The wind on the cliff was fierce. As soon as Cui Yunchu quieted down, her head grew dizzy. She was completely devoid of strength, liable to faint at any moment.
She lay there like a dead fish, motionless.
Suddenly, Shen Xiabai's voice rang in her ears, Where is my book?
Cui Yunchu could barely keep her eyelids open, so she ignored him.
Who knew that a moment later, she would be hoisted up by her collar.
She lifted her eyelids and looked at Shen Xiabai, whose complexion had returned to normal. Knowing that the drug's effects must have worn off, she trembled inwardly and became even more docile.
Where is my book? Shen Xiabai's gaze was cold and ruthless.
That thing flew out of your hands, not mine.
For this question... you will have to ask which way the wind was blowing that day.
Cui Yunchu felt she was already acting incredibly submissive, her tone as humble as could be.
After all, she was at a disadvantage.
But her entire body was suddenly tossed back. Her back slammed heavily against the rocks, the pain nearly sending her to the heavens.
That book is very important to me. You had better find it, or else you will stay here and be buried with it.
Cui Yunchu could understand being buried with a person, but how could she be buried with a book?
Cough, cough... I... really do not know. At the time on the cliff, you were the one who threw it. The bottom of the cliff is so vast, how would I know where it landed?
Perhaps driven by her desire to live, she immediately added, But as long as we make it out alive, we will definitely be able to find it. Let go of me first.
Cui Yunchu's breathing had gradually weakened. Her eyes no longer held their vibrant mischief; only a dead stillness and a faint plea remained.
She had exhausted all her strength, just wanting to make it back alive.
Shen Xiabai looked at her dirt-streaked face. Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind of her gritting her teeth, dragging him toward the rock wall.
He abruptly released his grip.
Although she had a sharp tongue... there was no denying that she had, in a way, saved him.
Shen Xiabai was no base man. The grudge between the Shen and Cui families was a matter between the heads of the households. Cui Yunchu's kindness was something he had to remember, and repay.
Why did you save me? He lowered his eyes, looking down at her.
It was like he was interrogating a prisoner.
Cui Yunchu blinked.
Save... you?
Shen Xiabai kept a cold face and said nothing, merely staring at her.
Cui Yunchu asked, Did I?
Remembering how she had stripped him of his clothes and used his feverish body to warm herself...
She instantly shuddered and nodded like a pounding pestle, saying weakly, I, Cui Yunchu, may not have the best temper, but I am a good person. You suffered this disaster because of me. Even if I had to die myself, I absolutely would not let you die here. Otherwise, for the rest of my life, my conscience would be uneasy, and I would be unable to eat or sleep.
She was exceptionally good at acting. Her watery eyes were full of sincerity, and a bitter smile played at the corners of her lips.
Shen Xiabai remained silent for a long time. Just as Cui Yunchu's heart was in her throat, he suddenly stood up and said, You are right. Since this started because of you, it is only proper that you saved me.
Oh, please do not say that.
Cui Yunchu immediately lunged forward and hugged his leg. She was already dizzy with illness, crying, Even I, a mere girl, acted so nobly. Is Lord Shen, a dignified official of the imperial court, going to leave me to die?
Her tears fell like rain, and her weak body slid toward the ground. I have not even burned incense for my poor concubine mother who died young...
With that, she fainted.
Shen Xiabai furrowed his brow, looking down at the girl collapsed on the ground.
A flicker of conflict and hesitation crossed his eyes.
She was, after all, a descendant of the Cui family. But then again, she had saved him.
Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the wind. Soon after, several bursts of fireworks exploded in mid-air. Shen Xiabai calmly raised his eyes, placed his fingers to his lips, and let out a piercing whistle.
He whistled again and again until the same sound echoed from the bottom of the cliff. Only then did he lower his hands, sitting cross-legged on the ground, watching the unconscious girl.
Cui Yunchu's eyelashes fluttered, and a few teardrops slipped down. Mother, please do not die. No one in the Cui family wants me. If you die, what will I do?
Mother, I will definitely be obedient and learn skills. I will marry a supremely powerful husband and earn an imperial title for you.
Shen Xiabai murmured, Does the Cui family treat you poorly?
Cui Yunchu's cracked lips parted and closed several times before she finally said, I am a concubine-born daughter, raised by my concubine mother. No one likes me.
The young girl curled up into a ball, tears flowing unconsciously. She looked incredibly pitiful.
It stirred a trace of compassion even in Shen Xiabai.
Frowning, he finally said after a long while, Very well. For the sake of... you saving me this once.
Cui Yunchu's eyelashes fluttered again, her sleep-talking unceasing.
She begged the servants not to beat her, begged them for a bite of food.
She muttered about becoming a princess, marrying the Crown Prince, and bringing glory to her mother.
If she had merely been taught the wrong values, it was both pitiful and tragic.
Knowing that going too far is as bad as falling short, Cui Yunchu cried for a little while and then quieted down.
She did not know how much time had passed when a chaotic noise suddenly rang in her ears. It sounded like someone calling for their master.
Cui Yunchu's heart skipped a beat.
Shen Xiabai's men had arrived. Immediately after, she felt her body being dragged up and moved toward the rock wall.
The joy of soon escaping this sea of suffering and returning to her nest of wealth filled her, but she suppressed it with all her might, afraid that Shen Xiabai would see through her act.
Knowing that Shen Xiabai had not abandoned her, Cui Yunchu completely relaxed her mind. The illness subsequently overtook her, and she genuinely fell into a semi-comatose state.
In her hazy state, she only felt herself being tied up and lowered down like an object. But she could not open her eyes, nor could she make a sound to speak.
Master. At the bottom of the cliff, several young men dressed in black martial attire were covered in sweat, looking Shen Xiabai up and down.
When their gazes landed on his bare thighs, they all froze in unison.
The wind blew continuously. Shen Xiabai could feel it more clearly than anyone else. His face was an ugly shade of pale green, overwhelmed by the shame of being half-naked.
One of them immediately took off his own clothes and draped them over Shen Xiabai.
Master, are you alright? We searched the base of the mountain all night and finally found you.
Yes, it is wonderful that you are safe.
Shen Xiabai had climbed down using the rope his subordinates had scaled up with; his hands were already rubbed raw and mangled.
He raised his eyes, glanced at the rope clinging to the rock wall, and asked, How did you find me?
Yu Feng, the leader, glanced at Shen Xiabai before replying, After the young master returned alone, this subordinate went to ask him. The young master said you had gone to the palace on official business. But there was no news of you at the Department of Punishments, so we followed the trail and searched our way here.
Hearing Yu Feng's words, Shen Xiabai's eyelids twitched slightly.
Who told him I went to the palace on official business? He glanced at the unconscious Cui Yunchu nearby, his eyes full of suspicion and coldness.
He guessed.
Yu Feng's brief two words caused all the emotion in Shen Xiabai's eyes to recede, even cracking his composure for a split second.
He pressed his lips into a thin line.
If the Shen family were to be handed over to that boy in the future... Shen Xiabai simply did not dare to imagine it. Let us go.
Master. Yu Feng frowned and looked at Cui Yunchu. What about her?
Should they take her with them?
As Shen Xiabai's guard, Yu Feng had naturally seen Cui Yunchu before.
