The Double-Chapter 483 - 151 Accident_6

Sitting quietly by his side, it was as if time itself had become tranquil. The person beside her was undeniably dangerous, but since he was drunk and unaware of anything, there was no probing of each other’s intentions nor mutual wariness and feigned politeness, just sitting there genuinely for a while, which was quite rare.

From outside came the faint sound of the night watchman striking the bell. Jiang Li’s heart stirred, the New Year had passed, and a new year had arrived.

She couldn’t help but glance at Jih Heng, who was oblivious. Jiang Li thought to herself, she hadn’t expected that her first New Year as Miss Jiang the Second would be spent with this person. If this had been in the past, she would never have believed such a thing could happen. Yet in just half a year, everything had changed as drastically as the seas turning into mulberry fields. The very people she trusted had turned against her, whilst those who were strangers or even avoided her were now keeping her company during the new year’s eve vigil.

This, perhaps, was the mysterious workings of fate!

She said softly, gently, "Happy New Year, Duke."

The young man remained with his eyes closed, but the corner of his mouth seemed to lift slightly, or maybe it was just an illusion. Jiang Li looked up at the sky; the light snow had stopped. The last traces of bonfire in the courtyard had burnt out, with no sign of the earlier liveliness in the embers.

Whatever had happened was in the past now.

Wen Ji came in from outside and saw Jiang Li sitting beside Jih Heng, pausing slightly before saying, "Miss Jiang the Second?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Li stood up, "You’ve come at just the right time, the Duke seems to have had too much to drink."

"Drunk?" Wen Ji frowned, "Miss, why didn’t you come out to call one of us?"

"I was afraid that there might be danger if I left the Duke alone here," Jiang Li explained.

Wen Ji was taken aback, for he found Jiang Li’s words hard to comprehend. Seeing his reaction, Jiang Li guessed what he was thinking and said, "After all, he is drunk, and I know he is very capable, but in the end, he is only human. The Duke Residence has many enemies, and should someone seize this opportunity to come for his life, even if they do not succeed in killing him, it would still be no good if he were injured. Although I am not skilled in martial arts, I can still call for help. I thought he would wake up soon, but it seems he is deep in his drunkenness." Jiang Li smiled, "Since that is the case, it seems that we won’t be able to talk about matters tonight. It’s not a problem; I will go back first, and if I have the chance, I will visit another day, or you can relay a message through Zhao Ke."

She had to leave, having already stayed here too long, and with no rest likely for the remainder of the night.

Wen Ji reminded, "Your cloak..."

"Almost forgot." Jiang took off the cloak from Jih Heng’s body, and, smiling at Wen Ji, she said, "Even though he has drunk deeply, it is still better not to let him sleep here. The snow and wind in Yanjing City are fierce, catching a cold is no trivial matter. Later, you should take him back to his room."

Wen Ji said, "Zhao Ke will escort you."

"Alright," Jiang Li said, "there’s no need to escort me, I know the way out, and Zhao Ke should be waiting outside. You stay here, your master cannot be without someone by his side; it’s too dangerous."

She fastened the ties of her cloak, picked up a lantern that was on the table, and left the courtyard.

Wen Ji watched as the girl’s silhouette disappeared. The path was slippery with snow, yet she walked steadily, neither quickly nor slowly, with a firm determination. She might look like a frail girl, but somehow she gave off the impression of great strength.

As Jiang Li’s figure vanished from view, Wen Ji turned his head, intending to awaken Jih Heng but found that the young man in red had opened his eyes at some point.

His eyes were clear, without a trace of drunkenness, still with his hand propping up his cheek, but without the vulnerability of before. It was as if the vulnerability was a mere illusion.

"Master," Wen Ji said, his voice devoid of surprise, as if he had always known that Jih Heng wasn’t actually drunk.

Perhaps he wasn’t, after all. The master of the Duke Residence never allowed himself to be drunk, not when or where it mattered. Being drunk meant giving others an opportunity. Perhaps since he came to acknowledge the whole truth, he had lived forever in sobriety, always vigilant, always alert.

"Let’s go," Jih Heng stood up and turned to walk towards the house.

The words of the girl still echoed in his ears.

"I know he is very capable, but in the end, he is only human. The Duke Residence has many enemies, and should someone seize this opportunity to come for his life, even if they do not succeed in killing him, it would still not be good if he was injured. Although I am not skilled in martial arts, I can still shout for help if something goes wrong."

Was she actually thinking of protecting him?

Whether to call it prized kindness or naive foolishness, in the event of a real danger, would there be a chance for her to call for help? Surely they would kill her as well. But what was most astonishing was perhaps her belief that he, too, was mortal flesh, just another common being among the masses.