7. Brutal Warrior!

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Tong Youyu felt deeply embarrassed when he called her out so bluntly, her ears flushing crimson. Frustrated, she raised her hand and tapped his shoulder sharply. "Shut up!" she snapped. But instead of hurting him, her soft palm was jolted painfully by his rigid shoulder.

What a rough brute!

"Don't touch me," Yin Zijian said coldly, his tone harsh and unfeeling.

Tong Youyu also did not want to touch him. She placed both hands against his back and propped her upper body upright. This significantly reduced the contact area between them.

However... her legs inevitably pressed against either side of his waist, burning with heat; he was like a walking stove.

As a soldier accustomed to marching, Yin Zijian carried the young girl up the mountain path with swift and sure steps. The trail was not particularly steep or difficult; to him, it was like walking on flat ground.

Soon, he arrived at the foot of the mountain, where Master Yuan was calling roll. Rain was imminent, and they needed to return quickly.

Tong Youyu hurried to catch up. Yin Zijian’s tall and striking figure naturally drew many glances.

Yin Mingyan immediately approached them, her face showing suspicion. “Brother, why are you carrying her?”

“She injured her foot,” Yin Zijian replied briefly, bypassing her as he helped Tong Youyu onto the carriage.

“What does her injured foot have to do with you?” Yin Mingyan thought her brother was not one to meddle unnecessarily.

“I was just about to say the same to you,” Yin Zijian turned to her and said, “Don’t act on your own.”

“How was I acting on my own? It wasn’t me who caused her injury,” Yin Mingyan pouted. “We didn’t even get to do anything yet.”

It was just a cup of fruit tea; she hadn’t taken it seriously.

At that moment, Jin Kui, who had been detained by Princess Changhui, managed to rush over.

“Miss!” She was frantic, full of grievances but forced to hold them back. To speak disrespectfully to a princess in public was courting death. Any complaints had to remain private.

Not far away, Changhui and her group saw Yin Zijian’s behavior and immediately felt their plan had backfired.

They had intended to deliberately use Tong Youyu to cause distress by making her wait for someone in vain, but unexpectedly, she had directly run into Yin Zijian’s arms!

“She is quite cunning,” the Lady of Yun’an whispered. “The princess did nothing to her, yet she plays the victim.”

Changhui’s anger flared instantly. “Could it be that she spoke ill of me? Complained to the young general?”

Yun’an nodded subtly. “It’s possible.”

“How treacherous!” Changhui’s face was full of fury.

A nearby maid glanced at Yun’an and said, “I don’t think so. The princess commands great respect; an ordinary girl wouldn’t dare offend her. Besides, the young general wouldn’t defend her. There’s no need for him to discuss the princess’s faults.”

“How can there be no need?” Yun’an smiled. “It would take a lot for the young general to despise the princess.”

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Changhui liked Yin Zijian but knew they did not get along. The last thing she wanted was to be disliked by him.

The maid found Yun’an’s words absurd and was about to retort, but Changhui pushed Yun’an aside.

“Even if he dislikes me, it would be for other reasons, not because of a mere county girl.”

She was the prince’s full sister, while the Yin family was the maternal side of the fourth prince — their paths would never cross.

Changhui knew she could scold anyone she disliked but would never be used as a pawn.

“Sister Changhui, that’s not what I meant...” Yun’an hastily explained.

The princess gave her a glance. “No need to say more. Go back.”

On the carriage, Jin Kui examined Tong Youyu’s foot injury, swollen and red, looking quite serious.

“Luckily, Miss is fine,” Jin Kui said softly, suppressing her anger. “The princess deliberately toyed with you, detained me so I couldn’t leave, then took me down the mountain, forbidding me to wait there.”

“It’s nothing major; she didn’t really do anything to me,” Tong Youyu said calmly. “I wasn’t careful and tripped over a stone. It’s not something worth holding a grudge over.”

She was not worried for herself but feared that a misstep might implicate her father and maternal family.

The royal family’s golden branches hung high and mighty; whatever they said was law. Ordinary people dared not oppose them.

Besides, there was no enmity between them. Without conflict, it was best to let small matters remain small.

Jin Kui understood this and sighed, “Miss will have to endure some hardship...”

“What hardship?” Tong Youyu shook her head. “I’m not that petty.”

If she hadn’t twisted her ankle, Suishan posed no danger; she could have descended alone.

As for Princess Changhui’s attitude, their encounters were rare. Even studying at the same hidden mountain academy in different classes, they would rarely meet.

It was best to avoid her.

Just as the carriage started its return journey, a fine drizzle began to fall.

The autumn rain was cool and misty, veiling the fiery-red mountain hills with a delicate, graceful charm.

Tong Youyu did not hasten to close the window and gazed at the scenery outside.

“No wonder Master Yuan refused to change the itinerary.”

He was not fond of outings in bad weather. His insistence on coming to Suishan was probably because he had seen too many red maples under the bright sun; today, with the rain, the scenery had a different, enchanting allure.

*******

Back home, Jin Kui carried Tong Youyu inside.

“Am I very heavy?” Tong Youyu asked softly, resting her head on Jin Kui’s shoulder.

Jin Kui shook her head and smiled. “Miss is slender now. How heavy could you be?”

Though not strong, she could manage to carry a young girl.

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“Well...” Tong Youyu hesitated a moment, then whispered, “Will the feeling in my chest be obvious? Annoying?”

Jin Kui was surprised by the unexpected question and laughed. “Girls grow up and develop. Miss used to be plump; now naturally more noticeable.”

Her figure was graceful, curves full — simply beautiful. As her personal maid, Jin Kui knew this very well.

Only today did Tong Youyu suddenly realize she looked more developed than others her age, unsure if it was a blessing.

But Yin Zijian was the same. It wasn’t only women who had curves; his chest was far broader than ordinary men’s, all muscle bulging forth...

It was normal for people to be different.

Tong Youyu did not disturb her grandmother and summoned a female physician to Wind Lotus Garden for treatment.

When Lady Peng heard the news, she came to see her, accompanied by sisters Shen Lianyin and Shen Yumu.

“A minor injury, and you’ve brought your aunt and cousins here. Yuyu, you truly are too considerate,” Tong Youyu said, having Jin Kui serve hot tea and offering some cut red maple branches to her cousin for enjoyment.

It was mainly to amuse the elders. Though the branches were neither valuable nor rare, not bringing anything at all would seem thoughtless.

Shen Yumu took the red maple branches, curling her lips slightly. “Red maples are beautiful but not rare. The cousin even brought some back.”

Lady Peng glanced at her. “That’s Yuyu’s intention. Your grandmother hasn’t left the house in half a year. Even a leaf or a flower is filial.”

Shen Yumu was somewhat dissatisfied and muttered, “Filial piety is really easy to show...”

“Aunt, you flatter me. I just brought them back on a whim, nothing more. I don’t deserve such praise,” Tong Youyu explained.

“Spontaneous actions reveal true feelings,” Lady Peng smiled. “Yuyu is growing more sensible.”

She knew her niece’s character before the amnesia — a stark contrast.

Others would attribute it to the old lady’s strict upbringing, which reflected well on the family.

Lady Peng hoped her two daughters would learn to be considerate and attentive, but the more she pushed, the more discontented Shen Yumu became.

“Mother always says we lack Lu’s refinement. Now look, our cousin has outshone us.”

Hearing this gave Tong Youyu a headache. Having lived with the Shen family for three years, she knew her aunt’s temperament.

Always comparing others’ children only hurt mother-daughter feelings and affected Shen Yumu’s disposition.

Such topics inevitably led to arguments...

Just as she wanted to change the subject, Old Lady Liu hurried in, breathless, to report: “Madam! Someone from the palace has arrived!”

“What?!” Even the composed Lady Peng showed surprise, immediately setting aside scolding her daughters to inquire further.

Though the Shen family was an official household, in the power-laden capital, they were still considered a minor family, never having dealt with palace affairs before.