Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

"I hate this horse! I hate it! I hate it!" Aya said through gritted teeth until her jaw hurt, but it wasn't just her jaw that hurt, every muscle, bone and nerve in her body was hurting. Shout pain. "Stop complaining, come down!" Jemin said, looking up at her.They stopped in front of the "Golden Goose Inn", and Jemin was waiting for her to dismount. They rode all day, and for Aya it was the longest day of her life.The insides of her thighs were ripped apart, the muscles in her legs ached, and the rest of her body felt like it was falling apart. "These animals were not created by God," she told Jemin. "They were created by demons to destroy mankind!" The beautiful little mare seemed to understand Aya's words, staring at her with malicious eyes.

"Aya, I'm tired," Jemin said. "I haven't slept for several days, and I haven't eaten anything for several hours, please let me down!" Aya looked at him in disgust. "I couldn't go down because I couldn't move any muscles in my body, they were all stiff." Rubbing his eyes, Jemin couldn't remember why he insisted on taking her, and raised his arm to Aya. "Otherwise if you fall on me, I will catch you." "I can't do that," she whispered, and Jemin could tell she wasn't joking. Maybe he should think about her, but he was too tired and worried.He raised his arms as high as he could, grabbed her waist and tried to pull her off the horse-but he couldn't pull her off.He had to let go, walked to the other side of the horse, and tried to remove her feet from the horse mirror.When he pulled her feet away, he found that Aya was so stiff that her legs couldn't bend at all.

As Jemin rode a lot, he didn't think much about riding, but now he found that twelve hours might be too much time for a first-timer. When Jamin pried away Aya's fingers to take out the reins, he found her fingers were really frozen.He had to admire her for that; she had ridden all day and she hadn't complained--except to gossip about how much she hated horses.But he did not pay attention to her speech, because his only object was to go to his uncle's house to see if there was any news of Fu Lan. After letting go of Aya's hands and feet, Jemin grabbed her waist again, trying to pull her off the horse, but because Aya didn't bend her legs, Jemin still couldn't pull her off.

"Need help?" asked a fat, red-faced man who presumably owned the inn. "Excuse me," said Jemin.Glancing at Aya, she found that she was staring at the signboard of the inn.If she hadn't flushed with embarrassment, Jemin would have thought she wanted to start painting the hotel's sign. The innkeeper stood on the other side of the horse, grabbing Aya's foot and pushing it toward Jemin but her legs were as rigid as a wand and spread apart like tree forks. "Uh..." Jemin hesitated—his combat training hadn't taught him how to handle this situation. "Perhaps you can pull the horse away," he suggested.

"Ah, yes!" said the innkeeper, trying to keep a serious countenance, but his eyes could not hide the smile.He stepped in front of the horse, pulling the rein and leading it out from between Aya's immobile legs. But when he saw Jemin holding Aya's struggling expression, and her legs were still spread apart like tree forks, he couldn't help it anymore.He covered his mouth with one hand and disappeared into the inn. Jemin didn't know what to do, he was about to give up, and Aya's legs were nearly three feet apart. "Maybe you want to sit down?" he suggested.

"Can't sit, I'm sore all over." "Yeah, but—" Jemin realized they couldn't stand in the doorway like that.He threw Aya over his shoulder and managed to bring her legs together. The job was more difficult than he had imagined, and he grabbed her ankles with both hands and pushed hard, as if trying to combine the rusty scissors.Even though Wenya cried out in pain, it still didn't help.Finally, with perseverance and brute force, Jemin finally brought Aya's legs together. Jamin still held Aya on his shoulders, letting her rest for a moment before sliding her down to the ground.But as soon as he let her go, her legs went limp.

Jamie grabbed her by the shoulders and straightened her up. "Let's go, little witch, seize this day, remember?" She glared at Jemin. "I'd love to choke that horse and slit its throat, and I'd love to grab—" Jemin helped her into the inn, because her legs were completely useless. There are four tables in the inn, three of which are full, but the one in the corner is empty, and the proprietor has placed three cushions on the bench. Tears welled up in Aya's eyes at the sight of the seat cushion. "I love you," she murmured to the boss, making his heart go wild.

Jemin pushed Aya hard into the chair, ending her "flirting". As soon as Aya sat down, she fell asleep on the table and didn't wake up until the smell of the food on the table.She found that she had to wake Jemin up to eat, because he was as fast asleep as she was. "Eat this." Aya pushed a large plate of food in front of him. "He's from out of town, isn't he?" the boss asked, his eyes lighting up every time he looked at Aya. "Are you and the lady spending the night here?" he said to Jemin, whose eyes were half-closed from fatigue. "Yes," Aya said eagerly. "It's best to have a soft bed, and it should be very flat. I want a very flat, very flat bed."

The man giggled. "My bed here is the flattest in England, and it won't move unless you move it," he said with a wink at Aya, glad to see her blushing. "Then we'll sleep in your best room." Aya said happily. Jemin wanted to continue on the road until he reached his uncle's house, but he knew there was no way.He had intended to arrive tonight, but Aya's inexperience with riding slowed them down, and it took at least half a day for them to reach their destination.Thinking of the situation that had pulled her off the horse just now, Jemin could not force her to continue riding cruelly.

"We need two rooms," said Jemin to the boss. "He'll snore," Aya said quickly, not wanting anyone to know they weren't married. "No one can sleep in the same room as him." When Jemin said he wanted two rooms, a man at the next table turned to look at Aya, and he was still staring at her. "There's only one room left," the boss said to Jermyn. "You can't wake the horses unless you want to sleep in the stables." Jemin was now sober enough to start eating the food in front of him. He also noticed the man who had been looking at Aya, but he kept his expression on. "Honey, it looks like you'll have to put up with my snoring tonight."

The boss shook his head as he walked back to the kitchen, thinking that if it had been him, he would have kept Aya in the room—no matter how much she complained about his snoring. Aya was starting to feel better, and found herself starving.She tore off a large piece of tender beef and watched Jemin as she chewed. "What are you thinking?" asked Jemin, without turning to look at her. "No! Can you snore?" Jemin turned to her, and his eyes warmed her. "No one has complained yet." "Jermin..." Aya leaned forward, but he turned back to his dinner. "Don't say it." The words made Aya sigh, and she had to go on with her dinner. Two hours later, when they were alone in the room, Aya found out that Jemin was going to sleep on the floor and gave her the bed. "Aya, you are of marriageable age, and I don't want to touch you. I never seduce a woman under my protection." "Except for Fulan," "I'm sure you know I never touched her." "But you want to, don't you?" Jemin sat on a chair and took off his greaves. "Are you jealous?" "Of course not, I've never been jealous of Fu Lan." Aya turned her back to Jemin, resting her hands on her head. "I'm just curious. One day I'll get married too. I want to know what it's like." She looked back at Jemin. "Does that feel weird?" As she asked the question, her mind went back to that night of sex with Jamin. Remember me, Aya wanted to say, remember I was the woman you made love to.Or was that night no different from dozens of other nights and therefore meaningless? "Don't look at me like that, Aya." "How do I look at you?" All her thoughts were hidden in her voice. Jemin closed his eyes, as if trying to muster his strength. "Aya, I'm just an ordinary person, but you..." "What's the matter with me, Jamie?" "It's beautiful," he said, grabbing the blanket on the bed, throwing it on the floor, and curling himself up in the blanket like a soldier with his back to Aya. Aya lay on the bed smiling at the ceiling. "A beautiful painting..." she whispered.She wanted to keep this dream forever, savoring what Jamin said to her, listening to Jamin's low breathing.He didn't snore, Aya thought with a smile, but she wouldn't mind if he did. After a few minutes, she fell asleep. "Please, Jemin," Aya said, looking at Jemin with wide eyes. "Please," they said as they sat in the inn's dining room, a table full of hearty breakfasts. "Don't look at me like that, and don't call me that." "Don't call you Jamie? Should I call you my lord? When we've spent the night together?" That made Jemin laugh. "You know very well that I didn't touch you, even though you've been trying to seduce me." "No!" Aya retorted. "I just asked you some questions." "Well, eat quickly, and go on the road after eating." "I don't want to ride that damn horse again!" Aya said stubbornly. "You have to ride a horse, and you will find that your muscles won't be so sore anymore, as long as you—" Jemin couldn't finish the sentence with a straight face, because he had to help Aya down the stairs this morning, and every step hurt her gotta moan. "My uncle's house is not far from here, you will like my aunt, she will take good care of you." "I want to be with you." "We've quarreled about this issue six times this morning. You can't come with me, because I don't know where I'm going, I just know to go to my uncle's house to wait for news, and then follow the kidnapper's instructions to meet him with the ransom," "And don't take me there." Aya said sullenly. "Yes, I won't take you there." Jemin pressed her hand. "My aunt is very nice, she will—will entertain you, and you can paint for her." "They are strangers to me. Why can't I go with you? Fulan is my cousin!" "Aya, listen well, I have to move fast, and you can't ride for a long time, and it may be dangerous, whoever catches Fulan may—" He turned his face away, unwilling to think about it . "There is no room for negotiation on this matter, you will hinder me." Aya played with the food on her plate. She hated being left alone with strangers—it was her worst nightmare.And, frankly, she didn't want to be separated from Jemin.Todd was lost first, and now Jamin.Although she hadn't known Jamin for a long time, she glanced at him, and he seemed to be by her side all the time. "Eat!" he ordered. Aya was about to speak when a man's voice interrupted her. "It's you!" the man said, looking at Jemin. "I thought it was you last night, but I'm not sure." "Who do you think I am?" Jemin asked, taking a sip of his sake. "The man on the carriage, Dragon Slayer." Jamie nearly choked. "You see the carriage?" he gasped in surprise. "When? Where?" "In the direction due south." "Impossible, the note says—" Jemin glanced at Aya quickly, seeing that Aya had the same idea as him.lie!The note told Jemin to go west to his uncle's house.But if the carriage is going south, then they are getting farther and farther away from the carriage, not closer. "Did you see who was driving the carriage?" asked Jemin. "Of course there is, a very tall man, and the woman sitting next to him, you know, is the beautiful woman painted on the carriage. We all laugh because the man is not handsome, but he is painted It's so handsome. It's the best picture I've ever seen, and you know that lady did it? Ask her to tell us how she drew that carriage." "I drew that!" Aya said, "There's no way Fran would—" Jemin put a hand on Aya's shoulder, forcing her to sit down. "We're looking for those people," Jemin said quietly. "We would appreciate it if you would say more." "Did you really draw that carriage?" The man looked at Aya and asked. Jemin took a deep breath. "If you'll tell me what you know, she'll paint a portrait of you and your friends." As the man continued to look at Aya, Jemin added, "She'll paint you wearing Knight in Armor". "Saw it two days ago," the man said quickly. "It should be far away by now." "Where's the woman? Is she okay? Was she hurt?" "Very good, too good to be lying," Aya muttered. She looks happy.They parked the carriage for the night, and the man waited on her as if she were Queen of England. "Now I can assure you that it must be Fulan." Aya said. Jemin kicked Aya under the table to signal her to shut up. "What does that man look like? Besides being tall, what are his other characteristics?" The man shrugged. "Nothing special, brown hair, brown heels, neither handsome nor ugly. If I see him again, I may not recognize him." Jemin slumped down on the bench in frustration, and the whole thing still didn't make any progress. "Except for his ears," said the other man as he approached. "Oh yeah," said the first man, "he only has half an ear, the top half is gone." For a moment, Jemin just sat there, then he grinned, then threw his head back and laughed like crazy got up, making everyone in the inn stare at him. Finally, when Jemin could barely contain himself, he uttered a few words: "O'Henry." As if those words meant a lot. It took Jemin a while to get himself back to normal.After thanking the man who provided this precious information, he buried his head in his breakfast. It took a while for Aya to realize that Jemin had no intention of explaining to her what was going on. "Aren't you going to tell me?" Aya gasped in surprise. When Jemin smiled at her, she knew he was well aware that she was impatient. "tell me!" "O'Henry won't hurt anyone, Fulan couldn't be safer." "But he kidnapped Fulan, of course there will be danger, he must want to—" Aya looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on her. "Extorting money from Mayboken." "Henry doesn't care about money, he does it out of love." "He loves Fran?" Aya's tone seemed to be the most unbelievable thing in the world. "No, he loves my sister Pei Ling. He has always wanted to marry Pei Ling since he was a child." "But you don't agree?" "O'Henry is a fool." "Ah, then he should love Fran. Birds of a feather flock together." "No, you don't understand, O'Henry is really, really stupid. Anyone tell him anything - like someone found treasure in a cave in Africa - and he'll believe it. Playing hide-and-seek as a kid, he'd close his eyes As a way of hiding because he believed that if he couldn't see others, others couldn't see him." "But he's an adult now..." Jemin raised an eyebrow at her. "Last year a big hole was broken in the wall of his barn, which allowed the mice to crawl in and out of the hole and eat the grain, so Henry tore down the barn and burned the grain so the mice couldn't eat it." "Why doesn't he patch the hole?" Aya asked, then paused. "Oh, I see." She took a sip of sake. "Then does he want to buy Dragon Cloth?" Jamie smiled. "He is very stubborn. Once he has made up his mind, nothing can shake him. He is the kind of person who makes no sense." "And now he wants your sister." "He has always wanted Pei Ling, but as long as I live, he will never get her!" Jemin said excitedly. "She's beautiful, isn't she? The maid said that O. Henry once said that Fran was the second most beautiful woman he had ever seen." "Yes, Pei Ling is very beautiful," Jemin smiled slightly. "Henry will take care of Fran, he is not a bad person. My brother Ed used to tease him a lot, but Henry never got angry or held grudges. He thinks that Ed likes him, so he 'notices' him so much." Aya grimaced. "I'm well aware that people's attention doesn't mean they like you," Aya said, then sighed, trying to convince Jemin that he liked her a lot. But Jamin only winked at her. Two hours later—after she had drawn pictures of everyone in the inn—Jermine said, "It's time to go." "Where are you going?" Aya asked, packing up her brushes. "Henry will bring Fran home, his house is very close to mine, so I will go there to get Fran, but first I have to send you to my aunt. Please, Aya, stop arguing with me Yes, I've decided." "Why can't I go with you? Especially now that you know the kidnapper is O'Henry, and you said he's not in danger. Oh, please, Jemin, I won't give you any trouble." "Even if you're sleeping all the way, it's going to give me a lot of trouble. Aya, don't look at me that way. How would your guardian Mayboken feel if he knew we were alone together? Last night was not the case. It's amazing - we sleep in the same room!" "Maboken doesn't have to worry about you touching me," Aya said in disgust. "You are only interested in Fulan." Jamie took her hand and kissed the back of her hand. "My dear, you are wrong," he said softly. "If I could choose my partner freely, I would pursue you passionately. Boss, how much?" Aya stared at Jemin with wide eyes. "Really?" she asked in a low voice, but Jemin was too busy handing out change to the shopkeeper to notice what she said, so Aya turned her mind to how to persuade Jemin to take her with her. "It would save you a lot of time if I were with you." It didn't work; saying she didn't want to be with a stranger couldn't sway him with tears in her eyes; Appearing, at best, made him blink; threatening to flee back into Declan's arms only made him laugh; saying she would tie the sheets into a rope and escape through the window of his uncle's house made him laugh even more. When they got to the horse and Jamin was about to help her into the sad saddle, Aya realized that she really had to be alone with a boring old couple.She sighed heavily. "I guess your aunt doesn't have any kids to play with me." Jemin snorted. "They've all grown up." "Where's the grandson?" He cupped his hands, ready for her to step on the horse. "No," he said impatiently. "My aunt has six sons, all grown up, and none of them are married yet." "Oh?" Aya said, thinking maybe going to his aunt's would be less boring.She put her foot on Jemin's long-awaited hand, but Jemin didn't push her on the horse.When she looked at Jemin wonderingly, she found a strange expression on his face. "Jammin? Are you okay?" When he didn't answer, Aya raised her voice: "Jammin?" "You come with me," he said quickly, and pushed her onto the horse—so fast that Aya almost fell off the other side. Aya knew immediately what was going on. "No," she said firmly. "I think you're right. I should go to your aunt's." Jemin didn't answer, just took her rein and led the horse out of the yard. "This is heading south!" Aya said when they reached the intersection. "Jammin, I think we should talk. You've always kept me from men of marriageable age, first dear Karen and Les, and now your cousins. I really think you should bring I'll go to your uncle's house and leave me there. Unmarried people like us shouldn't be alone together, and what a rare opportunity it is for me to meet six young men! You can go and save Fulan At that time, Mayboken may be so grateful to marry her to you, and I can also take advantage of this time to find a good man and marry myself. Come to think of it, Jemin, we will be in-laws!" Jemin stopped his horse and turned to Aya. "Aya, if you don't close your pretty mouth, I will sell you to the gypsies, and whoever bids the lowest will be the one!" After Jemin turned around, Aya shrugged and whispered. Smile, then smile into the sun.