Mistaken Husband After Blindness

Si remembered clearly, it was the day they descended the mountain.

Before parting, Aunt Li seemed hesitant, her words tinged with reluctance, advising Si to look forward no matter what.

At the time, Si thought Aunt Li was worried she might sink into despair because of her blindness. But now, it seemed there might be more to it…

Si suddenly opened her eyes, clutching the corner of the quilt tightly.

Could it be that Aunt Li was being coerced?

They were set to leave for Jiankang in two days. No, she had to confirm this before then.

What if her husband had really been replaced by someone else? Would she end up in the hands of another Zheng Wu?

The thought of having once mistaken a villain for a father sent a shiver down her spine. Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she called out to Zhuyuan: "Zhuyuan, I can't sleep. Let's chat for a while, alright?"

Though surprised, Zhuyuan agreed.

She remembered Yan Shuheng's warning: "Speak less, err less, and don't let the lady suspect anything." So, for the most part, she simply listened.

To avoid seeming abrupt, Si began by casually discussing the local customs and scenery, eventually steering the conversation toward Jiang Hui: "Ever since I lost my sight, I haven’t been able to see my husband’s face. Though he’s by my side, it feels like something’s missing. Zhuyuan, since you can see, could you describe what he looks like for me?"

Zhuyuan was visibly uncomfortable, her voice trembling slightly: "Madam… this servant doesn’t dare to say."

Her reaction made Si’s heart tighten.

Si spoke gently, like an elder sister comforting her: "It’s just the two of us. Even if you say something wrong, I won’t blame you."

"No, it’s not that," Zhuyuan whispered in explanation. "When I worked for another family, I once glanced at the master out of curiosity. The mistress saw it and accused me of trying to seduce him. Since then, I’ve never dared to raise my head in front of my superiors…"

Si recalled how she used to hide her face when going out, afraid of attracting the attention of reckless young men. Feeling sympathy, she decided not to press further and let the girl rest. She would have to investigate this herself.

Overthinking wouldn’t help. Jiang Hui was sure to return the next day to arrange their departure. She could test him then.

Si recalled Jiang Hui’s voice, comforting herself that even someone skilled at mimicking voices couldn’t maintain it perfectly at all times. He was Jiang Hui, there was no doubt about it.

At least, not until she woke up.

Late into the night, after the sound of soft breathing filled the room, a slender figure carrying a lantern slipped out to the study at the front of the house.

Chuan Yun listened carefully to Zhuyuan’s report and went to Yan Shuheng’s room. The young man was still awake, deep in thought over a political essay.

"Young Master, there’s something unusual happening in the courtyard."

"Is that so?" Yan Shuheng, who had seemed weary moments ago, now had a glimmer of interest in his eyes.

Chuan Yun sighed inwardly at his master’s delight in such situations. He relayed everything Zhuyuan had said and added with concern, "My big mouth… the assassin’s wife is starting to suspect you. Did I jinx it again?"

It wasn’t the first time she’d been suspicious.

Yan Shuheng set down the bamboo scroll: "Chuan Yun, do you know how to minimize mistakes?"

Chuan Yun was intrigued: "How?"

Yan Shuheng smiled mysteriously: "If you treat the fake as real, won’t it become indistinguishable from the truth?"

"Young… Young Master?"

Chuan Yun was stunned. Just a few days ago, his master had retorted, asking if he thought he was blinded by beauty.

Who could have imagined that in such a short time…

Ah, what a twisted fate!

"But… but that woman is the wife of your enemy!" The usually eloquent young man stammered.

Yan Shuheng glanced at him with a smile: "What’s with all this ‘that woman’ and ‘this woman’? No wonder you’re giving yourself away."

Chuan Yun was confused: "Ah… then what should I do?"

Yan Shuheng lowered his lashes, smiling without answering. The flickering candlelight cast shadows beneath his eyes, like the gentle fluttering of butterfly wings—soft yet inscrutable.

"The more she doubts me, the happier I am.

"And the more at ease I feel with her."

Chuan Yun was baffled: "I don’t understand. Why are you happier the more she suspects you?"

Does the Young Master have some hidden preference?

As his thoughts raced, Yan Shuheng tapped the table: "Are you thinking again that I’m blinded by beauty?"

"Young Master is always far-sighted. How could that be?" Chuan Yun quickly denied, sensing the mood.

He stole a glance at Yan Shuheng and saw a flicker of candlelight in his eyes, shining brightly.

The young man suddenly understood. How could he have forgotten?

The Young Master despised monotony. He enjoyed interesting things, loved control, but didn’t like things that were too easy to control. He preferred to corner his prey step by step, savoring the process of gaining mastery.

What excited him most wasn’t the moment of capturing his prey, but the game of strategy when the prey resisted just enough, allowing him to keep the situation firmly in his grasp.

The more the lady doubted and tested him, the more challenging it became, and the more he enjoyed the game.

Once he figured this out, Chuan Yun stopped worrying. If his master was enjoying himself, they would naturally play along.

With a serious expression, he said, "This servant will do everything to assist the Young Master and keep the lady… I mean, Madam, at ease!"

The next morning, as Si was pondering how to test Jiang Hui, Zhuyuan informed her that the master had returned.

Her heart raced, and she hastily threw on her outer robe and stood up: "Hu… you’re back."

Yan Shuheng noticed this and smiled to himself.

Usually, she would affectionately call him "husband," her voice brimming with tenderness, even tugging at his sleeve. But now, she could barely utter a single word.

It seemed she had discovered something crucial.

He replied calmly, "Yes, are you all packed?"

Si said she didn’t have much to pack, then added, "I’d like to go out for a walk. Is that alright?"

When he didn’t respond, she explained, "We’ll be leaving soon. I’d like to visit the place where we first fell in love."

"The place where we fell in love?" Yan Shuheng’s voice was low and unhurried. "Where was that?"

Si countered, "Don’t you remember?"

He simply smiled and said leisurely, "Tell me. Let’s see if you truly remember or if you’re just pretending."

Si tilted her head, recalling.

It wasn’t exactly a grand declaration of love, more like a mutual acknowledgment of feelings.

Two months ago, they had left Licheng. Si had planned to find her own path once she escaped her troubles, but after leaving, she realized how difficult it was for a woman to survive alone in this world.

But with no family or friends, what could she do?

That morning, they were walking through an alley. Si was silently contemplating her uncertain future.

Beside her, the young swordsman was also silent, his expression as cold as ever, though the blush on his ears from her earlier teasing hadn’t faded.

It had started when Si mentioned their time in Licheng.

She had joked, "A month ago, when you were still recovering from your injuries, we weren’t close. But I always felt like we’d met before. You often looked at me as if lost in thought. Had we crossed paths in the past?"

Jiang Hui had been lost in his own thoughts, but at her words, his eyes snapped open, his phoenix-like gaze locking onto hers.

His eyes were deep, filled with confusion.

Seeing his bewilderment, Si couldn’t help but tease, "Could it be that I guessed right? Do you like me, Jiang Hui?"

Jiang Hui’s brows furrowed briefly before relaxing. He denied it calmly, but the tips of his ears betrayed him, turning red.

Si had guessed correctly, thinking to herself how strange he was.

He seemed cold and indifferent, yet when others were in trouble, she had seen the sharp, sword-like resolve in his eyes, expecting him to turn away. But in the end, he would always lend a hand.

It was as if he was trying to harden his heart, but couldn’t resist his innate kindness.

Si looked at the sword in his hand and his tall, slender figure, and a thought crossed her mind: perhaps he could be the sword that helped her escape this turmoil.

So she slowed her pace and murmured regretfully, "So it wasn’t true after all. I thought… I thought he might have liked me a little too…"

She knew Jiang Hui, as a martial artist, had keen senses, so she deliberately lowered her voice, emphasizing the word "too" to test him.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw him freeze, his ears turning bright red as if set aflame.

Though he pretended not to hear her that day, his attitude toward her changed significantly afterward.

On their wedding night, after they drank the ceremonial wine, Si brought it up again, hoping to add some genuine affection to their marriage, which had begun out of gratitude.

Jiang Hui, unable to withstand her teasing, quietly allowed her to call that day their "day of love."

Si withdrew her thoughts and tugged at the sleeve of the man beside her. "Husband? How about a bet? Take me out for a stroll, it doesn’t have to be the place where we first fell in love. I just want to see if the places we think of are the same. I bet you don’t remember."

In truth, she could have tested him at home.

But Si thought that if he wasn’t her husband, this small courtyard would feel like a prison. If she tested him outside and something felt off, at least she could seek help from passersby. With a bit of luck, she might even encounter a chivalrous hero.

The young man didn’t notice anything unusual.

He smiled and said, "I’d be happy to oblige."

They set out on horseback once again.

When the horse slowed down, Si heard the sound of water all around. She asked him, "Where is this?"

"It’s a lakeside planted with lotuses."

"Lakeside?"

He had indeed made a mistake.

He should have taken her to the streets and alleys.

Though the silk blindfold covered Si’s eyes, her momentary stiffness couldn’t be hidden.

Yan Shuheng, who had willingly stepped into this trap, smiled even more when he saw her startled reaction.

The young woman lowered her head slightly, her clothes exuding wariness. Her hand, mostly hidden by her sleeve, tightened and then relaxed, likely trying to maintain composure while frantically thinking of a way to respond.

He interrupted at the right moment, "Actually, the place where you think we fell in love might be different from what I have in mind."

That was possible, but Si still had her doubts. Without showing it, she asked curiously, "How so?"

He fell silent, perhaps reminiscing.

Or maybe he was making something up on the spot.

The silence and the endless darkness before her eyes heightened Si’s unease. All she could hear was her own increasingly rapid heartbeat. After a long while, the man with a voice as clear as jade striking jade spoke, "Long before you knew me, I saw you by a lotus pond in Licheng. It was just a fleeting glimpse. You seemed timid, and I didn’t want to startle you, so I only watched from afar. The meeting that followed, which you saw as our first encounter, was, in my eyes, the moment my feelings for you began."

The teasing in Yan Shuheng’s eyes faded, replaced by a gaze that held a mix of sincerity and pretense. "So, for me, the place where we fell in love is by the water."

For no reason, Si recalled a dream. A man with a pleasant voice had promised to marry her when she turned seventeen.

That voice had flowed out of a dream by a stream, blending with the voice of the man before her. The gentle warmth in his tone was so similar to the one in her dream.

Si pressed a hand to her temple.

She suddenly couldn’t remember Jiang Hui’s face, only this pleasant voice remained.

This voice always made her oscillate between doubt and trust whenever she was filled with suspicion.

Well, she would have to find another opportunity to test him.

As Si fell silent, Yan Shuheng led her to the lakeside. His guards, following his orders, fetched a small boat.

He stepped onto the boat first and called out to Si, who stood motionless on the shore, "Give me your hand."

Si hesitated. What if he revealed his true self on the boat and pushed her into the water?

As if reading her thoughts, he asked half-jokingly, "Are you afraid I’d harm my own wife?"

"Of course not…" Si was struck by his words. If he wasn’t Jiang Hui, why would he go to such lengths to impersonate her husband and patiently play this charade? There must be a deeper motive.

He certainly wouldn’t want to kill her.

She reached out her hand, deliberately pulling it back slightly when their fingers touched. "The water isn’t as steady as land. Are you strong enough to catch me?"

Yan Shuheng remembered her saying that the assassin had a mole on his chest, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a robust build. How could she not know her husband’s physique? She was likely setting another trap for him. He countered, "How is my strength? Has my wife not experienced it before?"

This vague but suggestive remark was meant to hint that he remembered their intimate "past."

Si thought he was referring to the time she had accidentally seen him changing clothes, and her doubt wavered.

She extended her hand again, and in the next moment, she was lifted into his arms.

The boat rocked violently, and Si, forgetting her wariness, clung tightly to his waist, burying her face in his chest. The erratic beating of his heart reached her ears through his robe.

The boat soon steadied, and Si pulled away from his embrace, thinking to herself that his arms were indeed strong.

But not as strong as before.

Just as she was about to find an opportunity to test him further, he beat her to it, sighing self-deprecatingly, "Since my injury, my strength hasn’t been what it used to be. I’ve frightened you, my wife."

Si exclaimed in surprise, "Injury?"

"Don’t worry, my wife. It’s nothing serious, just a tendon injury. My martial skills aren’t what they used to be."

Thinking she was concerned for him, his tone softened, and he gently ruffled her hair.

Si felt a mix of emotions. If what he said was true and not just an excuse, a martial artist losing their strength due to an injury would be a devastating blow.

Seeing her silence, he stroked her head again. "Don’t be sad. I’m fine."

He thought her silence was due to sadness.

But she had been doubting him.

Si couldn’t help but feel guilty and added a gentle concern, "How is your injury?"

He replied casually, "It’s just a minor injury. I was too eager to finish the task quickly and took a risky move. Fortunately, luck was on my side, and it didn’t do any lasting damage."

Si was stunned, repeatedly recalling his words, "finish the task quickly, took a risky move."

On the day Jiang Hui left, she had felt uneasy when he said he would be gone for several days. She had tugged at his sleeve, asking if he could stay, but he said the matter was urgent and promised to return as soon as possible.

Could it be that he had taken that risky move because he was worried about her and wanted to return to her sooner?

Si’s heart ached, but her doubts remained. She forced herself to be indifferent and asked, "Husband, didn’t you rely on your martial skills for a living? What will you do now?"

"I used to work as a spy for the court. My last mission earned me some merit, and my superior, knowing I had studied for a few years in my youth, transferred me to a civilian role. I’m to return to Jiankang with him. But switching fields isn’t easy. I’m not naturally talented, so I have to work harder to make up for it. That’s why I’ve been neglecting you."

Yan Shuheng paused, noticing that Si, though still deep in thought, had relaxed slightly, clearly moved by his words. He continued, "But it’s a blessing in disguise. Before, my identity forced me to stay in the shadows. Now, I can finally step into the light."

Si murmured, "So… you’re not naturally reclusive? It was just circumstances."

After they left the mountain, many of his habits had changed. If it was due to his change in status, it made sense.

But what about his temperament and tone? How could that be explained?

Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a warm touch on her temple. He was gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers tender as if she were a priceless treasure.

The rough pad of his thumb brushed against her neck, and her heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, he quickly withdrew his hand.

The young man suddenly said, "Actually, I’ve kept something from you. I’m not sure if I should tell you the truth."

His words reignited the suspicion that had just begun to settle in Si’s mind. Her brows furrowed slightly beneath the silk blindfold, and she asked with feigned innocence and gentleness, "Husband, you’ve kept something from me? What is it? Tell me…"

He seemed to hesitate, and after a long pause, he spoke again, his voice clear and cool like the early spring breeze.

"Have you ever suspected that I’m not the same person?"

Si couldn’t help but tremble.

The young man chuckled softly and said slowly, "Why are you trembling, my wife? Did I hit the mark?"