As his consciousness drifted, it felt as though his soul had left his body, wandering through the void and passing through one scene after another. It was like a dream—bizarre, ethereal, with no sense of place or direction.
The only thing Ye Zhao understood clearly was that the protagonist in those many unfamiliar dreams... was always himself.
...
Time flickered by, and three days passed.
Hearing that Ye Zhao had finally woken up, Jiang Ziqi made a special trip to visit him. Upon entering the gates, he didn't see the three members of the Ye family. He looked around and eventually spotted Ye Zhao’s parents standing before the door of the study.
Seeing them both frowning, looking hesitant and peering into the room from time to time, Jiang Ziqi was puzzled. "Uncle, Aunt, what are you doing here?"
Jiang Ziqi’s sudden voice startled them.
"Shh!" Ye Zhao’s father raised a finger to his lips, his expression nervous. He gestured for Jiang Ziqi to be quiet, then pulled him aside and whispered in his ear, "Don't disturb my son!"
Jiang Ziqi was utterly confused. "Ye Zhao is inside? Then I'll go find him."
He reflexively ignored the father’s warning. Just as he took a step to leave, he was pulled back firmly.
Ye Zhao’s father looked incredibly serious as he shook his head slowly but resolutely. "You can't go in. My son wants to be alone."
"What?" Jiang Ziqi didn't quite understand. He thought for a moment, then looked at Ye Zhao’s mother and whispered to the father, "Did Ye Zhao do something wrong again and get scolded by Aunt?"
The father shook his head.
Jiang Ziqi asked again, "Then what happened? Why does he suddenly want to be alone?"
Who could have discouraged Ye Zhao? The man wasn't the type to suddenly shut himself away in meditation...
"Sigh, I don't know," the father sighed. "He’s been like this since he woke up. His whole person has become a bit strange, as if he’s lost his soul."
Ye Zhao’s mother stood coldly to the side, her elegant brows slightly furrowed. She dismantled her husband's concern without mercy. "What else could it be? He probably slept so long his brain isn't clear yet."
"Oh, my dear, can't you stop criticizing the boy for once?" the father said helplessly.
The mother smoothed her sleeves, her face calm. "If I don't talk about him, should I talk about you?"
"That’s not it. You should remember the boy's good points. So what if you spoke to him and he didn't respond? He just woke up and hasn't gathered his wits yet. It’s normal," he comforted her.
Mentioning this only made the mother remember. When she saw Ye Zhao wake up, she had gone over and spoken two sentences to him, but he hadn't given any response at all.
However, what truly bothered her was the expression Ye Zhao had when he looked at her—eyes as still as a deep pool. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were devoid of any emotion.
But she was his mother. How could he look at her with such a gaze?
No, there had been one other time. That time at the execution ground, when he had pretended to be Tianshu—the scene then was so similar to the one now.
"Ye Yuan!"
The mother’s voice rose with a hint of anger, but then it gradually lowered. Her expression became tinged with trepidation and unease. She asked hesitantly, "Do you think it's possible our son has remembered Tian—"
Before she could finish, the father suddenly interrupted her. "What nonsense are you talking!"
"It's one thing for outsiders to spread rumors, but why are you joining in the fuss?" The father’s eyes widened in a show of indignation. "He’s flesh of your flesh; don't you know your own son?"
The mother’s hesitation was effectively dispelled. She turned her head away somewhat sheepishly. "I know! Do you really need to lecture me?"
Just then, Ye Zhao walked out of the room.
He was dressed in simple casual robes, his expression peaceful. He gave the three people at the door a faint glance before offering a slight smile. "Father, Mother, do you need something from me?"
The parents looked at each other, hiding the confusion and doubt in their eyes.
"Ahem, it’s nothing, nothing." The father’s smile was a bit awkward. He looked at Jiang Ziqi and said quickly, "It just so happens Nephew Jiang is here. You two chat, you two chat..."
With that, he pulled the mother away and walked off quickly.
Inside the quiet study, Jiang Ziqi set down his teacup and looked at the person sitting behind the desk, his face full of doubt. "Why do I feel like you're a bit strange today?"
Ye Zhao set down the travelogue in his hand, took a sip of tea, and replied calmly, "Oh? Is that so? Haven't I always been like this?"
Jiang Ziqi stared at him for a while but couldn't see anything specific. He sighed listlessly. "I suppose."
After those words, the study fell into silence again.
For some reason, even when the two of them had been alone in silence before, Jiang Ziqi had never felt the air be this quiet—so quiet it made him feel... uncomfortable.
Seeing the gauze wrapped around Ye Zhao’s forehead, his Adam's apple bobbed as he managed to say, "The wound on your head hasn't healed yet?"
"It's almost there. To avoid scarring, I'm applying medicine for a couple more days."
"Oh..."
The conversation ended there again. Jiang Ziqi didn't know what else to say. After sitting for a short while, he stood up, bid his farewell, and left.
Ye Zhao’s unusual behavior only lasted for a day. By the next morning, he had returned to his usual state—leisurely drifting about like a "salted fish." No one paid much mind to the minor oddity of the previous day.
Everyone has bad moods occasionally; he was no exception.
Even when the culprit who had caused him to faint for three days came to visit, he was able to remain as calm as still water, greeting him with a smile.
"I say, how are you so weak?! I barely used any strength in that punch, yet you were out for so many days."
In the small courtyard, Ye Zhao leisurely used a pair of small scissors to prune a potted plant. He showed no self-awareness of being looked down upon, not even looking up as he said, "Yes, you are indeed 'old but vigorous.'"
Wei Xiyang was choked by the remark, then added, "...If you ask me, you should train more! How can a man fall over at a single touch!"
"Yes, everything you say is correct."
Once again, Wei Xiyang was stuck. He sat there shifting his weight from side to side, as if there were nails on the stool.
Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a long brocade box sitting on the stone table. His expression soured. "What are you going to do with that thing?"
Inside was a broken arrow.
Years ago, when Tianshu and Xiao Mu first met on the battlefield, Tianshu had personally gifted the latter an arrow that nearly took Xiao Mu’s life. Unexpectedly, the more the two fought, the more they came to respect each other.
Not only was the grudge of the arrow never settled, but somehow, an ambiguous story spread that Xiao Mu had experienced "love at first arrow" for Tianshu.
Ye Zhao looked back and clearly saw the words "I want to destroy the evidence" written all over the general's face. He smiled.
That box had actually been brought by Wei Xiyang, though he was delivering it on behalf of Xiao Hongfei. This had infuriated the old general to the point where he wanted to chop the thing apart with a saber just to be rid of it.
But he couldn't. Xiao Hongfei’s action had been officially sanctioned by the Emperor; Wei Xiyang couldn't simply follow his whims.
Ye Zhao didn't need to look to know what was inside. He sighed. "It is, after all, something someone cherished for many years. It's fine for it to stay with me."
Instantly, the look Wei Xiyang gave Ye Zhao became fierce.
Ye Zhao smiled helplessly, not nervous in the least. "Whether there was anything between him and me—don't you know that better than anyone?"
Wei Xiyang’s expression froze. His eyes widened as he looked at Ye Zhao, but soon, he seemed to rationalize something, and the shock faded from his face.
"True. You don't even know him, so how could there be any private feelings."
As he spoke, he observed Ye Zhao’s every move. It was as if the moment Ye Zhao showed any reaction inconsistent with those words, it would confirm a certain suspicion.
But there was nothing. Ye Zhao’s reaction was flat, as if there was nothing wrong with the statement.
Only then did Wei Xiyang believe he was overthinking things. Just a moment ago, he had thought Ye Zhao had remembered the past.
He sighed inwardly, and after a while, he said awkwardly, "Is... is your body fully recovered? I hope there aren't any internal injuries."
"Pfft—" Ye Zhao let out a silent laugh. He didn't look back, only saying, "Don't worry. I can live another ten years."
"Ten years? How is ten years enough?!" Wei Xiyang blurted out immediately. "You have to live at least another forty or fifty!"
Ye Zhao laughed out loud and glanced back at him. "You don't wish for me to live long enough to become a thousand-year-old tortoise, do you?"
Wei Xiyang turned his face away, keeping a stiff expression and saying nothing. His face looked intimidating enough to scare people, but it couldn't fool Ye Zhao.
"You... you still have that same foul temperament."
A breeze swept past, gently fluttering Ye Zhao’s hem. He looked down at the plant before him, his gaze softening.
In that instant, Wei Xiyang suddenly felt a strange sensation. He froze. "You..."
"Autumn is coming. When winter arrives, the snow-covered Winter Plains must be very beautiful."
But there were no plains around the capital of Tianshangjing. Ye Zhao looked at the yellowing tips of the leaves and spoke softly, his tone sounding like a lament, or perhaps just an idle thought.
Then he changed the subject abruptly. "I want to rest at home for a few days. Tell the others not to disturb me."
Having said that, he set down the scissors and walked away slowly.
Staring at his retreating back, Wei Xiyang frowned. Why did he feel Ye Zhao was strange?
In the past, he had also lived at this unhurried pace, but compared to now, there was an indescribable feeling...
It was like... like...
Wei Xiyang’s thoughts were tied in knots. Unable to figure it out, he left with a troubled face.
Ye Zhao stayed home for several days. During that time, not many people came to disturb him; it seemed Wei Xiyang had conveyed his wishes well.
Even when the envoys from the two countries left Tianshangjing in early October, he did not go out to join the excitement.
...
"What exactly is wrong with you lately?" In the room, Jiang Ziqi stared at the person sitting across from him, his face a mix of frustration and confusion. "Tell me the truth!"
The weather had begun to turn cool. Ye Zhao had a thin robe draped over his shoulders. His frame was thin, carrying a faint air of languid detachment. Jiang Ziqi didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt Ye Zhao had changed.
But the face was still the same. As Jiang Ziqi stared intently, Ye Zhao slowly raised his eyes and replied calmly, "It's nothing. I'm just... tired."
"Tired?" Jiang Ziqi was skeptical at first, but then he remembered what Ye Zhao had gone through at West Mountain. He figured that was indeed exhausting. But...
He said curiously, "Since you returned from West Mountain, you've rested for so many days. That should be enough, right?"
"And if I say it isn't enough, what will you do?" Ye Zhao looked at him and asked in return.
Strangely, the longer he met those eyes, the more Jiang Ziqi began to feel a sense of nervousness—an experience he had never had before.
Similarly, he noticed the change in his own psyche, and his expression turned serious. "You... then what do you want to do?"
His tone sounded steady enough, aside from a slight stammer at the start.
But only he knew that in that moment, he had nearly blurted out—"Who are you?!"
How could he ask that?!
Jiang Ziqi was both shocked and suspicious. The person before him was his most familiar friend. How could he... how could he ask such a question?!
Something was wrong! Terribly wrong! If it wasn't him, then the person with the problem had to be Ye Zhao!!
Ye Zhao lowered his eyes and took a small sip of tea, seemingly unaware of the stiffness on the other man's face.
"I want to go look around," Ye Zhao said slowly.
Jiang Ziqi was already on high alert. Hearing this, he asked nonchalantly, "Oh? Then why do you keep staying at home?"
If he wanted to go out, he could just go. No one was stopping him. Why say it like that?
Ye Zhao looked at him with a flat expression. "What I mean is, leaving Tianshangjing to wander the mountains and seas, to see the scenery of this world. Do you understand?"
He spoke almost one word at a time.
Jiang Ziqi’s eyes grew wider and wider. Long after Ye Zhao’s last syllable fell, he didn't make a sound.
Swallowing hard, he continued to look at the man before him, but his throat had gone stiff. He forced a rigid smile. "Wh-why the sudden idea? Didn't you... didn't you have no such plans before?"
"Having walked the line between life and death, I've gained some perspective," Ye Zhao explained blandly. "Besides, I recall having such plans before. Did your Fengyun Mansion not find any information regarding that?"
*Thump—Thump—*
The heart in his chest was beating rapidly. Jiang Ziqi never knew there would come a day when he would be this nervous talking to Ye Zhao.
He heard himself reply quickly, "No, I just forgot. You did say that before, haha..."
He gave a couple of dry laughs, pretending not to care. Ye Zhao didn't say much more.
However, as Jiang Ziqi watched the man who had already looked away, he couldn't help but ask, "Do Uncle and Aunt know your thoughts?"
He thought his tongue would tie again, but surprisingly, the words came out exceptionally smooth.
Hearing this, Ye Zhao paused slightly and looked up. "I will tell them before I leave."
But by then, it would be a notification, not a consultation.
Jiang Ziqi also understood from those words that he truly intended to leave Tianshangjing.
"When are you leaving?"
"Not yet decided."
Jiang Ziqi opened his mouth but found himself speechless. Countless questions couldn't be asked. If it were before, he would have asked anything directly, but now...
His gaze dimmed slightly. After a few seconds of silence, he finally tried his best to keep his voice calm. "Fine. Let me know before you go."
"Mm."
Ye Zhao didn't refuse, lowering his head back to the pages of his book.
Jiang Ziqi stood up silently and turned to walk out. At the same time, the hand hidden in his sleeve couldn't stop trembling.
"Jiang Ziqi."
Ye Zhao’s light, peaceful voice came from behind him.
He turned around, steadying his facial expression. He looked very calm, with a hint of slight confusion—a perfect reaction for a normal person being suddenly called back.
He saw Ye Zhao give a slight smile. "Do you still remember the four-character mantra I told you?"
Jiang Ziqi’s pupils shrank violently. His body froze in place.
*‘Speak cautiously, act prudently.’*
The words Ye Zhao had once used to warn him when they were alone in private now echoed silently in his ears, making his scalp tingle with a tremor.
He didn't remember how he walked out of the Ye residence. He only knew that in his blank mind, one sentence was clear and striking—Lord Tianshu has truly returned!
That wasn't Ye Zhao! That definitely wasn't Ye Zhao!!
That final, warning-like sentence made Jiang Ziqi’s intuition scream.
As a companion who had struggled alongside Ye Zhao for years, he was one hundred percent certain that Ye Zhao was no longer the Ye Zhao of before!
No, he hadn't been the old Ye Zhao for a long time...
Thinking of the changes that had slowly occurred in Ye Zhao over the past year or so, Jiang Ziqi felt a sense of bewilderment.
He didn't know if others had realized that Ye Zhao might have recovered Tianshu’s memories. He only knew that his mind was currently a tangled mess—nervousness, worry, fear, excitement—all sorts of emotions surged into his heart like a knocked-over spice rack.
***
