Soulbound: Chronicles Of A Shadow Assassin-Chapter 45: Unrequited Love

Mingyu’s words dashed Jiang Yichen’s expectations. "Madam Wang asked me to sweep the entire courtyard of the infirmary when we get back," Mingyu said, his voice firm but detached. "Since you’ve recovered and seem to be doing better, help me out."

Jiang Yichen’s face fell when he heard Mingyu’s request, and he tried to pull his hand back, but Mingyu held on tight.

"I’m speaking to you as your master right now," Mingyu said, his tone unyielding. Jiang Yichen scoffed, his expression incredulous. With a sudden burst of strength, he yanked his hand free from Mingyu’s grasp.

"Yinzhi," Jiang Yichen said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I’m a lazy guy who doesn’t do things he doesn’t feel motivated to do." He patted Mingyu on the shoulder, the gesture aggressive and dismissive. "Have fun sweeping."

Mingyu’s eyes widened in fury, his face reddening with anger. But Jiang Yichen didn’t wait around to hear Mingyu’s response. He turned and walked away, leaving Mingyu seething with frustration.

"You punk!" Mingyu yelled after him, his voice echoing through the courtyard. "Such a lazy, useless show-off!" The words hung in the air, a testament to the simmering tension between the two.

....

At Lin Xiaoyan’s private pavilion in Jinxing, Madam Wang and Lin Xiaoyan sat at a table on the open veranda, sipping tea and basking in the cool breeze that carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

Madam Wang’s face was wreathed in a pleased smile as she spoke, her eyes shining with satisfaction. "Master Zhang has been consistently making herbal drinks for Yichen," she said, her voice filled with warmth and approval. "It seems to be very effective, now that Young Master’s spiritual core is unsealed." She chuckled, her eyes twinkling with joy.

Lin Xiaoyan’s expression, however, was less than enthusiastic, his brow furrowed, "Head servant Wang, you seem very delighted," he said, his tone dripping with disapproval and his voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

"Are you really that upset that Young Master Jiang’s spiritual core has been unsealed?" Madam Wang’s gaze turned piercing, her eyes glinting with a hint of accusation and her expression turning stern.

"You did nothing even when he was about to die," she said, her words cutting deep, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and anger.

Lin Xiaoyan’s expression softened, a flicker of guilt crossing his face, his eyes dropping in shame. But Madam Wang wasn’t done, her words pouring out like a torrent.

"If not for Master Zhang’s intervention, Young Master Jiang would have died," she continued, her voice firm, her tone unyielding.

Lin Xiaoyan’s face was set in a stubborn expression, his jaw clenching in disagreement. "He should have looked for other ways to save Yichen without unsealing his spiritual core," he argued, his tone unyielding, his voice filled with conviction.

Madam Wang’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. "How cold of you," she said, her voice laced with disappointment.

But Lin Xiaoyan remained unmoved, his gaze drifting away from Madam Wang’s to the surrounding landscape, his eyes fixed on the distant mountains.

"You have always kept a distance from Young Master Jiang," Madam Wang observed, her tone turning speculative, her voice filled with curiosity. "Is it... because of the rumors?"

Lin Xiaoyan’s eyes snapped back to hers, his expression shocked, and face pale with surprise.

"What rumors?" he asked slowly, his voice cautious, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Madam Wang’s smile returned, her eyes glinting with mischief, her voice taking on a teasing tone. "Of course, you must have heard of it," she said, her tone light and playful. "There are rumors going about saying that you are the father of Young Master Jiang."

Lin Xiaoyan’s face turned beet red, his eyes wide with shock and embarrassment, his face contorting in fluster. "Do not... do not dare to speak of..." his words stumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. "Such absurd rumors!"

Madam Wang’s expression remained serene, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "It’s not completely absurd," she argued, her tone reasonable, and voice filled with conviction. "Let’s be honest. We both know how you used to fancy Lady Zi Yu before she got married."

Lin Xiaoyan’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, his eyes evading Madam Wang’s piercing gaze, his expression filled with shame.

"You used to write her poems and give her gifts," Madam Wang continued, her voice relentless, but her tone maintained a playful feel. "I’m a living witness." She placed her hand on her chest, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "People say you are still single because you are yet to get over her."

Lin Xiaoyan’s expression turned hesitant, his eyes narrowing slightly as he struggled to contain his emotions. But his petty side got the better of him, and he couldn’t resist taking a jab at Madam Wang. "What about you, then?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of malice, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you still head over heels for Jiang Renxing? Is that why you’re unmarried and still living in his house, catering to his every whim?"

Madam Wang’s eyes widened in shock, her face pale as she stuttered a "What?" before falling silent, her mouth hanging open in stunned surprise. Lin Xiaoyan pressed on, his words spilling out like a dam breaking, each sentence more biting than the last. "I know very well how you used to like him. When he told you he liked almond jelly, you climbed mountains just to get him apricot kernels, going to great lengths to satisfy his cravings."

The air was thick with tension as Madam Wang’s face froze in shock, her eyes fixed on Lin Xiaoyan’s. The silence was oppressive, heavy with unspoken emotions, until she finally let out a huff of breath and broke the silence. "What is your point?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of hurt, suddenly playing the victim, her tone defensive.

Lin Xiaoyan’s petty side vanished, replaced by guilt, as he realized the hurt he had caused. His expression softened, and he looked away, internally berating himself for his cruel words. "Fine!" Madam Wang continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "I admit I went here and there, collecting apricot kernels, searching high and low for the perfect ingredient. Making almond jelly was the only way I could express my feelings for him, a way to show him how much I cared."

The silence that followed was heavy with regret, the weight of their similar past bearing down on them. Lin Xiaoyan shut his eyes, and when he opened them, they were filled with remorse and understanding. "I’m not mocking you," he said gently, his voice filled with empathy. "Seeing you make all that almond jelly, going to such great lengths to please him... made me feel sad, reminded me of my own unrequited love."

Madam Wang’s gaze slowly turned back to Lin Xiaoyan, her eyes wide with surprise, her expression softening. Lin Xiaoyan continued, his voice filled with empathy. "I know how it feels to be in a situation where you can do nothing for the person you love, where you’re forced to watch from the sidelines as they move on with their life."

His words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of their shared experiences, the memories of their past loves and losses. "The passionate love we had back when we were young only ended up leaving a scar in our hearts," Lin Xiaoyan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Madam Wang’s expression softened, and she heaved a sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her regret. "I got too worked up about Young Master Jiang, and I said things which I shouldn’t have. Forgive me." She lowered her head, her voice filled with regret, her eyes welling up with tears.

Lin Xiaoyan’s expression turned somber, his eyes filled with concern. "I also care for Yichen greatly. I’m just afraid that unsealing his spiritual core might have broken the invincible barrier that has been protecting him all these while. It just makes me feel anxious, like we’re standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into the unknown."

Madam Wang’s face was a picture of understanding, her silence speaking volumes, her expression a mask of calm concern. Lin Xiaoyan’s expression turned grave, his eyes filled with a deep sense of foreboding. "If push comes to shove, I might have to stand against him in the future. I hope you do not resent me for that."

Madam Wang’s confusion was evident on her face, her eyes narrowing in concern. "What do you mean?" Lin Xiaoyan simply shook his head, a gentle smile on his face. "Don’t worry about that for now. Let’s just see how it goes."