Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Leather Boots
In her previous life, Yu Lingxi had plenty of free time in the Regent's Mansion. Besides reading and painting, she spent her time doing needlework. Over the past two years, she had perfected the skill of sewing shoe soles.
With no other men to gift her creations to, she often stitched fragrant sachets and a pair of shoes for Ning Yin, filled with perfunctory and clumsy attempts to please him. However, Ning Yin was too affluent at that time to appreciate what she made. The embroidered and patched items either ended up discarded or accumulated in dusty corners.
Yu Lingxi paid no mind. She sewed hers, and he discarded his, with no interference between them.
From initially uneven stitches to later finely crafted ones, the only thing Ning Yin reluctantly found pleasing in two years was the pair of cloud-patterned leather boots she made in the end.
Ironically, on the day she died, Ning Yin was still wearing those boots she had sewn, stained with Xue Cen's fresh blood. It was an almost indelible memory; Yu Lingxi had sewed those deer leather boots with ease, without thinking much.
Unexpectedly, Ning Yin noticed her flaw at the first moment.
The cat leaped from the window, meowed around Yu Lingxi's feet, and brought her drifting thoughts back. With just a momentary pause, she quickly regained composure. "Seeing you're about the same height as Qingxiao, I guessed."
Ning Yin, unsure if he believed her, took the cat that would cause rashes to Yu Lingxi and nodded, "Miss's judgment is very accurate."
"Sit down." Yu Lingxi tilted her head slightly, indicating the cushion.
When Ning Yin sat down obediently, the imposing pressure disappeared. She met his gaze, trying to overcome prejudices from her past life, and earnestly scrutinized the seemingly docile young man before her.
"Wei Qi."
The beautiful eyes flickered under the lamp, asking him, "Tell me honestly, how do I treat you?"
"Very well."
Ning Yin tilted his head slightly and blurted out, "Miss treated my injuries, gave me a name, and provided me with everything, making her the best person to me in the world."
"If, in the future, someone else treats you so well?"
"If Miss didn't save me, how could there be a 'future' for me?"
Yu Lingxi narrowed her eyes, suspecting that, apart from his extraordinarily resilient willpower, Ning Yin relied heavily on sweet talk to survive his youth. She decided to play along with his words, bending her eyes and saying, "Then remember the good I've done for you."
"Wei Qi dares not forget."
Unlike other servants who might appear timid, Ning Yin met her gaze directly. He spoke in a low voice, "If I can repay Miss's deep kindness in any way, I am willing to do anything."
From his tone, it seemed he was unaware of any disguised thought.
Yu Lingxi, with a mischievous thought, deliberately asked, "Oh? What can you do then?"
"I am willing to be Miss's right-hand man, serving her in every way."
Seeing Yu Lingxi raise her eyebrows in silence, Ning Yin thought for a moment and added with a smile, "I can also fight. If Miss has enemies she wants to kill, I can..."
"Stop!" Yu Lingxi raised her hand to stop him.
Listen, listen, in his past life, he was probably like this, with a mind full of unswerving and brutal killings.
"I don't want you to kill anyone. On the contrary, I want you to protect me, protect the Yu family."
"Protect?" Ning Yin showed a hint of confusion.
"If you truly wish to stay by my side, you must abide by my rules. No matter when or where, you cannot do anything that betrays the Yu family or erases your conscience," Yu Lingxi stood in the shadow of the lamp, as if countless stars were crushed in her shallow gaze, gently laying out her conditions, "I have no intention of using this favor against you. If you are unwilling, I will still respect your choice and reward you generously, arranging for you to leave the mansion."
"I am willing,". Ning Yin did not hesitate.
He slightly raised his head, the ink-black pupils deep like a vortex, enchanting and soul-stirring. Yu Lingxi's fingers, previously twisted in her sleeve, slightly relaxed, smoothing her eyebrows. She raised her eyebrows and smiled, "In that case, starting from tomorrow, you will be a guest official in my mansion. How about that?"
Seemingly unprepared for such "favorable treatment," Ning Yin was slightly stunned.
While the title of guest official sounded good, he was still an outsider, and it was inconvenient for him to inquire about actions.
"Wei Qi comes from a humble background, with limited knowledge. I am willing to start as a guard, protecting Miss," Ning Yin lowered his eyes, covering the emotions in his eyes, and gently said, "As long as I can stay by Miss's side, anything is acceptable."
Limited knowledge? That might not be certain.
Two or three years later, he will be controlling the ministers like ants in the palm of his hand, able to crush them with a pinch. In her heart, Yu Lingxi silently mocked him, quietly watching him humble himself.
However, he did remind her: Ning Yin being a guest official in the Yu mansion was too conspicuous. He could easily have his identity exposed by someone with ulterior motives, dragging her father and brothers into dangerous conflicts. It would be more prudent for him to be a guard.
With a fleeting thought, Yu Lingxi said, "Then start as a guard. However, guards are still people, not slaves. You must not degrade yourself. As for other matters, I will teach you slowly."
After Yu Lingxi left, the flickering lamp shadows twisted and disappeared into the dark night.
Ning Yin sat on the couch for a while, then waved his sleeve to close the door.
Taking off the deer leather boots, he examined them in the cold light streaming in through the window for a moment. Then, with a slight release of his hands, he let the two new boots fall to the ground with a soft thud. Like discovering a fun game, he bent his elbow, hooked his lips, and burst into a muffled laugh from his chest.
The little girl thought she was meticulous, but she couldn't even tell a lie: these deer leather boots were very new, not likely to be stockpiled in the warehouse. Her care seemed more like an attempt to put gentle restraints on this wild beast hiding beneath the sheepskin.
Did she guess his identity?
Impossible, Ning Yin quickly denied this speculation. Even the father and son, Yu Yuan and Yu Huanchen, couldn't recognize him, let alone a sheltered girl who rarely left her home?
Moreover, after observing for so long, Yu Lingxi's circle was extremely simple and did not involve the political factions in the imperial palace. The mystery hidden in her remained unsolved, and the light in the mist became more dazzling, more blinding, tempting people to approach and explore.
If according to Ning Yin's previous personality, everyone who had seen his humble and miserable side should have been killed after being used, and then a clean sweep with a fire.
But now...
His eyes darkened slightly, and he slowly restrained his smile, picking up the boots and dusting off the dust.
Now, why did he feel a bit reluctant to kill her?
The moonlight slanted to the west, and the night fell silent.
By the window, a moth flapped its wings, rushing towards the dancing candlelight. In an instant, it turned into blue smoke and dispersed, no longer able to distinguish who was the schemer and who was the prey.
…
At the end of March, the Spring Banquet arrived.
Yu Lingxi originally planned to feign illness to avoid this banquet. Unexpectedly, before she could go and provoke the cat to induce allergies, her elder sister fell ill first.
She had contracted peach blossom rash, causing red swelling all over her face, and it was quite severe.
During the previous Northern Expedition, both father and son of the Yu family fell ill, missing the assignment. If both daughters claimed illness and skipped the banquet this time, it might arouse suspicions from the emperor.
After much contemplation, Yu Lingxi had no choice but to represent the Yu family at the banquet.
"Miss, would you like to change into different clothes?" Hutao looked at Yu Lingxi, who hadn't applied any makeup, with some hesitation. She was worried for her mistress, "All the young ladies at the banquet will be dressed up, showing off their best. Even if you are exceptionally beautiful, this simple attire might make you inconspicuous."
"It's better to be inconspicuous," Yu Lingxi laughed, pushing away the golden hairpin in Hutao's hand. She stood up, checked herself in the mirror, and left the room satisfied.
Beside the carriage stood a figure—Ning Yin.
Seeing Yu Lingxi descending the steps in the company of her maidservants, a faint ripple passed through his dark and brooding eyes.
Today, she wore only a simple dress, with a simple hairstyle and a jade hairpin slightly askew, highlighting her naturally lively and pleasing appearance. Ning Yin's lips twitched slightly, and he took the initiative to extend his arm.
Yu Lingxi hooked her arm around his and boarded the carriage. Her pure white hand touched and left on his sturdy leather wrist guard, leaving a faint trace of her fragrance. Remembering something, Yu Lingxi lifted the carriage curtain again and said to Ning Yin, "You don't need to follow into the palace this time."
Outside the palace, the crowd was mixed, and she was afraid someone might recognize Ning Yin's identity, disrupting her plans.
Ning Yin obediently nodded, "Alright."
After a moment, he added with a smile, "With many people in the palace banquet, Miss, please be careful and avoid attracting attention."
Yu Lingxi was puzzled, feeling that Ning Yin's words carried some hidden meaning, like he was reminding her of something. However, there was no need for him to remind her. Yu Lingxi also knew how to avoid sharp edges.
"I know," she let go of the carriage curtain.
Accompanying his sister to the banquet, Yu Huanchen observed their interaction, capturing the expressions and demeanor of the two. His eyebrows lightly furrowed.
"Qingxiao," he called a guard, lowering his voice, "Arrange for someone to protect Miss. Don't let her get too close to that Wei Qi. Also, investigate the boy's experiences before he started fighting in Beast Arena. Report back immediately once there are results."
The palace banquet was held in the imperial garden.
As soon as Yu Lingxi stepped down from the carriage, a rider approached in a hurry, calling out, "Commander Yu..."
When Nan Yang County Prince Ning Zizhuo saw Yu Lingxi's face, the smile on his face stiffened for a moment, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. "Ah, it's the Second Miss."
"Junior Prince." Yu Lingxi greeted him respectfully.
Ning Zizhuo quickly dismounted, glanced at the carriage, as if looking for someone. "Where is Commander Yu?"
Ning Zizhuo exclaimed, "Thanks to her sacrificing herself to save me during the last spring hunt, I haven't had the chance to express my gratitude in person."
The position of "Commander" was bestowed upon her elder sister due to her exceptional archery skills. At the age of seventeen, she was appointed as the only female commander of the Hundred Cavalry Division ordered by the Emperor, responsible for protecting palace women during ceremonies or travels.
"My elder sister is unwell and unable to attend the banquet," Yu Lingxi smiled faintly, "I will convey the goodwill of the Junior Prince to her."
Having said that, she didn't linger for pleasantries, entering the banquet hall together with Yu Huanchen, who had removed his sword.
To the west of the city, at the Golden Cloud Monastery.
It took some time for Ning Yin to get rid of the troublesome guard. When he arrived at the secluded room in the meditation hall, a tall personal guard carrying a heavy bronze sword had been waiting for a while.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing Ning Yin walking into the room with his hands behind his back, the personal guard quickly bowed and knelt, his trembling Adam's apple expressing both loyalty and fear. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I arrived late for some reason. Please punish me, Your Highness."
The black-clad youth sat on a small couch, twirling his eyes and looking at him. "You know you're late, yet you want me to take action personally?"
The guard, aware that his negligence in tracking had almost caused harm to his master by Prince Ning Changrui of West Xichuan, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He swallowed hard, drew the heavy sword from his back, and swung it.
With a series of splintering sounds like breaking deadwood, a severed finger rolled on the ground, serving as an apology.
As the heavy sword fell to the ground, a cloud of dust rose.
The guard covered his severed finger, blood dripping through his fingers, enduring the pain as he looked at Ning Yin, who still had bandages on his left hand. "Your Highness has been hiding for a long time, enduring such danger and injustice. This time, gathering us for a meeting, does Your Highness intend to take action..."
"Not in a hurry," Ning Yin said casually, "The Yu family holds significant military power. Such a large piece of fat is more valuable to assimilate than to destroy, isn't it?"
A moment of surprise flashed in the guard's eyes, and he regained his composure. "What does Your Highness mean?"
Seemingly remembering something amusing, Ning Yin smirked, "Interesting prey needs to be fattened up slowly for a more enjoyable feast, don't you think?"
His gaze fell on the pair of brand-new deer leather boots on the ground, where two tiny crimson spots, splattered accidentally during the guard's finger severing, stood out.
The amusement in Ning Yin's eyes faded.
Playing with the short blade between his fingers absentmindedly, he said after a while, "Zhaji, you've dirtied my new boots."
Although the tone was indistinguishable between joy and anger, Zhaji seemed to sense a chilling killing intent pressing down on him. He collapsed to the ground, unable to rise to his eight-foot stature, kneeling in submission.
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