Chapter 68: Pleasure: Restless

Sweat from her forehead blurred her eyelashes. Hong Xiujie stood beneath the carriage, looking up to meet Zhuyu’s gaze, a flush of heat rising to her scalp.

This lady had treated her with utmost kindness.

Yet when her emotions had spiraled out of control, she had vented her frustration on her.

Zhuyu’s eyes remained calmly serene from start to finish. She lifted a hand to lift the carriage curtain, lowering her gaze to glance at her—a look like some silent urging.

Hong Xiujie clenched her fingers, bowed her head, and stepped onto the footstone, brushing aside the jumble of thoughts in her mind.

Before she could even enter the carriage.

A clear, elegant fragrance wafted toward her.

In this sweltering summer heat, the inside of the carriage was actually cool? It wasn’t the biting chill of ice blocks; rather, it resembled the breath of stream water, mingled with a refreshing hint of bamboo leaves.

“Come in.”

The voice, like shattered jade, snapped Hong Xiujie back to reality. She cautiously stepped inside and discovered that the floor was covered in a layer of dark felt—not ordinary wool. She couldn’t identify the material, but it felt dense and tough; stepping on it produced not a single sound.

Zhao Huairen sat in the center of the carriage, a plain cushion behind her back. In a light voice, she said, “Sit. No need to be so reserved.”

At these words, Hong Xiujie nodded slightly. She wanted to sit quickly but felt at a loss, her eyes darting around the interior. Only then did she notice the woman in red she had seen before—now seated inside as well.

What a beautiful lady.

Vibrant as fire, like azaleas blanketing the mountains and wilds.

Yan Yiqing was long accustomed to the stunned admiration in others’ eyes. She arched a delicate brow and pointed lazily at the seat opposite her. “Here, you can sit across from me.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Hong Xiujie’s gaze was filled with gratitude as she moved slowly to sit on the right side, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

Noticing the woman’s restlessness, Zhao Huairen’s pale lips pressed together slightly. She picked up the teacup from the small table and offered it to her. “Speak. What do you need this official to do for you?”

“Thank you, my lady.” Hong Xiujie accepted the teacup with both hands and bowed her head. “This common woman has no other requests. I only wish to rescue my father and brother, cure my mother’s illness, and let our family live in peace and safety.”

Peace and safety.

Simple words, yet the four most difficult to achieve.

Yan Yiqing’s attention had been fixed on her own lady the whole time. Seeing Zhao Huairen unconsciously digging her nail into her fingertip again, she pursed her lips and turned to Hong Xiujie. “Your father and brother are currently in Changlin County?”

“Yes, they are both in the stone quarry in Changlin County now.”

That place was no stone quarry at all. Yan Yiqing’s eyes flickered, and she continued, “What are your father and brother’s names?”

The two women before her were great officials from Yanjing; squashing her would be as easy as crushing an ant. There was no reason—and they wouldn’t waste time—deceiving her.

Hong Xiujie clenched her palms and answered truthfully. “My father is named Sun Shi, and my brother is named Sun Yongfu.”

“Sun Shi, Sun Yongfu.” Yan Yiqing repeated the names. She was about to ask for more details when Zhao Huairen suddenly grew restless beside her.

“Aren’t you surnamed Hong?”

Unsure why Zhao Huairen suddenly asked this, Hong Xiujie swallowed and explained softly, “This… I’ve followed my mother’s surname since childhood.”

Same name, same surname.

A cripple by worldly standards—such a coincidence was impossible.

Thoughts raced like sharp shooting stars across her heart lake.

They tore cracks in her chest, hot blood surging within.

If she chose to turn a blind eye to this, given those people’s methods, Hong Xiujie’s father and brother would likely die in Changlin County. And the truth she had sought for years—would be buried forever, never to see the light of day.

Seeing Zhao Huairen’s expression change, Yan Yiqing paused briefly before piecing it together. “They’re the people the Heir Apparent has been looking for?”

She looked down; the iron chains binding her had long rusted, as if a gentle tug would grant her freedom once more. What she wanted to do… wasn’t entirely presumptuous after all.

A shadow of depth passed through her light brown eyes. Zhao Huairen lowered her gaze. “Mm.”

This carriage, isolated from the outside world.

Silently divided into two realms.

Though Hong Xiujie sat right before them, mere inches away, she suddenly felt an illusion—that only the two of them truly shared the space.

“Keep it safe. Don’t lose it again.” Zhao Huairen retrieved the household registry from a hidden compartment at her side, her long lashes trembling almost imperceptibly, her voice faintly cool.

Seeing that familiar mulberry paper document, Hong Xiujie’s eyes grew hot, but she refused to take it. “My lady, this common woman…”

“It’s just for you to hold onto yourself. Rest assured, it’ll be needed later.” Yan Yiqing said.

Accustomed from her lowly position to reading expressions, Hong Xiujie could tell that Zhao Huairen held the final say. Without her personal assurance, she couldn’t feel at ease. “Disaster Relief Envoy, my lady…”

“Vice Minister Yan holds the same rank as I do. Her words carry equal weight.” Yan Yiqing had anticipated what Zhao Huairen might say. She tapped her knee idly, mouthing the words like a parrot in her mind—

Yet the ever-stoic little Bodhisattva continued:

“Moreover, she is my wife.”

“What she says is what I think.”

Yan Yiqing’s movements stilled. She lifted her gaze to her, eyes uncharacteristically meek, as docile as a kitten stroked by its owner.

Unaware of a certain kitten’s affectionate stare, Zhao Huairen extended the mulberry paper document further, her gaze steady. “The relief convoy will travel through the night tonight and arrive at Yumu County by dawn tomorrow.”

“Yumu County?” Hong Xiujie bit her lower lip.

“This official has your father and brother’s matter etched in my heart, but as Disaster Relief Envoy, I cannot abandon Yumu County’s people.” Sensing her tension keenly, Zhao Huairen patiently coaxed her. “You sought help at the county yamen and were turned away. Do you know why?”

Because the magistrates of the two counties.

Were birds of a feather, shielding each other.

“They seem like two separate matters, but they stem from the same source.” Seeing her fall silent, Zhao Huairen said in a low voice, “Two days.”

Hong Xiujie looked at her in confusion.

“In two days, this official will let you see your father and brother.” Zhao Huairen met her gaze calmly.

Her reaction upon hearing “Yumu County” had been instinctive. Calming down, Hong Xiujie realized: this person, as Disaster Relief Envoy, if she abandoned an entire county’s people just to help her, could such a person truly be trusted?

Moreover, it was Yumu County.

The land where she had lived since childhood.

“Will she agree?” Yan Yiqing mouthed to Zhao Huairen.

Zhao Huairen’s slender fingers curled loosely. She shook her head gently, her long lashes veiling the hue in her eyes. She couldn’t be entirely certain herself, but it was the best option for now. Even if Hong Xiujie refused—she would head to Yumu County first.

A dull thud echoed.

The two wives turned toward the center of the carriage simultaneously.

Hong Xiujie knelt on both knees, palms pressed to the floor, kowtowing heavily to Zhao Huairen.

A faint frost colored Zhao Huairen’s jade-like face.

Her sword brows furrowed slightly, her gaze complex as she looked at her.

“I have no great talents.” Hong Xiujie drew a deep breath and lifted her head to Zhao Huairen, her voice soft yet remarkably resolute. “But I know Yumu County’s terrain well. If there’s any way I can be of use, I beg the lady to command me as she wishes.”

A flicker of surprise passed through her light brown eyes.

But soon, that surprise turned to gentle appreciation.

Zhao Huairen’s fingertips twitched. She rose from her seat to help her up, murmuring, “Good.”

“Thank you, my lady!” Hong Xiujie’s vision blurred suddenly, her throat choking with emotion. “My lady, this common woman—”

“That’s enough, isn’t it?” Yan Yiqing crossed her arms over her chest, wrinkling her pert nose and pouting. “My… husband and I still need to discuss the relief efforts ahead.”

Husband? Zhao Huairen frowned at her.

A certain kitten felt a twinge of sourness inside but merely arched a brow nonchalantly on the surface, as if to say: What’s this? Officials can set fires, but commoners can’t light lamps? Didn’t you just say I’m your wife?

Her arm felt scorched by blazing flames. Hong Xiujie followed the heat to its source and found it came from that beauty’s gaze. She shuddered and hurried to say, “Relief efforts come first. Please discuss at your leisure, my ladies. This common woman takes her leave.”

She scurried away like a mouse spotting a cat.

Handy and quick, she was out of the carriage in the blink of an eye.

Now only two sets of soft breaths remained in the carriage. Zhao Huairen’s gaze fell on a certain kitten, a mix of amusement and exasperation. She pressed her lips together slightly, her heart softening as if pawed by those little claws.

“I’m not jealous.”

Zhao Huairen nodded. “Mm.”

“You don’t believe me?” Yan Yiqing erupted like a string of firecrackers at that single syllable. “I mean it. I know you just wanted to help her, and she didn’t mean anything else. I just…”

When I see you being kind to others.

I’m happy, but I also want—to hide you away.

Her pale fingertips curled subtly. Zhao Huairen glanced at her imperceptibly, mist gathering in her eyes. “Just what?”

“Why should I tell you?” Yan Yiqing touched her nose and said.

The woman seemed to have held back for a while; her full lips were bitten swollen, a faint peach blush tinting her cheeks, her black-jade pupils flickering darkly—like guilt, or perhaps some mischievous scheme.

If Huairen knew what she was thinking, she’d definitely… keep her distance. Yan Yiqing clenched her hand, straightened her back, and blustered, “Why is the Heir Apparent staring at me like that?”

So cute…

I want to stroke her face.

“Heir Apparent?” A curve lifted Zhao Huairen’s lips. She raised a hand to her mouth, her expression natural. “Not husband?”

Evidently not expecting such words from her mouth, Yan Yiqing opened hers but couldn’t form a complete sentence for a long moment.

Is this Huairen?

Who did she learn this from? She’s gone bad…

“Aren’t we supposed to discuss the relief efforts?” Zhao Huairen lightly changed the subject, lifting her gaze to her, voice clear and smooth. “We’ll reach Yumu County tomorrow. I need to stay there for these few days.”

“Then how will you keep the two-day promise?”

“There’s you.” Her lashes fluttered as Zhao Huairen gazed at her intently, her light brown pupils reflecting her figure. “Didn’t my lady say she’d help me?”

?!

Is this right?

Why does it feel like Huairen’s seducing me?

The feeling of being trusted brought her a surge of delight, but in the end, Yan Yiqing merely shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m not one to welch on a deal.”

Only her earlobes told the honest truth.

Obediently flushing a cute pink.