“Only by learning martial arts can you protect your future wife.” From then on, he secretly practiced martial arts. I had been married to him for so long that I hadn’t noticed anything unusual. He only had a thin callus on his hand, unlike someone who practiced year-round. Moreover—where was his weapon hidden?
He quietly took out a pair of deerskin gloves and pulled out a smooth, slender silver thread from between his hair tie. “This is a burning thread, my weapon.”
I understood immediately. It was hard to believe that to avoid my discovery, he wore gloves while practicing martial arts and chose such a conveniently hidden weapon. An Jin silently looked at me, his eyes somewhat apprehensive. Seeing his earnestness, I had to set aside my prejudice against martial artists and comfort his fragile heart that feared being despised by his wife.
“Not bad,” I pointed at the silver thread. “Quite elegant.” He quietly put away his gloves and silver thread, slightly discouraged. I stood on tiptoe and tugged at his face. “That’s right, my sugar cake husband, identification complete. A sugar cake husband can also become a great hero, I’m gratified.” He laughed, holding my hand. “Are you cold?” I immediately sneezed several times in response. “Let’s go home,” he said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe my face.
Hand in hand, we left two sets of footprints in the snow, gradually merging into one. The house was quiet, with a warm stove and hot water in the bedroom, two steaming bowls of brown sugar ginger soup on the table, but no one around, leaving space for us. I jumped down from An Jin’s back and insisted he soak his feet in hot water with me. Afterward, we burrowed into the warm quilt, limbs intertwined, and began to talk calmly.
Relying solely on the princess’s own power, it would be impossible to disappear so thoroughly. An Jin suspected that Su Xi had hidden her, likely part of a scheme by the entire Su family.
This was why he was on good terms with Su Xi and close to Su Hui. His suppression of the case involving Su Xi was to gain their trust for further investigation and to avoid alerting Su Xi to any unexpected actions that might disrupt the clues.
