Ducal Prince Li Changhai was the first to point out the strange behavior that he had noticed in the youngest member of his team. And this was after he had spoken to the guards who were in charge of sweeping the fringes of the camp every night. For all the last six days or so, all through their journey towards Chuanshui Town."They say that they see him sometimes, walking aimlessly about the camp, and waving his hands for no reason. At first they thought that he was practicing some sort of martial art, but then they saw how his movements seem to mirror yours, Brother Liushui. As if he is actively trying to mimic some of your exquisite hand motions."
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Those were the first words that Li Changhai said to Lin Liushui, when he alerted the latter to Qin Feng"s unusual mannerisms of late. He had thrown in a bit of flattery, that he knew that Lin Liushui loved, so that the latter would pay a bit more attention to the problem. Probably so that he could earn yet more praises.
It was a rather cheap method to gain his focus on the situation, but Li Changhai knew that it helped. So he didn"t really mind using that trick.
But Lin Liushui replied with a serious face as well, which was completely the opposite of his usual flippant replies and his laughing dismissals. "You are right about there being something wrong with him. Have you noticed that he is speaking more frequently, and with Yuan Qianlei"s maids? And even the old woman who has been sent to keep an eye on her?
"He isn"t very smooth yet, but I get the impression that he is trying to get better at flattering them, and coaxing them. Do you think that there"s a problem in this somewhere?"
Li Changhai almost smacked his old friend in the face. "If I wasn"t worried that there was a problem, would I be approaching you for help?" But he controlled his temper, and continued as he usually did. That was the only way to deal with Lin Liushui.
"That is for certain. The only problem is, what is his motive for doing such a thing? Or rather, such things? It is not just that, you realize? He has been seen reading that novel that Yuan Qianlei had pa.s.sed to him. Diligently! And going to ask her and the other women about some bits that he did not quite understand!
"You think he is planning to become a writer as well?"
Lin Liushui made a gagging sound in his throat. "Do you think he can be bothered with something like that? And besides, what sort of reputation would he gain, even if he did become as good as that fellow with the Jade Face, Empty Sleeves claim?
"No, I think that he is in love! And that he is reading those books so that he can better understand the woman, who obviously loves them!"
"What?!"
Lin Liushui nodded with a grave expression on his face. "Think about it. He has been acting like this since he fought with Xu Yanzhi. And the reaction that he had to her teasing was certainly unusual. You know how he couldn"t be bothered when he is teased or badgered. So why did he flare up when she said those words to him? Why was he so upset when she turned around and fled, without giving him a chance to explain?
"And it is not as though you are not aware that she had visited him in his room that night before the Snow Swallow Mountain Palace pair left Ningfei Town. And the older woman also made an appearance. She even shouted at him! Or at Xu Yanzhi!"
Li Changhai swallowed as he agreed with what his Brother Liushui was saying. And not saying! "Then, you think that she caught them ... That this has something to do with her? That he is ... romantically involved? That is bad, isn"t it? I mean, you should know what this means."
That was the truth there. Lin Liushui"s love was there in Snow Swallow Palace as well, so he knew better than anyone what it meant.
Lin Liushui"s heartfelt sigh was answer enough. "If it was someone other than Xu Yanzhi, one of the most famous of the Snow Swallow Palace"s Inner Disciples, he might stand a chance. But you witnessed how abruptly the Elder had appeared, and interfered that night. That is as good as trying to cut the threads from the very beginning, isn"t it? To try to prevent the two of them from developing their feelings any further.
"Since she is an Inner Disciple, she will definitely be watched very carefully. He will never get a chance to approach her alone, even if he gets to approach the Snow Swallow Palace. So he might as well forget her, if he can. If he does not, and tries to s.n.a.t.c.h her away ... He doesn"t have much of a chance, does he, of succeeding.
"But he will learn of that soon enough. But do not worry! If worse comes to worst, I will be there for him. It is all that I can do."
Li Changhai sighed along with the older man. Then something occurred to him, and he could not help but ask:
"Wait. If that is the case for someone as lofty as Xu Yanzhi ... What about the ordinary disciples? Surely they will not be as closely watched? In that case, Brother Liushui, why don"t you yourself s.n.a.t.c.h away the one that you love? She loves you deeply and will definitely take the chance to fly away with you*."
Lin Liushui laughed bitterly, and clasped his hand on the Second Ducal Prince"s shoulder. He smiled, though there was nothing to smile about. "You think I don"t know that. Do you even know how many times I have considered it? It would be a simple thing, as you said. But what happens to us after that?
"I am a scion of a rather famous family, and will definitely draw the attention of the martial world if I do something like that. It would be enough to make me notorious, and her name will also be affected. How can I drag her into those kind of circ.u.mstances?
"Besides, do you think that the Snow Swallow Palace would not send their people out to look for us? What would her fate be, if they were to catch us? If they were to drag her back there?"
He sighed again, and shook his head at the Second Ducal Prince. Who wished he hadn"t asked. "So I can only wait, and try to catch any word of her while I wait. Qin Feng"s infatuation with Xu Yanzhi might be something more, so I will be attaching myself to him shamelessly, when he decides to head that way. You can count on that!"
* * *
*Okay, what I was thinking of using was 远走高飞. But this is as far as I got with my weak command of Mandarin. Any other suggestions?