Fengyu was still unaccustomed to the wound on her chest; the pain at night was so intense that it left her struggling to breathe, waking her up very early. She spent her days lying in the tent to recuperate, bored out of her mind. After seven or eight days of this, she was understandably irritable. Hearing about the exceptionally beautiful sunrise by the Shaling River, and now being able to walk again, Fengyu impulsively decided to go see it for herself. When she had been in the West State, Xie Xun often wrote to her, describing the sunrise by the Shaling River as breathtakingly stunning. She had never seen it before. Now, the Shaling River area was particularly safe, so when she decided to go see the sunrise, Zhuifeng didn’t stop her. Knowing Fengyu must be feeling trapped after lying down for so many days, he acquiesced. The camp wasn’t far from the Shaling River, but Fengyu’s arrow wound had not yet healed, so she couldn’t gallop freely; she could only trot over while riding Zhuifeng. Zhuifeng appointed twenty soldiers to follow her, none of whom expected to encounter Xie Jue and Fang Chuning on their return journey. Xie Jue and Fang Chuning weren’t riding horses; the two walked side by side, with Treading Snow Wuzhu and Blood Shadow trailing behind them. Fang Chuning’s armor was slung over the saddle, and he wore only a slim-sleeved long robe in a deep blue hue, a belt of white gold accentuating his slender waist. His hair was casually tied back, with an azure ribbon fluttering in the morning breeze. That casual elegance imbued even the wind brushing past him with a sense of romance and longing. Xie Jue wore a flowing white robe with wide sleeves, his figure long, upright, and imposing. Among the lush forest and verdant bamboo, he carried an unmatched air of cool detachment, adorned only with a jade pendant at his waist—no other embellishments—his presence as crisp and pristine as the snow atop Sha Ling Tian Mountain. The two walked along the riverbank together, accompanied by the gentle murmur of the Shaling River on one side and a sea of half-height verdant grass on the other. Their reflections intertwined in the water as they strolled. Fang Chuning must have said something, for Xie Jue chuckled softly and reached out to tap Fang Chuning lightly on the head—equal parts playful and exasperated. Fengyu mused to herself that it was no wonder Xie Xun had always found Fang Chuning insufferable. Their Second Brother’s attitude toward Fang Chuning was unmistakably unique. Around others, their interactions appeared routine, but when alone, the indulgence and intimacy between them were practically palpable, enough to make anyone observing flush red for no apparent reason. Despite their lack of overt physical closeness, Fengyu couldn’t help feeling like they had sneaked off for a night of illicit passion. Xie Xun, in contrast, rarely elicited even a faint smile from their Second Brother. Fengyu thought to herself, "Hmm, I understand Zhixu now." No wonder he always wanted to fight Fang Chuning. When Fang Chuning and Xie Jue caught sight of Xie Xun from afar, they instantly cloaked their earlier warmth and ease in a veneer of military decorum, transforming into two generals returning from an inspection. Xie Jue even nonchalantly adjusted his collar, wrapping himself up tightly and neatly. Fengyu silently thanked her luck that Zhixu wasn’t actually here to witness this; he’d surely be furious. "Second Brother, you’re up so early." Even after pulling an all-nighter, Second Brother maintained his poised and austere demeanor, his face tranquil and composed. "And you? Why aren’t you resting in the tent to recover? Where are you off to?" "I’ve been stuck lying down, feeling stifled, so I came out for some fresh air. I heard the sunrise at Shaling River was beautiful—I wanted to come see it." In Ningzhou, the spring and summer days were particularly long. While the sun hadn’t risen yet, the sky was as bright as midday, offering a gorgeous view. Fang Chuning raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "You used to come to Shaling River every day to watch the sunrise. Surely you’re sick of it by now. This ’heard about’... who told you this?" Zhuifeng and the soldiers behind them kept their gazes to themselves, saying nothing. Fengyu faltered for a moment, searching for a way to cover her slip. Xie Jue interjected, "Don’t stray too far. Your injury hasn’t fully healed. Watch the sunrise, then return to rest." "Alright, Second Brother." Fengyu responded obediently, avoiding Fang Chuning’s scrutinizing gaze as she walked ahead. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her initial words had betrayed her cover. She was supposed to be Xie Xun, yet seeing Fang Chuning and Second Brother strolling along the river early in the morning should have left her furious, interrogating or provoking Fang Chuning. Instead, she did nothing, and to top it off, she fled with obvious guilt. This wasn’t like Xie Xun at all! Fengyu led Zhuifeng and the soldiers as they passed by the pair at a measured pace. Treading Snow Wuzhu even came over to nuzzle Zhuifeng affectionately. Fang Chuning watched Xie Xun’s retreating figure with an air of contemplation. "Ting Feng, he’s been acting so strange lately. So well-behaved," Fang Chuning commented, growing increasingly suspicious. Xie Jue replied, "He always acts more docile when he’s injured." "Who are you trying to fool? Back when Dugu Jing broke his leg, he only rested after cursing out Fengyu for an entire day—and you too, while he was at it," Fang Chuning said knowingly, accustomed to Xie Xun’s fiery personality. "Now he sees us strolling along the river and doesn’t even challenge me to a duel?" "He suffered an arrow wound and only just recovered enough to stand," Xie Jue explained, though he doubted he could keep this pretense going much longer. He couldn’t possibly admit to Fang Chuning that Xie Xun’s body was now occupied by Fengyu. The very thought was shocking, and besides, Fang Chuning had no need to know. "He wanted to fight me even with a broken leg. This injury is nothing. And you—since when have you been so kind to him?" Fang Chuning pondered aloud. "That ’Alright, Second Brother’—isn’t that completely out of character for him?" Xie Jue, realizing the charade was unraveling, simply snapped, "Why are you talking so much?" Unbelievable! Every single time Xie Jue didn’t want to explain himself, he resorted to irritation, an infallible tactic that never changed. "You and your brother have both been acting so weird lately!" Fang Chuning protested, unwilling to let it go. He elbowed Xie Jue. "Are you hiding something from me?" "When haven’t I hidden things from you?" "Fair point!" Fang Chuning gritted his teeth but refused to surrender. Ting Feng’s honesty hit like a knife, yet it only bolstered his resolve. "Fine, then—it’s making me even more curious. Let’s chat." "I’m very tired right now and have no desire to talk." Xie Jue strode forward briskly. "Let the generals discuss negotiation matters this afternoon. Don’t disturb me before lunch." "Come on, Ting Feng!" Fang Chuning hurried to keep up. "Satisfy my curiosity!" Xie Jue, fully aware of Fang Chuning’s tendency to pursue questions relentlessly, knew he wouldn’t be able to keep this secret or stave off the inquiries forever—not with the Beiman situation and everything that had happened the previous night. So Xie Jue turned boldly and asked, "Do you want me to satisfy your curiosity—or satisfy your body before you leave?" Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥 Xie Jue: "Pick one. And then, shut up!" "I’m not curious about a thing anymore." Fang Chuning decided instantly, though if one ignored the storm of desire flickering in his eyes, he appeared every inch the upright gentleman, an exemplary model of integrity. "I’ve never been the curious type. Really, not at all."