Chapter 39 – Is He Really Just an Ordinary Hunter?

Xu Wei, who claimed to be a hunter, had always been very low-key. He sat silently next to Shen Qian, not making a sound, yet his eyes couldn’t help but constantly scan the people around him.

“Is that guy really just an ordinary hunter?”
Song Jiuchi whispered under his breath.

Jiang Wan and Song Jiuyuan both glanced at him at the same time, thinking to themselves—he’s finally getting a clue.

“Not necessarily,”
Jiang Wan said softly. Meeting Song Jiuchi’s confused gaze, she tugged at Song Jiuyuan’s sleeve.

“Husband, why don’t you explain it.”

“You say it.”
Song Jiuyuan was more curious about what Jiang Wan thought. After spending time with her recently, he had grown extremely intrigued by her.

“He’s been quietly observing us the whole time, and he always keeps his hand near his bow and arrow.”
Jiang Wan glanced at Xu Wei again. “He seems full of gratitude toward Shen Qian, but every time he smiles, it doesn’t reach his eyes. Most importantly, it’s his attitude when facing the officers.”

“Ordinary commoners, when they see officers, usually show a bit of fear or nervousness—but he didn’t.”

Song Jiuyuan continued her unfinished thought. The two of them exchanged a tacit glance before quickly looking away again.

“Exactly. Aside from that…”
Jiang Wan gently rubbed her fingertips, “He hasn’t shown any concern at all.

If he really were a villager, at his age, even if his parents were gone, he should at least have a wife and children.

Someone trapped deep in the mountains, unable to go home—wouldn’t he be worried about his family?”

“Then what kind of person is he?!”

Song Jiuli was frightened, and even Madam Song looked deeply worried. “Yuan’er, Wanwan, what should we do?”

“Don’t worry.”
Song Jiuyuan’s words were meant to reassure them. He said softly, “It’s still raining outside. Even if he’s planning something, he won’t act now.”

“Yes, at the very least, he’ll wait for his accomplices.”

Jiang Wan appeared calm. Song Jiuli glanced at Song Jiuyuan, then at Jiang Wan, and couldn’t help but mutter,

“Big brother, sister-in-law, how come I feel the two of you are becoming more and more alike?”

Especially Jiang Wan—she used to be so scatterbrained. How did she become this sharp?

“Really?”
Song Jiuyuan gently curved his lips, rubbing his fingertips. Suddenly, his gaze paused, because he noticed Jiang Wan was making the exact same motion.

So… she admired him this much, even mimicking his every move in private? Song Jiuyuan was inexplicably touched.

Of course, Jiang Wan had no idea what he was thinking. In response to Song Jiuli’s teasing, she simply replied calmly,

“We are equally smart.”

Everyone: …

“Look, that guy is watching us.”
Song Jiuli suddenly spoke.

Jiang Wan and Song Jiuyuan turned their heads and saw Xu Wei indeed observing them. The moment their eyes met, he even smiled at them, as if completely unaware of the tension between Shen Qian and the others.

Jiang Wan’s heart sank. “While the rain hasn’t stopped yet, everyone should rest up properly.”

Only then would they have the strength to deal with whatever came after the storm.

“Okay.”
Song Jiuchi responded with a heavy expression. Song Jiuli and Madam Song also grew wary. It was destined to be a sleepless night.

Song Jiuyuan suggested that Song Jiuchi get some rest while he took the night watch. After all, he couldn’t move during the day anyway. Though Song Jiuchi only had basic self-defense skills, in an emergency, he was still better off than Song Jiuyuan. This time, Jiang Wan agreed to the arrangement.

She took the first half of the night watch—nothing happened. Then in the second half, they switched, and Song Jiuyuan took over.

Jiang Wan already knew that Concubine Duan would likely sneak off in the middle of the night, so when she heard some movement, she didn’t pay it any mind.

But in the middle of the second half of the night, as Jiang Wan was groggily sleeping, she seemed to hear a muffled grunt from Song Jiuyuan. Being a light sleeper, she immediately opened her eyes.

Sure enough, Song Jiuyuan was nowhere in sight beside her. Jiang Wan quickly got up and saw him already halfway crawling toward the ruined temple’s entrance.

“Song Jiuyuan!”

Jiang Wan, both annoyed and concerned, hurried over. Inside the ruined temple, everyone was resting quietly—only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Song Jiuyuan had tried to move as silently as possible, but he didn’t expect Jiang Wan to catch him. His ears flushed red.

“Sorry, I… I just wanted to…”

“Go relieve yourself?”
Seeing him too embarrassed to say it, Jiang Wan bluntly exposed the truth.

At her words, Song Jiuyuan’s gaze darkened slightly. His fingers clenched his clothes.

“Yeah.”
It was clear he was frustrated. In the middle of the night, he had wanted to relieve himself, but didn’t want to bother anyone, so he tried to sneak out on his own.

Damn this man’s pride. Jiang Wan immediately picked up on his inner struggle and gently wrapped her arms around him.

“Jiuchi’s already asleep. I’ll take you outside.”

Song Jiuyuan: !!!

Before he could react, Jiang Wan had actually lifted him—in a princess carry, no less.

Song Jiuyuan’s eyes went wide in shock, completely forgetting to be angry. When he finally came to and started to struggle, he gritted his teeth.

“Jiang Wan! Put me down right now!”

To be held like this by a woman—he wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and crawl in.

Yet Jiang Wan looked totally unfazed. Carrying him out of the temple, she said, “Jiuchi’s been carrying you around these days and he’s exhausted. Would you really wake him up now?”

Song Jiuyuan fell silent. Of course, he wouldn’t. That’s why he’d tried to go alone earlier.

Still, being held like this made him uncomfortable—especially since they were so close. He could even smell the sweet scent on her.

“Come on. We’re already in exile. Why be so precious about it?”

Jiang Wan carried him to the edge of the ruined temple under the eaves. Thankfully, it wasn’t fully soaked there. She found a suitable spot and gently set him down.

“All right. Call me when you’re done.”

She turned her back to him. Looking at her straight posture, Song Jiuyuan’s ears flushed red again, and his breathing grew a little uneven.

“Jiang… Jiang Wan, can you go inside for a moment?”

Even though she had her back turned, he still felt unbearably embarrassed. This was way too humiliating.

“Fine!”
Jiang Wan sighed, a bit helpless. She was genuinely concerned about him, but if he insisted, she had to give him privacy.

When she returned to the ruined temple, she noticed someone quickly lying back down. Though it happened fast, Jiang Wan still caught it.

He was sleeping in the Song family’s space—most likely Xu Wei. Her alertness flared.

Bang—

Suddenly, there was a noise outside. Jiang Wan immediately realized it was from Song Jiuyuan. She rushed out and found him already soaked.

He seemed to know she’d come for him and had quickly tried to tidy himself up. From the fall, it wasn’t clear if he’d been hurt.

But Jiang Wan sharply noticed that, in the darkness, Song Jiuyuan’s eyes held a trace of hatred.

Most likely directed at the “dog prince” who made him this way—and the novel’s male lead, the Sixth Prince. Jiang Wan gently picked him up again.

“Just now I noticed Xu Wei seemed to have gotten up. We need to stay alert.”

She skillfully changed the subject, gently preserving Song Jiuyuan’s pride. The always-strong Song Jiuyuan suddenly felt a pang in his nose.

“…Mm.”
He responded softly. Her refreshing scent lingered around his nose, and the violent emotions from earlier seemed to dissipate slightly.