Scent Of Time

Chapter 37

The wind brushed past my ears sharply, cutting into my skin like knives, and I was surprised that I didn’t forget to twist my bracelet back on at this juncture.

As if it was only a matter of seconds, I slammed heavily into the water, stirring up a large splash, my chest cavity nearly spewing a mouthful of blood because of the impact. I took a few gulps of water before I struggled to swim to land. Luckily, the place where I fell was not far from the shore.

Swimming is a necessary skill for survival. It didn’t waste me spending a month’s salary to learn it. After climbing to the shore, I found that varying wounds filled my body, and my left leg was also painful.

When I fell, I got bruises all over my body, and there was a tree branch that hung my leg for a while, blocking my momentum from falling. Otherwise, I would have just entered the water and smashed into unconsciousness.

It was the legendary of not dying from falling off the cliff in the novels. I dared to be so risky because there were other reasons. But that will have to wait for me to go up. The current situation proves that I — bet on the right.

I lay on my back and rested for a moment. Looking at the gradually darkened sky, I took a deep breath. I can’t stay here. I must go to the upper stream of the river. Usually, there will be people living there. Otherwise, this deserted countryside is so dark and scary, and beasts may come, and I’ll send myself to their mouth.

Enduring the pain in my body, I limped along the river bank. The sky is finally dark, but the moon is unprecedentedly bright. Probably, it knows that I am night blind, so it takes extra care of me.

I comforted myself in my heart. I don’t know how long I have walked, but there’s still no sign of people. Truthfully, walking alone in the middle of the night of nowhere is a bit scary. The surroundings are too quiet, only the sound of water.

My eyes dared not to look around, and my spirit was tense because the more I looked around, the more scared I was. My heartbeat was too violent, and I felt that my eardrums were all the heartbeat.

I can’t help but regret it a bit. What’s the point of fooling around? It would be better to honestly stay on the cliff and cooperate, waiting for Zhong Yelan to choose.

Tightly gripping the bracelet knife in my hand, I vaguely hear some other sounds, different from the sound of water flowing.

I saw a boulder, so I went over to squat behind it, hiding without revealing any sound, and listened carefully. Sure enough, there are other sounds, a bit like footsteps. I can not hear whether it is a man or a beast.

The cliff I fell from was not very high, but the mountain terrain was rough. Even if Zhong Yelan immediately sent people down to search, they couldn’t reach the bottom of the cliff so soon, so this shouldn’t be his people.

Is it a beast or —

The night was dark and windy. Moreover, it’s in the middle of nowhere. The previous movie scene about dumping corpses crowded into my brain.

I wanted to smack myself. The more I was afraid, the clearer and bloodier the plot became in my head. At this time, for some reason, the moonlight was covered by the clouds, and to my mildly night-blind eyes, it was practically pitch black. The sound got closer, and one step seemed to step on my heart, and finally, the footsteps stopped by the stone.

I couldn’t hold back any longer, so I swung out the knife with my eyes closed, and a cold palm held my wrist.

I shivered and heard a familiar voice, “I finally found you.”

Opening my eyes, I still couldn’t see much, but a moment later, the moon showed its head, and light came on in front of me.

I saw Hua Rongzhou’s face. My eyes were a little moist. Finally, I saw a big living person that I recognized. When I saw him, I was even happier than seeing a person who delivered charcoals in the snow. I was so scared that I wanted to throw myself into the river.

I jumped and embraced him: “OMG, it’s you. I’m scared to death! I don’t know that I was so timid. Finally, there was a person to ……”

Hua Rongzhou did not move. He reached out and pulled me down, slowly tightening his hand on my wrist. There was not a trace of emotion in his tone, “I give you this bracelet for you to defend yourself, not to let you use it to kill yourself.”

This tone — is still the soft and obedient little guard before? Or was it a spirit that possessed Hua Rongzhou’s skin?

His transformation made my expression stagnant, and before I could react to the ‘I give you –,’ I heard him sigh and release my wrist. He squatted down to hold my left ankle and pinched it before saying: “Your bones are fine. Just find some potion to rub it.”

I only took a step, so how did he know my left leg was injured? His observation skills are too good, right?

Then I saw him turn around, turned his back to me, and said, “I’ll carry you up.”

I realized that he was wet in his black robe. Did he fall into the water because he was looking for me? But then again, walking from the top of the mountain to here shouldn’t be that fast.

“No, I can still walk.” I refused awkwardly, then raised my steps and continued walking.

Hua Rongzhou didn’t stop me but silently followed behind me. His silhouette cast next to me. I didn’t look back, only stared at that shadow. My heart was indescribably uncomfortable, and I still hadn’t reacted to the tone of his square accusation of me. This feeling is like the person who has always been shorter than you suddenly looked down on you one day.

I didn’t pay attention, and suddenly, my limp leg stepped on a stone. With a sharp pain, my leg turned soft, and then a pair of palms fell on my left arm and waist.

“I …… am fine.” Before I finished my words, Hua Rongzhou released his hands and squatted before me, saying, “Come up.”

This time, not rejecting his good intentions, I climbed up. Suddenly, I remembered when I drank too much, it seemed like he was also carrying me down as well. Later, when I woke up, I was busy with the Hua Family. I forgot about it and didn’t say thank you to him. That is twenty floors, ah. With guilt inside my heart, I casually say: “How did you know that I fell? How was the banquet afterward? Hua — brother — How is he?”

Hua Rongzhou’s voice was muffled, “After Princess Consort and Mu Side Consort were kidnapped, I followed…… King Jin to the top of the mountain. I don’t know what happened to the palace banquet and Young Master Hua afterward.”

“Then how come I didn’t seem to see you at the clifftop?” Suppressing the hidden uneasiness in my heart, I pretended to be relaxed and changed the topic.

“Princess Consort always paid no attention to me. I’m used to it.” Hua Rongzhou’s voice was faint.

The way he said this, was I that cold to him?

“No. I was tied and hung at the top of the cliff. I swayed so much that I get — dizzy,” I explained.

“Then do you remember the first time you saw me?” Hua Rongzhou suddenly asked.

I recalled and spoke, “At the Ancestor Ceremony?”

Hua Rongzhou didn’t answer, and just when I thought he wouldn’t answer me, he spoke, “As expected.”

“What do you mean?” I frowned.

“Then did Princess Consort remember having asked my names four times ?” Hua Rongzhou’s voice sounded a bit disappointed.

I had asked him that many times. No way, my memory force shouldn’t be that bad.

When I was about to continue to ask, I smelled blood. I froze and subconsciously asked, “Are you injured?”

Hua Rongzhou’s step did not stop, saying: “Only small bruises.”

“Bruises? Did it happen inside the forest? Then again, how did you get down here? And how come you’re the only one?” I became more and more puzzled in my heart.

“Who else does Princess Consort want to see?”

Why is this child today’s tone so bad, ah? I reached out and grabbed his ears to speak: “Speak properly! So rude, I am a Princess ……”

“Aren’t you divorced?”

This sentence dissed me dumbfounded, but I still hardened my mouth and said, “But I am older than you. You still have to respect me.”

“What should I call you after you have divorced?” Hua Rongzhou was evasive.

I haven’t thought about this question. If I take them to live in a small town in the Yangtze River, will they call me ‘Miss’? Or do they feel better to call me ‘sister’? After all, I am older than them.

Having lost in this thought, I felt Hua Rongzhou’s body stiffen. His voice seemed carried irritation: “You didn’t think about taking me with you when you’re leaving the King Jin Mansion?”

“Of course not.” I hurriedly denied it. I could use these few people around me. How could I not take him away? My mouth still flirted, “For Cui Zhu, I must take you away from the King Jin Mansion, ah.”

Hua Rongzhou suddenly stopped and didn’t move.

I released my hand and realized that his ears were red because of me. I asked awkwardly, “Why don’t you move? Are you tired? Do you want to rest ……”

“Princess Consort, don’t push me to Cui Zhu again.” His voice interrupted me.

“En,” I subconsciously spoke.

“Whether playing around in the courtyard or when you’re under attack, don’t push me to Cui Zhu anymore.” Hua Rongzhou said. I only saw the side of his face, his eyes lowered.

“I thought you didn’t hear me at the banquet, so why did you ……?”

“Because I have someone I love.” The young man’s tone, as solemn as an oath, made me choke on my words.