iemitsu, I know this is selfish, but I have something to ask for.” The moment Natsu speaks, the hallway suddenly becomes silent: “Please bestow a special reward.”
Jianxue looks at Eikou, who is standing next to her. He is just smiling, as if waiting for a good show, and doesn’t mean to help her at all.
“What do you want?” Jianxue has no choice but to listen to him.
“I want the right to spend a day with you.” He secretly raises a charming smile.
The right to spend a day with her? Do people here call this a reward?
Jianxue looks at him. She instinctually wants to refuse, but she can’t speak when she sees the coldness in his eyes. It is too similar…The cold and ruthless eyes look just like “her.” It is a mask she has built countless times in front of the mirror, and even she herself is afraid of it.
“Yes?” In other people’s ears, his voice is so fascinated, but for her, it makes her cold from the bottom of her heart. The voice that makes people fall into despair is the same as her!
“Yes…” Whether it is the fear he brings to her, or that she herself surrender to her “mask,” or there is another reason, before she comes back to herself, that “yes” has already come out. She notices it but can’t redeem it. She knows she is afraid, but afraid of what?
“How can you say ‘yes?’” Takatsukasa’s voice pulls her back to reality.
“With all due respect, Master Takatsukasa, this is the matter between me and Master Iemitsu. You shouldn’t intervene.” Natsu looks at him.
“She doesn’t understand what it means to speak to a man here.”
“Oh? Master Iemitsu should be very clear about it.”
Looking at Natsu, who is pretending innocent, Takatsukasa can’t help but sneers: “I see, you still pretend to be well-behaved in front of others.”
“I’m not sure what you are talking about.” Natsu still looks impeccable: “Oh? Could it be that you, Master Takatsukasa, feel jealous?”
“Huh? Who would be jealous of Iemitsu be with others…”
“That’s enough.” Eikou, who has been sitting on the sidelines so far, finally speaks: “You are in front of the General right now. If you two continue to argue, you will be punished. Please stand back to your positions.”
“…”
“I apologize.”
Hearing Eikou’s words, Takatsukasa and Natsu lower their heads, stand back to their positions.
“Let me think…” Eikou thinks for a while: “Whether Young Master Takatsukasa was jealous or not, the right to stay beside the general is a long-cherished wish of all the people here. Master Iemitsu always refuses to select her Principle Husband, but she seems quite interesting today.” While speaking, he glances at Jianxue.
So, how is it related to the Principle-Husband selection?
“This is a great opportunity. Let me arrange a duel between the two.” Eikou’s lips slightly raise.
“Ah?” Even Takatsukasa can’t figure out the situation now.
“I will plan the details later. The right to stay with Master Iemitsu will be the award for the winner.”
“Hey, Eikou…” Feeling things are getting worse, Jianxue hurriedly speaks, but it is a pity that Eikou perfectly ignores.
“Young Master Takatsukasa, Young Master Natsu, will you agree with it?”
“Yes.”
“But I don’t want that award…”
“Do you mean you want to abstain?” Natsu raises his eyebrow.
“Of course not.” His mouth twitches slightly.
“Master Iemitsu, let’s go.” Eikou ignores the two and smiles at Jianxue.
“Uh, um.” Anyway, staying here doesn’t help anything, so Jianxue leaves the corridor with Eikou.
“Eikou, are you serious about what you just said?” Jianxue can’t help to ask as he exits the hallway.
“Didn’t Master Iemitsu always want to hold some events in the castle?”
Sister Iemitsu? So, are all the things he said just to fulfill Sister Iemitsu’s wish?
“But it is really surprising. I never thought that you would agree to Young Master Natsu’s request.” Although he says so, there is no surprise in Eikou’s eyes.
“Can’t I?” Jianxue sighs silently in her heart. Although the “reward” has been temporarily postponed because of Eikou, she still has to find a way to solve the problem.
“About the reward of the winner, the right to spend a day with the General, has also included the night, you must have already noticed the meaning, right?” Eikou makes no secret of showing an exciting face, waiting back and see: “I can’t wait for the duel.”
“Um?” Without knowing why Jianxue’s heart floats a precarious breath. She feels that Eikou is not here to help her but to harm her.
“The winner will definitely become the Principle Husband. After all, as long as Master Iemitsu is pregnant, even you don’t want to, you can’t refuse to let him take the position. Am I right? Master Iemitsu.”
Eikou speaks in a relaxed tone, but Jianxue on the side feels unusually difficult to breathe, not because of the poison, but from the anxiety in her heart. She gets plotted, but she has no power to fight back.
The night has not faded, but Jianxue already wakes up.
Thinking of what happened yesterday, she feels a stomachache.
She shouldn’t talk to him at that time, no, maybe she shouldn’t talk to him at all, and also, she should stop Eikou from speaking.
But keep regretting won’t solve anything.
It is better to wash her face and calm down.
Thinking about it, Jianxue walks out of Room of Sunflower, suddenly hears some noises from the martial arts field.
Attracted by the sound of the sword somehow, Jianxue walks straight to the field, leans her body against the door, listens to the sound of the sword cutting through the air, as if she is on a familiar battlefield, making all unnecessary thoughts leave her mind.
She suddenly misses Wulin somehow. Thinking of it, she can’t help but shows a wry smile.
Compare with the wheeling and dealing here, killing is much easier.
Although she hates these blood-stained hands, at least she can be in a familiar home.
With the sound of “Katung,” the sound of the sword has stopped. The door is opened. When Jianxue’s body falls backward, a hand firmly catches her.
“I’m very sorry. I didn’t see you.” Natsu’s voice comes from her back.
“Excuse me.” Jianxue waves her hand and prepares to leave. Her thoughts are interrupted. What happened yesterday makes her not want to stay longer, but Natsu already walks over.
“No, this is just my daily routine. I was born in a warrior family.”
“You work hard. I mean, unexpectedly.” Seeing that she can’t leave, Jianxue says casually. Although yesterday’s event makes her a little embarrassing, she does not exclude talking to him, just as she does not exclude talking to “herself.” On the contrary, she wants to know his intention to request the reward, maybe he didn’t mean that way.
“Ha, do you like me a little bit?” Natsu smiles seductively as always.
Like? No, she just meets someone who is as “cold” as her and shows some kindness, but she can’t answer that way, maybe Sister Iemitsu likes him.
In this case, she will answer in her own thoughts.
“Um…I respect people who work hard.”
Unexpectedly, Natsu doesn’t represent thanks or have any actions, but looks forward, as if he is recalling something and trances.
The two of them just sit in the corridor without saying a word. Jianxue looks at his profile.
Without any aggressive words nor fascinating smiles, this seems to be his real appearance, Jianxue doesn’t ask anything about him, but only smiles self-deprecating.
Pain comes from comparisons. People feel comfort by seeing other people’s sufferings, and for their own pains, they will try their best to hide.
Her self-deprecating is actually simple. She just suddenly realizes that she is happy.
She has a sword, and a home, and lots of wonderful memories.
Although those memories are already shattered.
[ To Be Continued ]
Yuancao Lan
