Jian Wei offered another amused smile, pleased to have elicited a reaction from Lian Yan. Though that wasn't his intention, he gently brought her hand to his lips, kissing her palm with a tenderness that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Not at all," he murmured, his eyes locked onto hers. "You are not an item or an object. But you are, without a doubt, the treasure and jewel of this estate. Would you be alright if I stole you and your heart from here?"
Lian Yan felt something unfamiliar stir within her, a warmth that spread through her chest and settled in her heart. It was a sensation she had never experienced before, and it left her feeling both exhilarated and terrified. With a sudden surge of determination, she pulled her hand from his, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deceit.
"Are you trying to say that you are going to kidnap me?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The thought sent a chill down her spine, but there was a part of her, a part that she had never acknowledged before, that found the idea thrilling. What ran through her mind was that it would make it easier for her to leave the estate.
As if sensing her thoughts, Jian Wei's expression turned knowing. "Are you perhaps hoping for that?" He asked, his gaze steady on hers. "I do know that you have a lot of people who see you as someone very important here. It kind of explains why your door is locked." He gestured towards the ground, pointing out a few rope traps and other mechanisms. "And I'm guessing that these traps here were meant to keep you from escaping."
Lian Yan's eyes widened as she noticed the traps for the first time. She hadn't expected her family to go to such lengths to keep her confined. "I had only just noticed those," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and resignation. "They must have been put there while I was out today. As for that hope... what are you trying to gain from this, though?" It seemed she was trying to gather more information before revealing her own thoughts.
Jian Wei kept his smile, a hint of mystery in his eyes. "Well... I guess I better tell you more about myself. Have you heard of the famous Mountain Bandit, Jian Bo?"
It didn't take long for Lian Yan to make the connection. "Are you part of their group or something?" She asked, her curiosity piqued. "Didn't something happen to him and his group?" She recalled the rumors and stories she had heard about the notorious bandits who had once roamed the mountains, striking fear into the hearts of travelers and merchants alike. But, it was also included that the emperor and crown prince had taken him down.
In the space of a heartbeat, Jian Wei's countenance shadowed, as though a storm had momentarily eclipsed the sun behind a veil of clouds. Yet, just as swiftly, his features composed themselves once more. "Something akin to that," he affirmed, "I am his son. Like him, I am a bandit."
"His son?" Lian Yan echoed, her brows knitting together in surprise. The fleeting darkness that had crossed his face eluded her notice, overshadowed by the revelation at hand. The notion that the notorious mountain bandit, Jian Bo, had fathered a child—let alone one so strikingly handsome—was entirely foreign to her.
Jian Wei's lips pressed into a thin line, a semblance of openness flickering in his gaze before he retreated once more behind the fortress of his crossed arms. "It is the way of the world," he stated matter-of-factly, "for people to have children. Jian Bo was no exception; he had two sons and a daughter. I am the second son."
The air between them seemed to thicken, charged with an unspoken tension as though each word uttered was a piece moved on a chessboard, strategic and deliberate. Yet, they had to settle it down. Jian Wei broke the silence, his offer hanging between them like a challenge. "Are you willing to lend me your aid? I seek to outmaneuver the prime minister, to strike a bargain with your assistance as leverage. In return, I pledge to help you sever the ties of the unwanted marriage that looms over you, a specter of others' making."
Lian Yan, her expression unclouded by the storm that brewed within her, saw the opening she had been waiting for. The time had come for her to lay her cards on the table, to articulate the thoughts that had long been caged within her heart. "I will assist you," she began, her voice steady and resolute, "but in exchange, you must secure my escape from this gilded cage. I want a share of whatever spoils you gain from this gambit with the prime minister. My dream is to live a life unfettered, free from the shackles of political machinations and the specter of a forced marriage as I hope you can help as you mentioned just now."
Jian Wei's smile reappeared, a subtle curve of his lips that hinted at a newfound resolve. "I can certainly help," he affirmed, extending his hand toward her in a gesture that sought to seal their agreement with a simple, yet meaningful, handshake.
Lian Yan, however, was not one to leave such matters to mere words and gestures. Determined to ensure that their accord was as binding as it was clear, she retreated into the confines of her room. There, she gathered paper, ink, and a brush, the tools of her intent. With deliberate strokes, she began to transcribe the terms of their agreement, her hand steady and her resolve unwavering. Once satisfied with her work, she reached for the red ink, pressing her thumb into its vibrant hue before affixing it to the paper as her signature. With the document in hand, she presented it to Jian Wei, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of her intent.
"This is how the deal is going to work," she declared, her tone brooking no argument. "I won't allow anyone to try and swindle me."
Jian Wei chuckled, a sound that was equal parts amusement and admiration. Without hesitation, he dipped his thumb into the red ink, pressing it onto the paper beside her own. "Deal, I haven't been told that I look like I would swindle someone before," he agreed with a joke, his voice carrying the weight of his commitment. "Shall I make haste and take you away from this place right now? The sooner, the better."
Lian Yan paused, her thoughts turning to those she held dear. "What of my maid?" She asked, her concern evident. "She has been with me my entire life and is more of a sister to me than my actual sister. If I leave her behind, she will face the wrath of my father and his second wife."
Jian Wei tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "What is your maid's name?" He inquired, realizing that Lian Yan's life extended beyond the immediate circle of her family, touching the lives of those who served within their household—a detail he had not bothered to explore until now.
"Her name is Ye Bia," Lian Yan replied, a note of uncertainty creeping into her voice as she contemplated the possibility of leaving her beloved maid behind. The thought weighed heavily on her, and she absentmindedly folded the paper containing their agreement, tucking it into an unusual place—the chest portion of her hanfu, as if seeking to keep it close to her heart. The man there having a little glance.
Jian Wei, sensing the urgency of their situation, offered a compromise. "I can have someone pick her up," he assured her, his focus shifting to the more pressing matter at hand. "For now, we need to get you out of here." With a smirk that hinted at both confidence and a touch of mischief, he effortlessly lifted her up and out of her room through the window, his actions as swift as they were unexpected.
Lian Yan's heart raced as she found herself suspended in mid-air, her initial instinct to scream suppressed by the necessity of the moment. Instead, she clung to Jian Wei, her arms wrapping tightly around him as she surveyed their surroundings. The landscape below was a maze of traps, a testament to the precautions that had been taken to prevent such an escape. Undeterred, Jian Wei produced a dagger from his possession, a note attached to its hilt fluttering slightly in the breeze. It was clear that he had anticipated this moment, his preparations a silent vow of his commitment to their cause.
"Let's get you out of here then." Jian Wei smiled wider, getting past all of those traps was so easy for him as he did not even need to use any hands to get over the wall as well. Soon enough, the maid who went to bring Lian Yan dinner would scream when she finds the dagger with a note and the window wide open.