Chapter 61: Torment: An Inseparable Shadow

“How has the General been faring at Duke Rui’s Mansion?” Xing Wanyang held several freshly washed wild fruits in her hand. She ate one while chatting with Yan Yiqing. “Is the Heir Apparent easy to get along with?”

“It’s tolerable,” Yan Yiqing replied perfunctorily.

Seeing that her own general had no desire to talk more, Xing Wanyang shrank back awkwardly and continued munching on the fruit in her hand.

The resting carriage was parked not far away.

If she wanted, she could go find Huairen at any moment.

But Huairen…

Yan Yiqing was still replaying their earlier conversation in her mind when her thoughts, which had just begun to take shape, were interrupted by Xing Wanyang’s squirrel-like crunching sounds.

She frowned and asked, “So noisy. What are you eating?”

“Fruits I picked from a tree by the roadside earlier. They’re very refreshing—sour and sweet.” As she spoke, Xing Wanyang picked up a fruit from her palm and naturally offered it to Yan Yiqing’s lips. “Would the General like to try one?”

A sour-sweet fruit.

It should be good for motion sickness.

Her jet-black lashes trembled slightly. Yan Yiqing opened her mouth and bit into the wild fruit Xing Wanyang offered. It first brought a sourness that made her squint involuntarily, followed by a clear sweetness laced with faint fruity aroma.

“Tasty, right?” Seeing Yan Yiqing’s brows relax, Xing Wanyang proudly pulled out a small basket from behind her. “I picked a bunch. Hehe… I didn’t tell anyone else.”

Yan Yiqing didn’t stand on ceremony. “Give me some.”

“I picked them for the two of us anyway. These don’t keep well—they’ll probably spoil by tomorrow.” Xing Wanyang was generous, quickly dividing out Yan Yiqing’s share with nimble hands.

“Well done.” Yan Yiqing pocketed the fruits and instinctively looked up toward the resting carriage, only to furrow her brow.

Xing Wanyang asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yan Yiqing withdrew her gaze and shook her head.

It must have been her imagination.

The carriage curtain seemed like it had just been lowered by someone.

…

Holding a water skin refilled with water, Zhuyu bent down and entered the carriage. Seeing Zhao Huairen’s greenish complexion as she sat inside, she placed the water skin on the small table and gestured: The Heir Apparent doesn’t look well. Shall I fetch the army doctor?

“No need. I’m just tired,” Zhao Huairen said coolly.

Zhuyu glanced at Zhao Huairen, still worried: If the Heir Apparent feels unwell, please don’t push yourself.

Her thin lips pressed into a pale line.

Her sword-like brows knitted tightly, and even her hair strands seemed displeased.

Zhao Huairen let out a soft breath. Her distinctively jointed hand picked up the water skin, unscrewed the cap, and gulped down more than half of the cool water in one go. “I’m fine. You can go.”

Zhuyu nodded hesitantly and turned to leave.

Now, only Zhao Huairen remained in the carriage.

Her restrained emotions began to spill out uncontrollably.

The beauty instantly furrowed her brows but quickly smoothed her expression, as if unwilling to let it trouble her heart.

Both hands were idle.

She even needed someone to feed her to eat something.

Knock knock. Someone lightly tapped the carriage body.

Her light brown eyes flickered. Changing expressions faster than turning a page, Zhao Huairen swiftly resumed her serene, water-like composure. “I’m fine. There’s really no need to call the army doctor.”

At the mention of “army doctor,” Yan Yiqing—who had been waiting politely outside for permission—couldn’t hold back any longer.

“What happened to you?” As soon as the words landed, she flipped into the carriage.

Their eyes met.

She tumbled into an inky night sky like polished jade.

Her breath hitched. Zhao Huairen swiftly averted her gaze, her slender white fingers fussing over nonexistent wrinkles on her sleeve, her lashes fluttering lightly and rapidly. “What does Young Master Yan want with me now?”

“Are you unwell? What’s wrong? Why call the army doctor?” Yan Yiqing ignored Zhao Huairen’s question. Her fine brows locked tight, her gaze as meticulous as Shu embroidery stitches, inching over the woman’s body.

Her stare felt tangible.

Dense and scorching, it made Zhao Huairen shift uncomfortably.

“Young Master Yan staring at others like this is very rude.”

Rude? When have I ever been polite? Though she desperately wanted to say it, Yan Yiqing pretended to raise her paw. “Sorry.”

The gaze tormenting her heart no longer shadowed her every move. Zhao Huairen’s breath eased. She glanced at her and said coolly, “What’s Young Master Yan holding?”

“Guess,” Yan Maomao blinked.

Irreverent thoughts sprouted like mushrooms, but the self-deceiving woman ruthlessly uprooted them. Zhao Huairen kept a straight face and countered, “Guess? How old are you now, Young Master Yan?”

Yan Yiqing stared at the impeccably prim little immortal, her gaze darkening slightly.

Feeling her eyes on her.

Zhao Huairen’s fingertips shrank back as she guiltily pursed her lips.

“Fruits Qin An asked me to bring.” Her fingers, slightly callused, lifted the silk cloth covering the wooden basket. Yan Yiqing placed it on the small table and said casually, “I sneaked a taste. Not bad.”

At that, Zhao Huairen lifted her eyes to her.

Qin An had gone to gather intelligence.

She must be busy—how did she have time to pick fruits?

Seeing Zhao Huairen say nothing, Yan Yiqing swallowed and pressed her knuckles to her lips: She definitely won’t eat if it’s from me. With Zhuyu always by her side, I can only pin it on Qin An.

“If Young Master Yan likes them so much, take them all,” Zhao Huairen said lightly.

“I specially…” The words circled her tongue, and Yan Yiqing swallowed the rest, pushing hard: “They’re sour-sweet. Aren’t you motion sick, Heir Apparent? Eating some should help.”

Her gaze swept over the pale green fruits.

Then fell on the expectant Yan Yiqing.

Yan Yiqing really wanted her to eat these fruits?

Why? What benefit did she get from it?

Her peach-blossom eyes narrowed. Yan Yiqing’s tone held helplessness: “What are you thinking now, Heir Apparent?”

“If Young Master Yan likes these fruits and I’m willing to give them, why leave them with me?” Her light brown pupils gleamed like ice crystals under the blazing sun, desperately refracting light, oblivious to how close she was to melting.

Isn’t the answer obvious?

I like the fruits.

But I like you more.

Faced with the tsundere, cautious little fox, Yan Yiqing felt at a loss—even fantasizing furiously in her mind about the feasibility of grabbing Zhao Huairen and kneading her like dough.

Binding her wouldn’t be hard.

But what if she got upset?

“Young Master Yan?” A sudden chill at her back made Zhao Huairen frown and call out.

Cherished in her palm, lest she melt.

Held in her mouth, tempted to take a bite.

Dark hues swirled in her eyes. When Yan Yiqing looked up, her gaze was clear and bright. “Open your mouth.”

“What?” Zhao Huairen asked instinctively.

The breeze lifted stray hairs, her lashes trembling uncontrollably. By the time Zhao Huairen reacted, her mouth already held a crisp, sweet-and-sour green fruit.

Yan Yiqing sneaked a peek at Zhao Huairen with puffed cheeks and lowered her eyes to stifle a laugh.

Spitting it out would leave saliva.

She didn’t want Yan Yiqing to see that.

Zhao Huairen clenched her fists silently, chewing the wild fruit in her mouth with puffed cheeks. Gradually, she couldn’t help but get lost in the flavor between her lips and teeth.

“Delicious, right?”

The woman nodded subconsciously.

Realizing it, she turned away with feigned indifference.

Taking in her beloved’s expression, Yan Yiqing’s gaze warmed until it nearly dripped water. The hostility around her turned to soft fluff near her. Yan Yiqing rubbed her still-damp fingertips, took a deep breath, and secretly rejoiced inwardly: Good thing Huairen didn’t look at me, or… she would’ve seen right through how much I like her.

“Don’t eat too many at once. They’re cooling,” Yan Yiqing suddenly said.

Zhao Huairen gave her an odd look.

She wasn’t a child anymore.

No one had spoken to her like that since she was ten.

Already accustomed to hiding her reluctance, Yan Yiqing sat up straight and drawled lazily, “I’ve delivered Qin An’s fruits. I have other matters, so I won’t disturb the Heir Apparent further.”

Her chewing paused abruptly.

Zhao Huairen’s phoenix eyes lowered as she nodded lightly.

With a click, Yan Yiqing left. The carriage returned to the peaceful quiet that reassured Zhao Huairen. Yet for some reason—the fruits in the basket no longer held that one special taste.

–

The sun set in the west, its afterglow painting the sky mottled.

The soldiers proficiently felled deadwood and pitched tents. The clanging of iron tools, the captains’ orders, and the crackling of firewood intertwined across the barren wilderness.

Duke Rui’s Mansion’s resting carriage stood at the camp’s center.

Wind lamps glowed around it, carving out a small world in the dusk.

The night breeze rose, carrying damp earth and hazy cooking smoke. Qin An reined in her horse at the camp’s edge and dismounted.

Spotting Qin An from afar, Zhuyu lifted a corner of the curtain and looked toward Zhao Huairen, who held a book.

“Qin An’s back?” Zhao Huairen raised her eyes.

Zhuyu nodded.

Zhao Huairen closed her book, rubbed her neck, her voice tinged with faint weariness: “Good. Let her in to report.”

As they spoke, Qin An reached the carriage and stood ready.

Zhuyu hopped down lightly and naturally took guard by the side, needing no orders.

“Heir Apparent,” Qin An called.

Her voice came from the carriage’s side. Zhao Huairen’s jade-like fingers lifted the curtain as she looked down at her. “Why not come in?”

“The Heir Apparent has been resting in the carriage these past days. I’m filthy…” Qin An shook her shoulders, sending up a cloud of dust. “No one’s around. Shall I report here?”

“You’ve worked hard,” Zhao Huairen approved.

“It’s my duty.” Qin An scratched her neck, coughed lightly, and reported all she’d learned: “When disasters struck various prefectures, Yumu County received court relief funds once, but… little reached the county by the end.”

Zhao Huairen’s sword brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t interrupt.

As the upper beam is crooked, so follows the lower.

Exploitation… had become the norm.

“Normally, even scant funds should tide over the crisis,” Qin An swallowed and looked to Zhao Huairen. “For common floods, relief silver buys grain and repairs dikes.”

“But Yumu County’s able-bodied men are nearly all gone.”

“The dikes only half-built, the river flooded again, worsening the disaster.”

Yumu County wasn’t wealthy, but it was a land of fish and rice. How could its able-bodied population vanish?

“The people couldn’t disappear into thin air.” Her slender fingers tapped rhythmically on her knee. Zhao Huairen pondered, then said gravely, “There must be a reason. Yumu County is utterly ordinary. The only anomaly… Tomorrow, disguise yourself as a Yumu disaster victim fleeing to distant kin and scout Changlin County.”

Qin An’s expression turned solemn. “Yes.”