Chapter 23: Sprained Ankle

Jiang Chuyue’s heart was a tangle of emotions.

She was happy for Xiao Ji, yet sorrowful for herself.

That shameful, hidden affection buried deep in her heart would, in the end, be smothered by the blood-and-bone reality before her eyes.

Forcing out a smile, she said to Xiao Ji, “Congratulations, elder brother.”

Xiao Ji’s expression darkened.

These days, he had been intimate with Madam Jiang without giving her any birth-control decoction, yet he had not expected that she would actually be with child.

He turned back to ask Jiang Chuyue, “Xiaoyue, are you truly happy for me?”

Her expression betrayed no flaw; with a hint of a smile, she replied, “Children are innocent and lovely. I’ve always liked them.”

A flicker passed through Xiao Ji’s eyes. His hawk-like gaze swept to Madam Jiang’s lower belly, and he murmured, “It will be good to have a child.”

Swish—

A cold arrow suddenly flew out, piercing a grazing horse in the riding arena. The injured horse reared and bolted, driving a dozen others into a frenzy.

Someone shouted, “Assassins!”

The herd stampeded.

One injured horse, moving like lightning, charged straight toward the pavilion where Jiang Chuyue was. She instinctively reached for Xiao Ji beside her, trying to pull him out of the shelter.

But her hand only brushed the sleeve of his robe.

Looking back, she saw Xiao Ji already holding the pregnant Madam Jiang, quickly carrying her out.

Jiang Chuyue was left standing where she was.

For a moment, the world seemed frozen. She stared blankly at the tall, broad back that had once shielded her without hesitation—now tightly guarding someone else.

She was a ship drifting at sea, but Xiao Ji’s harbor already held another vessel.

Bang—

The wounded horse slammed into a wooden pillar of the pavilion. From the neighboring structure, Xie Linyuan struck, cutting down the crazed animal with one swift slash. But Jiang Chuyue’s own pavilion collapsed—the heavy sunshade cloth came down, smothering her in darkness.

Enveloped in shadow, she almost wished to sink into it forever.

But the next moment, the weight was lifted; dazzling light poured in, driving away the darkness around her.

Xie Linyuan, face cold, pushed aside the fallen cloth. “Come out.”

She crawled out in disarray, hair loose, face smudged with dust.

His gaze swept over her coolly.

By then, Xiao Ji had hurried over, brows drawn deep in a frown, as if surprised she had run so slowly and ended up trapped under the wreckage.

“Xiaoyue, are you hurt?” he asked.

She shook her head, forcing a wry smile. “No, I’m fine.”

He seemed about to ask more, but not far away Madam Jiang suddenly clutched her belly and fainted like a leaf in the wind.

Xiao Ji didn’t have time for more words. “Madam Jiang is pregnant and was frightened today. I must take her back to the manor at once. You should return early too.”

“I understand,” Jiang Chuyue heard herself reply.

But it was clear he no longer had her in mind—every thought was on the pregnant Madam Jiang. Cradling her, he left swiftly in the Xiao family carriage.

The carriage vanished into the clear early-summer sunlight.

Jiang Chuyue turned to go to her own carriage, but after two steps, a sharp pain shot from her right ankle. Baozhu caught her, worry in her voice. “Miss, did you twist your ankle?”

The pain was intense—like countless needles driving into the bone.

She couldn’t take another step.

Sitting heavily on a nearby wooden chair, she pulled up her trouser leg with trembling fingers—her right ankle was already swollen and askew, clearly dislocated.

Sweat beaded her forehead. “Baozhu, go to the riding grounds and see if anyone knows how to set bones.”

Baozhu nodded quickly. “Miss, wait here. I’ll find someone.”

Her maid bustled off, calling for help.

Jiang Chuyue closed her eyes lightly, long lashes casting a faint shadow. The ankle throbbed with pain, but the ache in her chest was worse.

Everything that had happened today pressed heavily on her heart.

She was still sunk in her gloom when a tall figure suddenly loomed over her, blocking the sunlight.

Startled, she looked up—

Xie Linyuan stood there, she didn’t know when he had arrived. His gilt-trimmed black robe accentuated his tall, upright frame; his features were sharp and cold.

Her eyes widened slightly, the pain forgotten for a moment. “Your Highness?”

Why was he here?

Baozhu, flustered, explained, “Miss, when I asked if anyone could set bones, His Highness overheard and said… said that he could.”

“…”

Xie Linyuan lowered his gaze to her, lips pressing in a faint line, his tone brooking no refusal. “I happen to be free. Let me help you.”

She instinctively wanted to refuse, but the pain in her ankle made even standing impossible. At last, she murmured, “Then I’ll trouble Your Highness.”

He said no more, simply half-knelt before her. The heavy hem of his black robe fanned across the ground, nearly brushing her skirt. His long fingers extended, the black jade thumb ring glinting coldly as his hand closed lightly over her riding boot.

Finding the displaced bone, he said, “It will hurt—bear with it.”

She shrank her neck and nodded faintly.

His grip tightened.

Click—

The bone slid back into place.

The sharp agony eased instantly. She breathed out softly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Xie Linyuan rubbed the jade ring with his thumb, his gaze deep. Every time she saw him, she was like a mouse meeting a cat—always lowering her head.

It was… irritating.

The assassin who had shot the horse was soon caught, and Xie Linyuan went to interrogate them.

Baozhu helped Jiang Chuyue back to her carriage. Exhausted in body and spirit, she lay back against the soft couch inside.

Just then, Shangguan Yun came galloping over, wanting to see her. Baozhu blocked her horse, saying patiently, “My lady twisted her ankle—she’s returning to the manor for treatment.”

Shangguan Yun huffed, “It’s not like I caused her injury! I was almost trampled by a horse myself!”

Baozhu, protective of her mistress, retorted sharply, “Or perhaps Miss Shangguan was putting on an act? Couldn’t match my lady’s riding, so you schemed instead.”

Shangguan Yun bit her lip. Not only Jiang Chuyue, but even her maid had a poisonous tongue.

The carriage rolled away slowly.

Shangguan Yun sat fuming in her saddle, gripping the reins tightly, malice gleaming in her eyes. “She looks down on me because she’s good at riding? Just wait—I’ll deal with you.”

…

After leaving the riding grounds, Shangguan Yun went straight into the palace to see her elder sister, the Empress.

“Sister! You must stand up for me,” she cried, throwing herself into her arms.

The Empress smiled. “Who dares bully my sister?”

Shangguan Yun pouted, “Who else? That Jiang Chuyue from the Xiao manor!”

She recounted in detail what had happened at the riding grounds, ending angrily, “The cold arrow that injured the horses wasn’t sent by our Shangguan family—yet she dared to think I was faking!”

The Empress was silent for a moment, then said calmly, “The arrow was sent by the Shangguan family.”

Shangguan Yun froze. “…”

The Shangguan clan, the Empress’s own maternal family, was a century-old aristocratic house of great influence in Qing. Over the years, the Xiao family and the Regent Prince had worked hand in glove, steadily stripping the Shangguans of power. The recently executed Minister Liu’s family had in fact been backed by them.

Their fall had been the fuse that reignited the conflict between the Regent and the Shangguans.

Pressing her brow, the Empress sighed. “The Xiao family grows stronger by the day. They are not easy to deal with. And you couldn’t even get the better of Xiao Ji’s sister.”

Shangguan Yun’s eyes turned sly—she had thought of a perfect way to deal with Jiang Chuyue.

Excitedly, she suggested, “Sister, Jiang Chuyue is a stunning beauty. Why not propose to the Emperor that she be taken into the palace… as a concubine?”