Wushan Mountain earned its name from a unique black stone found there. This stone could be made into dye, used to color black garments that would retain their hue even after dozens of washes, making it a favorite among the common folk.
When the carriage was still an hour away from Wushan, Jiang Yunshu caught sight of the rolling hills in the distance. As the carriage curtain fluttered, the breeze blowing through the window grew cooler, carrying the damp, earthy scent of grass and trees after the rain.
In less than a day’s journey, the scenery here had already become utterly different from the palace and the capital.
Jiang Yunshu leaned closer to the window, taking in the lush greenery outside. She inhaled deeply several times, as if expelling all the stifling air from her chest, leaving her lungs feeling refreshed.
Xie Lin glanced at her. "So happy?"
Jiang Yunshu flashed a radiant smile. "Very."
The convoy stopped at the foot of Wushan. Xie Lin pointed to one of the peaks. "I’m heading to the summit. The carriage can’t go any further."
"Does Her Ladyship wish to enjoy the scenery here at the base, or would she prefer to be carried up on a sedan chair…?"
Jiang Yunshu, brimming with enthusiasm, cut him off before he could finish. "I’ll climb up myself!"
Xie Lin raised an eyebrow. "If I were climbing alone, half an hour would suffice. But if Her Ladyship insists on ascending, I fear it will take an hour and a half."
Jiang Yunshu shot him a defiant look. "You’re underestimating me."
She was no delicate maiden confined to the inner chambers. In both this life and the last, she had diligently practiced dance, and lately, she had been kicking shuttlecocks almost daily… She was terrifyingly strong now!
Without another word, Jiang Yunshu turned to march up the mountain.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xie Lin’s eyes. He reached out, wrapped an arm around Jiang Yunshu’s waist, and spun her halfway before setting her back down beside the carriage.
The surrounding guards, maids, and eunuchs all promptly lowered their gazes to their toes, pretending they had no eyes to see.
Jiang Yunshu: "…?"
Xie Lin: "Has Her Ladyship forgotten something?"
Following his gaze, Jiang Yunshu looked down at her feet. Peeking out from beneath her long skirt were soft-soled embroidered shoes.
Ah… Climbing in such shoes would indeed be inconvenient.
But it wasn’t like she had modern sneakers here!
She glanced at Xie Lin’s feet and noticed he was wearing sturdy boots, his attire today a practical black riding suit.
No jade pendants adorned his waist—only a purple jade belt hook at the center of his sash.
Jiang Yunshu looked down again at her own long skirt and delicate shoes, her expression falling. Her outfit today was entirely unsuitable for climbing…
Xie Lin had never intended to take her up the mountain!
Seeing Jiang Yunshu’s excitement deflate into dejection, the amusement in Xie Lin’s eyes deepened.
"Shouldn’t you hurry back into the carriage to change your clothes and shoes?"
He drew a sword and fastened it at his waist, then crossed his arms, waiting for Jiang Yunshu to change.
Jiang Yunshu hesitated, stealing a few more glances at Xie Lin. For one, she rarely saw him armed with a sword. The mere addition of the blade at his waist inexplicably sharpened his aura, lending him a ruthless edge.
Secondly, she couldn’t fathom where she would find suitable attire and footwear for climbing.
Just then, Xiazhi rushed over from another carriage, clutching a bundle. She helped Jiang Yunshu back into the carriage to change.
When Xiazhi produced a riding suit and a pair of boots from the bundle, Jiang Yunshu gasped. "When did you pack these?"
Xiazhi replied, "Before we left, Lichun reminded me."
Jiang Yunshu frowned. Lichun’s reminder—was it her own initiative, or Xie Lin’s?
From Jiang Yunshu’s observations, Lichun, who served by Xie Lin’s side, wasn’t the warm or attentive type. It seemed unlikely she’d go out of her way to advise Xiazhi on such matters…
But if Lichun wasn’t the considerate sort, did that mean Xie Lin was?
Jiang Yunshu shuddered, finding it even harder to believe this was Xie Lin’s doing.
It must have been Lichun’s idea after all…
She had noticed Lichun growing increasingly friendly toward her maids lately.
Jiang Yunshu’s riding suit closely resembled Xie Lin’s—both were black. She seldom wore such attire, let alone in such a dark hue.
The moment she put it on, the eyes of the maids assisting her in the carriage lit up in unison.
The change in Jiang Yunshu was striking. Gone was her usual gentle elegance; now, she looked lean and agile, the black fabric accentuating her snow-white complexion.
The boots fit perfectly. Their soles were wooden, like clogs, but carved with patterns and lined with soft cloth, making them far more comfortable than traditional wooden sandals.
The boot shafts were high, nearly covering her entire calves. Since fabrics in this era lacked elasticity, climbing boots differed from ordinary ones—straps were added to secure them.
Jiang Yunshu recalled a modern joke about someone running so frantically they lost their shoes. She had always thought it an exaggeration.
Only after transmigrating to ancient times did she realize how easily shoes could fly off when running!
And without proper boots, climbing would surely result in the same predicament.
Taoye adjusted the straps several times, ensuring they were neither too tight nor too loose.
Once fully dressed, Jiang Yunshu leaped down from the carriage and beamed at Xie Lin. "Let’s go."
Xie Lin turned and began the ascent without a word.
Jiang Yunshu hurried after him.
Oddly, though Xie Lin wore his usual impassive expression, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was in a better mood than usual.
She felt a pang of confusion. Weren’t the palace attendants always whispering that Xie Lin grew gloomy and volatile around the time of his annual visit to Wushan, prone to killing on a whim?
Why did he seem so… cheerful today?
Perhaps it was just her imagination. Jiang Yunshu silently reminded herself to tread carefully.
A group of guards had already gone ahead to clear the path.
Only when she started climbing did Jiang Yunshu realize she had underestimated the difficulty of ancient mountaineering.
Climbing here was like tackling an untamed wilderness in the modern world!
Even though Wushan had a visible trail, it was merely a dirt path worn by countless footsteps—no proper steps in sight.
Trees and weeds often encroached onto the narrow path. There were puddles, rocks…
The guards preceding Xie Lin and Jiang Yunshu were tasked with addressing these obstacles.
They hacked away branches, cleared undergrowth, moved stones, filled muddy pits… while also scouting for signs of wild animals.
However, Wushan wasn’t remote wilderness—it lay close to the capital and saw frequent visitors. Areas with steady human activity rarely harbored large beasts.
As for snakes and rodents, the guards tapped the ground ahead with sticks, scattering them. For extra caution, they also scattered powder to repel snakes and insects.
Behind Xie Lin and Jiang Yunshu trailed another large entourage of guards and servants.
The rear guards ensured their safety, while attendants carried clean provisions, spare clothes, and other necessities.
They would spend the night on the mountain.
Xie Lin had a residence atop Wushan, already prepared by advance crews.
When the climb wearied her, Jiang Yunshu gazed at the setting sun, its glow slanting ever further westward.
There wasn’t much time left for her to rest. Thinking about the ancient mountains and the lighting conditions of this era… if night fell before they reached the summit, even surrounded by so many people, Jiang Yunshu couldn’t help but shudder.
Yet the scenery along the mountain path made up for all the exhaustion.
It must have rained either last night or early this morning—the mountain air was fresh and cool, washing over her with every breath, as if cleansing her very soul. Wildflowers of unknown names lined the path, and a narrow stream trickled down the rocky slopes.
For a short stretch, the trail ran alongside the stream, where tiny fish darted carelessly, too naive to fear humans.
Several times along the steep, difficult sections, Xie Lin glanced back at Jiang Yunshu.
He expected her to ask for his help—wasn’t she always so good at pleading?
Saving her, saving her maid, saving her stepmother… Every time Jiang Yunshu begged Xie Lin, he found himself unable to refuse.
But this time, she climbed relentlessly, her cheeks flushed and hair disheveled, without uttering a single plea.
At the most treacherous parts, Xie Lin, with his martial prowess, scaled the rocks effortlessly. When he turned back, he saw Jiang Yunshu scrambling up on all fours…
His brows furrowed at the sight of her dirt-streaked hands.
He had never seen a noblewoman so unconcerned with propriety…
He stole a glance.
Then another.
And another.
Only when Jiang Yunshu finally made it past the rough patch, straightening herself and lifting her head, did Xie Lin quickly avert his gaze.
