ITF Chapter69

No one dared to move or make a sound in the empty, abandoned residence; the dozen or so guards stood completely frozen like statues.

After a long time, it was Bai Jiashu who took the initiative to break this deathly silence, “What a spectacular final speech. Since you are so candid, let me exchange a secret with you as well.”

He bent down, pressed his face close to Bai Heting’s ear, and whispered, “Your mother was a person of noble status; he was originally meant to marry into Alita as a princess consort. And that person you follow with absolute loyalty…” He continued in a voice that only the two of them could hear clearly, “was once the legitimately wedded spouse of your mother. But for the sake of the throne, he abandoned his beautiful, pregnant wife. What is even more tragic is that the witnesses to that wedding can no longer speak at all.”

Bai Heting’s hand clutching his lapel dropped down. Bai Jiashu stood up straight again, looked down, and said, “You ought to thank me instead; I avenged him.” After saying this, he turned his face back to Jiang Han and urged impatiently, “What are you still dawdling for?”

Jiang Han stared at Bai Heting’s lower abdomen silently.

Nurtured there was the offspring of the Pei family, an existence that Bei Chengzhou would protect with his life. If he were to kill that child with his own hands, Bei Chengzhou would absolutely never forgive him in the afterlife.

He remained motionless as if scared out of his wits. Losing all patience, Bai Jiashu extended his hand toward a guard on the side, “Give me the sword.”

If that sword stabbed down, Bai Heting would undoubtedly face a grim fate. Jiang Han tried his utmost to calm himself down and pulled away Bai Heting’s hand, which was instinctively protecting his lower abdomen.

“How could we soil Your Majesty’s noble hands,” he took a deep breath and said, “I will do it.”

*

Bai Heting woke up to the sound of surging tides.

When he woke up, Jiang Han was seated beside the bed preparing herbal medicine. Seeing him struggle several times to move, Jiang Han quickly set aside what he was doing and hurried over.

“Don’t move,” he pressed down on Bai Heting’s shoulder and said softly, “the wound hasn’t healed yet.”

The salty, fishy moisture of the sea diffused through the air. Bai Heting’s gaze slowly swept across this wooden cabin, finally landing on the wide-open window.

Outside the window was a stretch of sky as blue as if it had been washed clean.

“Where is this?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his throat was terribly hoarse, barely able to make any sound beyond a whisper.

But Jiang Han understood. He answered, “This is my home.”

To be precise, this was the hometown he had left for more than ten years. He had a rather comfortable residence in the capital, but now, there was no going back there.

Bai Heting did not speak further, only staring blankly out the window. Jiang Han asked tentatively, “Do you still remember what happened?”

Regarding the events after that day, only a few fragmented memories remained in Bai Heting’s mind.

He vaguely remembered that on that night when he was half-dead, two guards had bound him, and this Beta physician together with hemp ropes before throwing them off a cliff. Though the frail-looking physician had already suffered a sword wound, he still used his arms to shield Bai Heting’s head and lower back as they tumbled down the mountainside.

He had little memory of what happened after that.

He still couldn’t completely fathom what this physician was thinking. He had seen cold, murderous intent in his eyes, yet for some reason, the man had changed his mind at the last moment and risked his life to save him.

Jiang Han asked again, “What else do you remember? Do you know who you are?”

Bai Heting did not answer a single question. He stared out the window in silence for a long time, and finally, shook his head gently.

Jiang Han actually hadn’t expected him to survive under such circumstances; this man’s vitality was tenacious far beyond his imagination. However, being separated from his lover, betrayed by his relative, and having lost his child—perhaps for him, amnesia was a form of relief instead. Jiang Han let out an almost imperceptible sigh, “I handled the wound on your abdomen as meticulously as possible, but since it did injure vital organs after all, I’m afraid it will take some time to recover.”

A flicker passed through Bai Heting’s eyes. Lowering his gaze, he lifted a hand to cover his lower abdomen, where a dull ache still throbbed persistently.

“Don’t touch the wound.” Jiang Han pulled his hand away.

“Also…” He paused for a moment and added, “You originally had a permanent mark, but the gland became infected. I had no choice but to perform a cleansing surgery for you. It will take about three months to half a year for the gland to grow back fully.”

Bai Heting looked out the window once more.

This matter actually required no reminder from anyone else. He had realized it the moment he woke up: his fir pheromones had already reverted to their familiar, bland scent.

“Although this place is isolated, it is very safe,” Jiang Han instructed earnestly. “Before your memory returns, don’t run around outside. Just focus on recovering from your injuries here.”

The waves rolled onto the rocky shore and retreated once more, the steady rhythm of the tide carrying an almost hypnotic quality. Bai Heting gave no further response to his words, only closing his eyes in exhaustion. Seeing that he was tired, Jiang Han said nothing else, only adding, “My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Han.” He paused for a moment, then spoke again with some trepidation, “I need something to call you by. I had a younger brother named Jiang Xu who passed away in childhood. If you don’t mind…”

Bai Heting opened his eyes unexpectedly.

Jiang Han felt flustered under his direct stare. If his previous investigation hadn’t gone wrong, Bai Heting was a year older than him, and besides, his temper didn’t seem to be very good…

But Bai Heting quickly closed his eyes again.

He said indifferently, “Thanks.”

*

Summer gave way to autumn, and Bai Heting still showed no signs of regaining his memory. However, Jiang Han soon realized that many of his earlier concerns had been unnecessary. Although Bai Heting was cold toward others, his temper could not be considered bad. He never wandered far, nor did he interact with anyone else in the village. In fact, he rarely even spoke.

He liked to sit by the sea to feel the ocean breeze by himself.

The autumn beach already carried a chill. Jiang Han made his way onto the rocky beach with his steps uneven as the rounded stones crunched beneath his feet. He came to Bai Heting’s side and sat down beside him, noticing a book in his hand.

Jiang Han only knew that it was a famous romantic tragedy.

“Do you like the play?” He asked curiously.

Bai Heting closed the book and answered candidly, “No.”

“You don’t like it, yet you’ve been reading it for so many days?” Jiang Han couldn’t help but chuckle. “What is it about?”

Bai Heting placed the book down on the rocky beach and remained silent for a moment.

“It’s about a…” He stared straight ahead and summarized simply, “story that never should have begun.”

“What do you mean by a story that never should have begun?”

“If the beginning is just the end, they wouldn’t have had to endure all the pain that followed.”

Dark clouds hung low over the horizon, and towering white waves crashed and broke against the reefs with a loud, roaring surge. Jiang Han gazed into the distance alongside him, and only after a brief silence did he speak, “When I was in medical school, a senior brother who treated me very well once said,” his voice grew lower as his eyes gradually dimmed, “Living in this world, there are some pains that must be endured, and some responsibilities that must be borne.”

“Did he bear them?” Bai Heting asked.

Jiang Han nodded, “He did.”

“How is he now?”

“He died.”

After saying that, Jiang Han couldn’t help but lower his gaze with a wry smile, ultimately yielding and adding, “You’re right.”

A muffled roll of thunder suddenly dropped from the sky, splitting the silence before the arrival of the storm. Jiang Han looked at the dark clouds overhead and muttered in bewilderment, “It looks like a torrential rain is coming. It’s already autumn, why is there still rain like this?”

Bai Heting stared at the sea where the wind and waves were rising but did not reply.

On that autumn night a year ago, in the Royal Hunting Grounds, he had also encountered a downpour of torrential rain.

“Let’s go back.” Jiang Han composed his emotions, turned to look at Bai Heting, and advised gently, “Your health is poor, don’t catch a cold.”

Bai Heting gave an “en” in response, propped his hand against the rocky beach to stand up, and after walking just a few steps, heard Jiang Han call out from behind, “Jiang Xu—your book!”

“You can have it,” Bai Heting said without stopping his pace or turning his head. “I don’t want it anymore.”

He had never been one to cling to material objects, so Jiang Han wasn’t surprised either, and flipped open the volume left behind.

Sandwiched between the pages of the book was a flattened piece of bristlegrass, likely used as a bookmark.

There was actually a damp stain right next to the bristlegrass.

Jiang Han looked up at the sky, lifting his palm to feel for rain, and asked in confusion, “Is it already raining?” After waiting a few seconds without feeling any raindrops, he lowered his gaze and returned his attention to the book.

“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”

The round wet stain had long since spread out, like a scar over that line of dialogue.

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