Hidden Shadow – CH 310

Chapter Three-Hundred-Ten: Longing and Illness

In the darkness before dawn.

A slender figure darted into a small alley in Pan Tower Street and snapped her fingers twice.

“You brought the things?” A deep male voice came from the shadows.

“This subordinate has failed in her duty.” The speaker was a woman.

“What? You’ve been here so long and have not even gotten a single memorial?” The man’s voice held displeasure, but he did not lash out at her. “With your abilities, why could you not get a memorial?”

The woman said, “Hua Rongjian is not as incompetent as the rumors say. He trapped me in the mansion, and even tonight I only managed to escape with great difficulty.”

She raised her head, the dim light illuminating half of her face, revealing slightly upturned phoenix eyes and red lips—it was Mei Ruyan.

The man was silent for a few moments, then continued, “Once this is done, find a chance to leave the Hua family. The top officials will be targeting the Hua family soon, so they asked me to warn you.”

“Understood.” Mei Ruyan’s expression was complex, but it quickly returned to normal. “I will do it as soon as possible.”

“Mm,” The man responded.

In the blink of an eye, only the sound of the wind and Mei Ruyan remained in the alley.

She stood motionless for a long time, her back to the alley entrance, her mind flooded with memories and chaotic thoughts. Sometimes she doubted whether she had chosen the right path, whether continuing down this road was a path of light or one of no return. Until the very end, no one knew…

Mei Ruyan sighed, her figure disappearing like a phantom into the alley, the mist instantly dissipating into the air.

Dawn.

A new day dawned in Mei Mansion. Everyone had their own tasks to attend to. Ling Ziyue and Lou Xiaowu were studying pistols and thunderclap grenades; Mei Yanran was busy preparing three meals a day; Sui Yuntong had cultivated six mu of land; Li Qingzhi was diligently studying military strategy; Mo Sigui was locked in his room concocting antidotes; Zhu Pianxian’s abacus clicked away; Sheng Changying was intently waiting at the ferry crossing, preparing to intercept the carrier pigeons from the Konghe Institute…

Only An Jiu felt the days dragging on, bored out of her mind.

The medicine pots on the stove in the pharmacy steamed, filling the room with a strong medicinal aroma. Mo Sigui squatted in front of the stone mortar, pounding medicine.

After finishing her practice, she sat in Mo Sigui’s room, meticulously polishing the Dragon-Subduing Bow.

“Sigh,” An Jiu sighed.

She had always longed for a peaceful and leisurely life, but now that she was living it, she found it too bland. She and Chu Dingjiang were indeed the same kind of people, unable to bear a life as tranquil as still water…

Huh? She was thinking of him again! An Jiu rubbed her forehead for a while, then asked Mo Sigui, “I am lovesick; do you have any medicine?”

Mo Sigui did not even look up, replying, “If I had medicine, would I be in this state?”

An Jiu pointed out calmly, “You finally admit your insomnia is because of Lou Mingyue.”

“Hmm.” Mo Sigui was racking his brains for a prescription when he heard her words, and his thoughts suddenly stopped.

He stared blankly for a long time before slowly frowning, then jumped up and grabbed An Jiu, saying irritably, “Get out, get out!”

An Jiu was practically dragged out of the room.

Looking at the closed door, An Jiu was silent for a moment. This time, she was truly bored!

She wandered around but could not stop thinking about Chu Dingjiang!

Watching Mei Yanran cook, she thought Chu Dingjiang’s cooking would be even better; seeing Sui Yuntong farming, she wondered what Chu Dingjiang’s farming would be like; seeing Li Qingzhi studying military strategy, she thought Chu Dingjiang would know the most about these things…

This state continued until the third day. An Jiu was torn between enduring the hardship or going to find Chu Dingjiang when he unexpectedly returned.

At that time, An Jiu was at the ferry crossing with Da Jiu and Xiao Yue, watching Sheng Changying intercept carrier pigeons. She sat on a bare tree branch, staring motionlessly at the sky.

Da Jiu was even more focused than her, his mouth agape, drooling occasionally, while Xiao Yue lay on the ground with half-closed eyes, appearing detached from worldly affairs.

Only when the sound of water came from the ferry crossing did An Jiu shift her gaze.

Through the hazy mist, a familiar, tall figure slowly became clear. He was still wearing a black cloak, obscuring most of his face, revealing only his beard.

In that instant, An Jiu felt everything stop.

Chu Dingjiang saw a woman in a light blue jacket and skirt perched in a tree. Looking up at the sky, she resembled a bird perched on a withered branch. When she turned to look at him, her clear, bright eyes seemed to reflect his image.

Chu Dingjiang walked to the tree, brushed off his hood, and looked up at the person he had been longing for, smiling. “Ah Jiu.”

An Jiu grinned and jumped down from the branch, which was two zhang high.

Chu Dingjiang reached out and caught her steadily.

“What are you looking at?” Chu Dingjiang asked.

“Watching Headmaster Sheng catch birds.” An Jiu looked up at him. “Did you come back for something?”

Chu Dingjiang nodded. “Yes, there’s something very important that I have to do.”

An Jiu ran through the thought many times in her mind. Perhaps he wanted Lou Xiaowu’s Thunderclap bombs? Or perhaps he wanted to recruit some strong men to serve the Second Prince? It seemed possible, yet also unlikely…

“What is it?” she asked directly.

Chu Dingjiang smiled and said, “To see you.”

An Jiu froze, her thoughts interrupted, and it took her a long time to react. “You thought of me, too?”