The Double

After a long time had passed, Yin Zhan walked out of the courtyard. When he emerged, his gaze was indifferent and his face somber, the servants dared not approach. Yin Zhiqing and Madam Yin dared not say anything either. He left the courtyard and went straight out the Duke Residence’s main gate, not knowing what he was up to at such a late hour.

Yin Zhiqing said to Madam Yin, "Mother, I’m going to check on Yin Zhili."

Madam Yin nodded, and Yin Zhiqing quickly ran to Yin Zhan’s courtyard, which was devoid of people. As she pushed open the door to the study, she initially didn’t see Yin Zhili anywhere. While she was still puzzled by his sudden disappearance and was about to go out and search the courtyard, she turned around and suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Yin Zhili was hiding behind the door.

He was truly "hiding" behind the door, as if he had received a great fright, curling up into a ball, holding his head. Yin Zhiqing was startled and hurried over, asking, "Yin Zhili?"

When Yin Zhili lifted his head, the words Yin Zhiqing wanted to speak suddenly stuck in her throat.

She remembered that she had never seen Yin Zhili cry; he had always seemed nonchalant and at ease since childhood, his face always wearing a composed and warm smile. Even if he fell from a horse while sparring, he would smile and comfort his family. Although Yin Zhiqing thought Yin Zhili was sometimes too easy to bully and too soft-hearted, deep down, she still felt proud of him. Now, confronted with this fragile version of Yin Zhili, Yin Zhiqing couldn’t quite believe her eyes for a moment.

She wanted to touch him but didn’t know how to proceed, so she softened her voice and asked, "What happened to you? What did Father say to you?"

The numbness in Yin Zhili’s eyes startled her.

"Hey, Yin Zhili!" Yin Zhiqing pushed him hard, "Don’t scare me!"