At dawn the next morning, the sky above Feng City had only just begun to pale into a faint fish-belly white.
In the inner courtyard of the Xie residence, flower shadows fell in sparse patterns, and the morning dew had not yet dried.
Xie Wenyun looked perfectly composed. Her hair was arranged without a single strand out of place. Holding a teacup, she chatted and laughed softly with her maidservant, her manner still dignified and elegant. When she saw Cang Yuan passing by, she merely offered a light salute—cool and restrained— as if the moonlit drunken rambling and those reckless kisses had never happened.
Cang Yuan's steps paused for the briefest moment, and yet something sank faintly in his chest.
He turned his head to look back at the retreating figure, and in his ears, that drunken line seemed to echo again—
"Hm? You're really handsome, young master. Come—let big sister steal a kiss."
And those eyes, sparkling brilliantly under the moon.
His lips pressed into a thin line. His fingers tightened subtly within his sleeve as he thought grimly:
Did she truly forget… or is she pretending it never happened?
Breakfast was already prepared in the inner courtyard. Lord Xie Lei invited Cang Yuan to dine with them.
On the table sat clear wonton soup, thinly sliced smoked meat, and wild mountain vegetables—steam rising in fragrant curls. Xie Lei was beaming, speaking to Cang Yuan again and again with praise threaded into every sentence.
"Lord Cang is young yet accomplished—able to lead troops and also master canal engineering. Truly gifted in both civil and martial arts! To have you come to Feng City is a blessing for the Xie family and for the people of this entire city!"
As he spoke, he stole a glance at his daughter.
Yun'er is already past twenty. If she doesn't marry soon, people will start calling her an old maid… Now a man like Lord Cang has arrived—talent and looks both outstanding. If they truly became a pair, I, as her father, could finally face her mother beneath the earth…
He plotted quietly, his expression still warm and benevolent, giving away nothing.
Xie Wenyun sat to the side with poise, her posture flawless, her expression unchanged. She only felt unusually refreshed today, thinking to herself:
I must've snuck some wine again last night… But after drinking, that tight knot in my heart always loosens a little. Still… when I'm drunk… did anyone see me make a fool of myself?
Her maid, A-Hao, had mentioned more than once that she always muttered about her "swordswoman dream" when drunk. Xie Wenyun pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze to hide the thin thread of unease.
Across from her, Cang Yuan ate without a word, but his eyes flicked toward Xie Wenyun from time to time.
She looked dignified, calm, unruffled—without the slightest hint of abnormality, as though her moonlit drunkenness—and even those two quick pecks on his cheek—had never existed.
Cang Yuan's chest sank a fraction. He muttered inwardly:
So is she truly forgetting… or acting as if nothing happened?
His grip on his chopsticks tightened, though his face remained as cold and indifferent as ever.
Laughter and conversation filled the meal, but no one noticed the undercurrents surging in the hearts of the three seated there.
Xie Lei cleared his throat lightly. His gaze darted between Cang Yuan and his eldest daughter, his tone careful but unable to conceal the probing beneath it.
"Lord Cang… may I ask—are you already married?"
Cang Yuan's expression didn't change. He answered evenly, "Not yet."
Joy burst in Xie Lei's chest so hard he nearly slapped the table. He forced it down, pasting on a smile.
"That's wonderful—ah, I mean, I mean… Lord Cang has only just arrived in Feng City. There are many places you haven't yet seen. Yun'er, you must play the host properly—take Lord Cang around to look and walk and see."
Before the words had even settled, the youngest son Xie Wenyang immediately raised his hand.
"I can take Lord Cang around too!"
Xie Lei shot him a glare and snapped, "Go aside! You're a child—you don't understand. Forgive him, my lord."
Then he turned back with a smile, his voice leaving no room for debate.
"It's decided. Yun'er—after breakfast, you'll accompany Lord Cang."
Xie Wenyun froze. She opened her mouth to respond, but Xie Wenxuan leaned in and murmured in a low voice:
"Big sister—Father's matchmaking again."
Heat rushed to Xie Wenyun's cheeks. Her teacup nearly slipped out of rhythm in her hand. She had no choice but to lower her head, hiding her face—silently suffering.
Cang Yuan sat to the side, his gaze unreadable, yet a faint, complicated glimmer passed through his eyes.
He lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea, thoughts turning quietly.
Fine. This is good… It'll give me a chance to ask her, in private, why she behaved so outrageously last night.
His fingers paused for a fraction of a second. Something complicated flickered in his eyes—then vanished.
When he looked up again, he had returned to his usual easy, gentle composure.
With a faint smile, he cupped his hands toward Xie Lei.
"The City Lord's arrangement is excellent. Feng City's terrain may be drawn on maps, but walking it in person is far more important—for determining the canal routes and where to set the waterwheels."
Xie Lei's beard twitched; the delight in his eyes nearly spilled out.
"Haha! Lord Cang truly thinks things through!"
To him, a young man of talent and looks, willing to inspect and labor in person, was the perfect son-in-law. He calculated inwardly:
I knew I chose right… If Yun'er can marry this man, at least her second half of life will have someone to rely on.
Suppressing his satisfaction, he grew even more attentive.
"Since that is the case, then all the more should Yun'er do her duty as host and accompany you well. Feng City may not be as bustling as the capital, but it has its own scenery. If it can help the canal work even a little, that would be best."
As he finished, his gaze fell on his daughter again—meaningfully.
Xie Wenyun, sipping tea, felt that look and couldn't help the tips of her ears warming. Her teacup nearly faltered again.
The morning in Feng City was cool. Mountain wind carried a faint pine fragrance, scattering the chill left over from the night.
Xie Wenyun changed into a pale, simple outfit. With her maid accompanying her, she came to the front hall to receive Cang Yuan. Still she wore the mask of propriety—every gesture measured, every line of etiquette perfect—as if last night's drunken self had never existed.
"Lord Cang," she said softly, "Father said you wish to survey Feng City's water veins. There is an ancient river channel to the northwest outside the city. You may come with me to take a look."
Her voice was calm; her eyes didn't linger anywhere for long. She lowered them lightly, as if careful not to meet his gaze.
Cang Yuan agreed, his steps unhurried.
The two walked side by side with only a small number of attendants behind them.
Feng City's streets were narrow, its houses built along the mountain slopes. The people, hearing the canal project had begun, were all comforted. They paused their work, greeting respectfully.
"Miss Xie—Lord Cang—good day!"
Xie Wenyun smiled and nodded, looking utterly at ease. Cang Yuan, however, observed in silence—his eyes passing laughing children, old farmers carrying loads, pausing on cracked water jars and yellowing seedlings.
When they reached the stone slope beneath the western edge of the city, a river valley lay hidden among the trees. Water murmured below, but the terrain was too low; it could not flow into the city by itself.
Xie Wenyun lifted her hand and pointed.
"Lord Cang, this is Feng City's hardship. There is water in the valley, but it cannot rise. The people can only depend on rain."
Cang Yuan stood on the slope, hands behind his back, looking outward. His brows lifted slightly; his voice remained calm, yet carried a steady force.
"If we add two more waterwheels here, the river can be lifted in layers into elevated troughs, then divided into city canals. Only—this will take time and labor, and it will require the people to act as one."
Xie Wenyun's gaze slid toward him. Seeing the seriousness in his expression, her heart trembled.
In that moment, he seemed both gentle as jade—and steadfast as a mountain.
Without thinking, she murmured, "Lord Cang truly is… different from others."
Cang Yuan heard her and turned to look at her. His eyes held a faint, unreadable smile, but he said nothing.
Their eyes met for one breath.
Xie Wenyun's heart jolted. She quickly looked away, pretending to adjust her sleeve.
The air shifted quietly between wind and water, and neither spoke.
They descended the slope, passed through narrow alleys, and arrived at a secluded residence inside the city.
The gate was half shut. From within came the strained sound of a child dragging a bucket.
Xie Wenyun pushed the door open. An eight- or nine-year-old child was struggling to haul a wooden bucket toward the well. The bucket's rim was battered and gouged from years of use.
"Mother said I have to fetch water early," the child said, forehead slick with sweat. "Otherwise the well will dry up…"
Such a small body—and yet he wrestled with such weight.
Xie Wenyun frowned and hurried forward, steadying the bucket, her voice gentle.
"Why not wait for your father to return before fetching water? It's too hard for you. What if you slip near the well? That would be disaster."
The child lifted timid eyes, voice thin.
"Father went to the fields. Mother is holding my little brother… I'm the only one who can come."
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Cang Yuan stepped closer, looking down into the well.
The well wall was cracked and dry. The water inside had dwindled to a thin layer, reflecting a dim slice of sky. He reached out and steadied the child, his voice even, yet firm.
"Soon you won't have to suffer like this. Once the canal work is finished, clean water will come from the valley. You won't need to struggle like this anymore."
The child didn't quite understand, only stared at him blankly.
But Xie Wenyun's chest warmed. Her gaze drifted quietly toward Cang Yuan.
His robes were plain; his voice was quiet—yet it felt like clear spring water that could soothe a heart.
She suddenly remembered her own drunken confession last night—wanting to be a swordswoman, roaming the martial world—and for the first time she understood:
True chivalry was not in waving a sword.
It was in a promise that could steady the people.
"Lord Cang…" she called softly, wanting to say more—yet in the end it turned into nothing but a faint sigh.
Cang Yuan turned his eyes toward her, that faint smile still there. He didn't ask. He simply lifted a hand and smoothed the child's messy hair, then said lightly:
"Take me to the canal mouth near the well. I want to look again."
Xie Wenyun answered quickly, but her thoughts rippled like water, refusing to settle.
Seeing how hard the child struggled, Xie Wenyun's heart softened. She bent down to help draw water herself.
But the bucket, soaked for years, was far heavier than she expected. As she pulled, her slender wrist slipped.
"Ah—!"
She stumbled, pitching toward the well mouth.
In the blink of an eye, a strong hand clamped around her upper arm, steady as stone.
The force wasn't rough—just unshakably firm.
Xie Wenyun's heart jolted. She looked up.
Cang Yuan stood close, one brow slightly raised. In his eyes was a tension he didn't quite manage to hide.
"Miss Xie. The edge of a well is dangerous. Don't force it."
His voice was calm, yet it made heat surge into her chest.
Xie Wenyun's cheeks flushed. His grip on her arm, the warmth of his fingers through the thin fabric, made her panic.
She lowered her head, murmuring, "I… I only wanted to help."
Cang Yuan's lips curved in a half-smile that was not quite a smile.
"Your chivalrous heart—I've already witnessed it."
The tone held teasing—but also a hint of sincerity he didn't usually show.
Xie Wenyun froze, then snapped her head up. Her eyes widened, voice tightening with panic and disbelief.
"You… how do you know what I wished for?"
Cang Yuan's smile deepened, but he didn't answer directly. He said lazily,
"Just now, what you did at the well—most sheltered young ladies wouldn't have that kind of nerve."
He paused, and the teasing in his eyes turned sharper, his voice lowering.
"And besides… last night under the moon, Miss Xie seemed to have said a few things herself."
Xie Wenyun's heart dropped.
Color flooded her face. Her lips parted—yet not a single word came out.
She turned her face away instinctively, trying to hide her mortification, but the tips of her ears burned red.
It's over… I must've gotten drunk and run my mouth. I must've dragged him into my ridiculous swordswoman dream. How shameless!
She bit her lip, wanting nothing more than to find a crack in the ground and disappear.
Cang Yuan watched her reaction, the half-smile lingering, and thought coolly:
So she does remember… She knows she took liberties with me—twice.
The heat rose faintly in his own ears. The dull irritation and embarrassment twisted together, but he forced it down and kept his expression mild.
He didn't press her further. Instead he changed the subject smoothly.
"Let's go. I'm going to inspect the canal mouth and the water's force."
With that, he turned away, robe sleeves brushing the breeze.
Xie Wenyun stood frozen for a heartbeat, her heart hammering wildly—then she hurried after him.
They walked shoulder to shoulder.
One kept her head lowered, shy and mortified, not daring to speak.
The other stayed silent, a faint smile hanging at the corner of his mouth, probing and amused.
Only a few steps apart—yet it felt like a thousand layers of thought between them.
Xie Wenyun's ears burned. She lamented inwardly:
Last night I babbled nonsense about my swordswoman dream… who knows how many absurd things I said. If he thinks I'm frivolous, what then?
Her steps became more careful, more constrained. Beneath her polished exterior was nothing but unease and regret.
Cang Yuan, outwardly calm, kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
Look at how flustered she is—she clearly remembers last night. Hmph. At breakfast she sat there acting perfectly composed, as if nothing happened. Now her face is red like this.
His chest tightened faintly, a dull annoyance he couldn't name.
If she truly forgot, that would be one thing. But if she remembers and still pretends nothing happened… that's what makes it stifling.
He let none of it show—only a slight lift of his brow.
The canal mouth lay in a low valley outside the city. The workers had been waiting there; under the fierce sun, the stone trough was half formed, craftsmen pushing a half-raised wooden wheel to test the structure. The wood groaned and creaked.
"Lord Cang!"
The crowd saluted together.
Cang Yuan nodded, gathering his thoughts, his voice steady and decisive.
"Chisel the wooden axle two inches deeper. Widen the tooth spacing by three parts. When we test the rotation, the water's force will push it smoothly."
The craftsmen responded quickly. Xie Wenyun stood aside, watching him—robes fluttering under the scorching sun, eyes bright and sharp.
Something inside her trembled.
That cold, focused intensity was utterly different from the gentle teasing smile he'd worn last night—yet both made it impossible to look away.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Cang Yuan turning.
Their eyes met again.
Xie Wenyun's heart leapt. She quickly lowered her head, smoothing her sleeve. Her ears reddened once more.
Cang Yuan's gaze shifted subtly. He only smiled lightly and said:
"Miss Xie, why not come forward and take a closer look? This canal work concerns the people's lives. If you have any suggestions, it would count as 'doing your duty as host.'"
Xie Wenyun paused, then answered softly, "Yes."
Her heart pounded, and she warned herself silently:
No more losing control. Absolutely not.
Cang Yuan, however, gave a faint, inward snort.
Since you remember last night, let's see how long you can keep pretending you don't.
The roar of the worksite covered the valley.
They stood side by side—one trembling with the urge to conceal, the other half-smiling as he tested her.
The sun blazed. Stone chips still littered the canal mouth as the workers pushed the wheel again, the creaking growing louder.
Xie Wenyun stepped forward as instructed. Her skirt brushed the rough rock. She focused on the turning wheel—yet didn't notice the loose stone beneath her foot.
"Ah—!"
Her body pitched sideways, balance gone, and she nearly tumbled into the unfinished canal trough.
In that flash, an arm wrapped firmly around her waist and pulled her back onto solid ground. The force wasn't violent—only absolute.
Xie Wenyun's face went scarlet. Her heart crashed wildly against her ribs.
He saw me make a fool of myself again… Last night was humiliating enough—now he has to save me too…
Cang Yuan's brow furrowed. He didn't release her immediately. His voice dropped, low and stern.
"Miss Xie. The canal mouth is dangerous. You can't be this careless."
Yet another thought surged beneath the surface:
Last night she was reckless in her drunkenness. This morning she nearly slipped again… Is she truly just naive and unrestrained— or is she doing it on purpose?
They were close enough to hear each other's breathing.
Xie Wenyun hurriedly stepped back, lowering her gaze.
"Thank you, Lord Cang…"
Cang Yuan's eyes darkened. He finally withdrew his arm, lips curling into that maddening, half-smile again.
"Let me advise you: if you truly want to be a swordswoman, start by watching where you place your feet."
Xie Wenyun felt shame and indignation collide in her chest.
So he really heard everything. Every word. He remembers it all.
Cang Yuan glanced at her, cold amusement flickering inside.
Look at her. That's guilt. She remembers—she remembers those two kisses perfectly.
Different thoughts, same racing heartbeat.
Neither of them dared say it outright.
The canal mouth thundered with work, everyone busy—yet between the two of them, the undercurrent surged, thick and restless, as if the air itself had tightened.