The leisurely footsteps behind him were no different from a death knell to Qiu Mingsong. He hunched over as he led the way ahead, his deep green official robe soaked with sweat, making him look like an old rat just fished out of the water.
Zhao Huaijin was not as clever as the rumors claimed.
But this person… had unpredictable moods and was not easy to deal with.
“This way, Lord Zhao,” Qiu Mingsong pushed open the carved door panels, revealing a hall inside that could barely be considered tidy. “This official has already ordered tea to be prepared in advance, but Yumu County nowadays… I hope Lord Zhao won’t find it too crude.”
His gaze swept over the cowering Qiu Mingsong. Zhao Huairen strode straight to the seat of honor and sat down gracefully. She closed the jade fan in her hand, the handle tapping lightly on the low table with rhythmic sounds. Her voice was as cold and piercing as well water: “The grain ledger.”
Qiu Mingsong’s eyelids twitched. He hurriedly presented the grain ledger. “Please review it, Lord Zhao. However, Yumu County nowadays… truly has not a single grain left.”
Without any instructions from Zhao Huairen.
Qin An stepped forward half a pace and took the ledger from Qiu Mingsong’s hands.
The yellowed pages were gently flipped, the rustling sounds starting and stopping like a python slithering over fallen leaves.
“The ledger indeed shows not a single grain left, but,” Zhao Huairen closed the grain ledger in her hand, her sword-like brows slightly raised as she said carelessly, “might someone in Yumu County be privately hoarding grain?”
Sweat beads rolled down his temple nonstop. Qiu Mingsong wiped them with his sleeve and replied respectfully, “Rest assured, Lord Zhao. There is absolutely no such thing in Yumu County. The local merchants donated grain on their own initiative as soon as the disaster struck.”
“It seems County Magistrate Qiu truly cares for the people.” Zhao Huairen lowered her gaze.
“You overpraise me, Lord. Alas, it is all this official’s incompetence.” As he spoke, Qiu Mingsong’s old tears flowed freely. He bowed his body and wept bitterly. “This official knows Lord Zhao cares for the common people, but if we use all the grain for the porridge sheds today, what will we do in a couple of days?”
A county magistrate who would rather faint from hunger himself to save grain.
Merchants who donated grain on their own at the start of the disaster.
Yet with officials possessing such “virtues,” Yumu County was littered with corpses, and thousands upon thousands of people were left homeless.
A dark glint flashed through her light brown eyes.
Zhao Huairen gripped the fan handle tightly until white marks formed on her palm.
“Lord Zhao?” Qiu Mingsong sniffed.
Now was not the right time to settle accounts with Qiu Mingsong.
But her patience was truly…
What would Yiqing do in this situation?
Hiding behind the screen, Yan Yiqing furrowed her brows tightly. She had only glanced at the figures in the hall below when the bowl of plain congee she drank that morning nearly came back up. It was truly nauseating. Fortunately, she didn’t have anyone like this under her command, or else she would definitely—
“Your crying is so disgusting.” Disgust welled up obviously in her eyes as Zhao Huairen raised her hand to cover her nose. “Tch, stand farther away.”
Yan Yiqing, standing behind the screen, froze: The words she had wanted to say came out of Huairen’s mouth…?
“County Magistrate Qiu, the Heir Apparent orders you to stand farther away.” Qin An said with a straight face.
Having rotten vegetables dumped on his head, Qiu Mingsong gritted his teeth and struggled to maintain the mask on his face. “Yes, this official obeys.”
Zhao Huairen narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, taking in his expression that looked even worse than swallowing a fly. Her breathing instantly eased, and the stifled breath in her chest finally relaxed.
This was the first time in her life.
That she expressed herself in such a direct way.
“Return the grain ledger to County Magistrate Qiu.” Zhao Huairen glanced at the ledger, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the armrest. She changed the subject. “The embankment on the southern bank collapsed a second time. Has it been repaired yet?”
A flash of hatred in his eyes, the County Magistrate Qiu replied, “The people are all starving, so there aren’t enough workers to conscript. The repairs can only be put on hold for now…”
“The grain ledger records three thousand households in Yumu County.”
“The workers repairing it could get more grain, so does County Magistrate Qiu mean that among tens of thousands of people, you couldn’t find any to repair the embankment?”
“This…” Qiu Mingsong had anticipated this question. His eyes darkened suddenly as he cupped his hands. “To tell the truth, most of the able-bodied men have gone to Changlin County to work.”
“Changlin County?” Zhao Huairen frowned at him.
“The stone quarry pays high wages, and there’s two full meals a day besides.” As Qiu Mingsong recited his prepared excuse, he observed Zhao Huairen’s expression. “Their legs are their own. This official is already overwhelmed handling the disaster relief and truly has no way to stop them.”
“The one recruiting is the stone quarry?” Zhao Huairen toyed with the jade fan in her hand and continued, “Perfect. Repairing the embankment requires stone. Since County Magistrate Qiu is so busy— this official will go there personally.”
Qiu Mingsong shuddered all over and looked up. “The journey is arduous, and you’ve just arrived in Yumu County. Why not let this official…”
“County Magistrate Qiu needn’t be nervous. Even if we go, it won’t be right this instant.” Zhao Huairen gave him a meaningful look.
“This official is merely concerned for your health.” County Magistrate Qiu let out a dry laugh, fawning.
“His Majesty ordered this official to come for disaster relief. We must save the people and repair the embankment.” Her long lashes trembled almost imperceptibly as Zhao Huairen yawned. “Before the hour of You, compile a list of all usable people in Yumu County.”
Qiu Mingsong had lived over forty years.
He had always prided himself on seeing through people easily.
But the person before him was truly unfathomable. Clearly a pampered heir from a noble family, with that arrogant and domineering air that was truly irritating. Yet from what she just said—he was willing to go to Changlin County personally.
“Withdraw.” Zhao Huairen flicked her sleeve.
Since the superior had spoken thus, Qiu Mingsong could only swallow his many doubts. He clenched his fingers tightly and backed out of the hall, still bowing.
…
After the eyesore left.
The light in the hall seemed much brighter.
“Zhuyu is probably overwhelmed there. Go help her out.” Zhao Huairen’s thin lips parted slightly as her gaze swept over the screen near the left wall.
Qin An frowned. “By the Heir Apparent’s side…”
“If something happens to me in the county yamen,” Zhao Huairen shook her head. “The first to lose his head would be Qiu Mingsong.”
Seeing her resolve.
Qin An nodded and departed on her orders.
–
No one could tell before the water drop touched the lake’s surface—whether the drop would melt first or the ripples would appear first.
Half a quarter of an hour passed.
Until that cup of tea had completely cooled.
Her gaze fell on the simple screen. Zhao Huairen tilted her head. “Not coming out yet?”
The surroundings were too crude. The stunning beauty emerged from behind the screen like an unremarkable green flower bud that finally bloomed into a soul-stealing peony. Yan Yiqing raised her eyes to her. “When did the Heir Apparent notice?”
“The moment I entered.”
Zhao Huairen clenched her fingertips.
Only then did she withdraw her gaze from Yan Yiqing.
“You knew I was watching,” Yan Yiqing took long strides, reaching Zhao Huairen in a few steps. She puffed her cheeks. “Aren’t you feeling guilty, Heir Apparent? I was right there watching, and you still dared to imitate me?”
It was some aura Zhao Huairen didn’t know how to describe.
Soft, with a hint of spicy fragrance, yet not overly sweet.
Yan Maomao waved her hand. “What are you spacing out for, Heir Apparent?”
“Imitate you? What do you mean by that, Young Master Yan?” Zhao Huairen’s sword brows furrowed slightly. She blinked innocently.
“You dare say you didn’t imitate me?”
Facing her wife’s overly clear black pupils, Zhao Huairen’s ear tips heated slightly. She turned her head away. “I did.”
!?
She admitted it just like that!
Yan Yiqing clenched her fists. “Didn’t the Heir Apparent say it was to lower their guard?”
“Mm.” Zhao Huairen stood, poured the cold tea from the cup into a porcelain basin nearby, then turned her fair wrist to pick up the teapot.
“…In the Heir Apparent’s eyes, am I like that?”
The confident, flamboyant little cat had been swept by a mudslide.
Her fur covered in yellow mud, looking a bit dejected and pitiful.
“The Young Master Yan in my eyes?” Light green tea soup fell into the cup, the clear fragrance striking the porcelain and overflowing with gentle streams.
Seeing Zhao Huairen still leisurely pouring tea, Yan Yiqing bit her cheek, disappointment and grievance spreading through her heart. She could only turn her head away, refusing to look at her.
She didn’t know how to make someone like her.
This was the first time she wanted someone to like her so badly.
But it was like something was wrong—everything she prided herself on failed to attract even a bit of Zhao Huairen’s attention.
“Like the sun in winter.”
Yan Yiqing turned to glance at her.
Not understanding what she meant.
“Not a lantern hanging from the eaves, nor the faint light hidden behind clouds.” Zhao Huairen lifted the white porcelain cup, a trace of yearning flashing in her eyes that was hard to detect. Her voice was soft and cool. “It’s the kind of sun that can easily melt the icicles—flamboyant and bright.”
Suddenly catching on, Yan Yiqing cleared her throat casually. “Me?”
“Mm.” Zhao Huairen handed the porcelain cup to her and said warmly, “Young Master Yan doesn’t seem to like drinking water much? Water is the source of all things; drink more usually.”
The yellow mud on the fur was gently brushed off by the woman.
Every strand of fur on her body was meticulously cared for.
“The sun—is that’s a compliment, right?” Yan Yiqing took a sip of the tea soup.
Huairen’s words always had many layers.
She didn’t want to be disliked without realizing it later.
“Mm.” Zhao Huairen’s phoenix eyes lowered slightly, staring at the water light spreading from her lip corner. As if it wasn’t enough, she added, “It’s… a very, very good meaning.”
The cool voice settled in her heart lake.
Ripples spread, coating her entire heart in softness.
Yan Yiqing gazed into her lover’s eyes, her movements pausing.
She suddenly wanted to ask:
I’m so great—could you consider liking me?
“Is the tea not good?” Seeing her holding the cup without drinking, Zhao Huairen furrowed her sword brows slightly and said softly, “It’s probably last year’s old tea. Later, I’ll have someone—”
“It’s very good.”
As sweet as honey water.
She had never drunk such delicious tea before.
Though she didn’t understand why she drank tea like wine, downing it in one gulp, since she said it was good, Zhao Huairen relaxed. “When did Young Master Yan change clothes?”
Yan Yiqing pinched her earlobe and explained, “Red is too conspicuous. I can’t be seen here, so I changed into this dark blue robe.”
If Yan Yiqing had to say it herself.
She thought she looked good in anything with her appearance.
But since Huairen liked her in red, would dark blue make her think…
“I rarely see Young Master Yan wearing other colors.” Her heart skipped a beat. The little cat gripped her sleeve, only to hear her wife continue, “Dark blue suits you very well.”
“Dark blue suits me?” Yan Yiqing raised her brow. “But didn’t the Heir Apparent say red suits me before?”
“I hadn’t seen you in dark blue before.”
Hearing this, Yan Yiqing’s heart felt like it had been shot by an arrow. Could she interpret this as…
Huairen thought she looked good in red.
Because she hadn’t seen her in other colors.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Young Master Yan?” Seeing her staring soulfully, Zhao Huairen asked curiously.
She didn’t know how to make her like her.
But she acted like she had studied it specially—it was too skilled.
