The Gaochang people were tall and sturdy, with thick beards covering their faces. Qun Qing could still see that the other party’s expression wasn’t good, as if suppressing something.
The envoy said: “It didn’t take this long when we came. We must have taken the wrong road. Otherwise, we should have reached Hexi Commandery by now.”
Lu Huating held his chopsticks, spreading chili paste on a steamed bun, and said calmly: “It wasn’t raining when you came. With rain washing down and feet sinking deep in mud, the original road can’t be taken.”
The two envoys exchanged indignant glances.
The translator said: “The envoys say that since signing the contract, Lord Lu has changed his demeanor. The queen’s invitation was not forced. If you’re too busy to go, you could have declined. Why agree before Prince Yan?”
Qun Qing thought to herself that “changed his demeanor since signing the contract” was putting it too mildly. These past few days, when the envoys were hungry, Lu Huating served water; when the envoys had just gone to sleep, Lu Huating urged them to hurry on, as if deliberately tormenting the envoys.
Amid the pattering rain, Lu Huating said warmly: “Treating others with courtesy is Da Chen’s virtue. We never said otherwise.”
With a “snap,” the Gaochang envoy slapped his chopsticks on the table, leaving the half-eaten dry flatbread on the wobbling table, and returned to his room.
This inn was dilapidated. Only one attendant came to clear the plates, and even he looked unwilling, using his cloth to shoo several people away. Qun Qing could only hastily stuff the flatbread into her mouth.
“On this road, are there really other lodging places?” Under the lamplight, Qun Qing spread out the map.
Lu Huating said while making the bed: “My wife has been quiet this whole journey. I thought you wouldn’t concern yourself with these matters.”
Having left the palace quarters with Lu Huating managing everything, Qun Qing didn’t want to miss this rare opportunity to rest. She’d slept the whole way and finally looked up: “I truly don’t want to concern myself, but haven’t you noticed the rooms are getting smaller and smaller?”
Indeed it was cramped. When Lu Huating turned around, their robes brushed against each other.
This face illuminated by lamplight was like warm jade giving off light. He picked up the shawl he’d knocked down and gently placed it on her knee with lowered eyes, saying: “This has been hard on my wife.”
“Are we avoiding someone?” Qun Qing asked. “Otherwise it’s hard to explain why we’d temporarily change routes, take desolate paths all the way, and lodge in the wilderness.”
Lu Huating said: “Prince Yan’s mansion sent word that the previous route had been leaked. For safety’s sake, we changed roads. We can only squeeze together here for now.”
Qun Qing set down the map.
Whether Lu Huating was making her squeeze in one place for safety’s sake or because he feared she’d send letters to Southern Chu and wanted to personally watch her, she didn’t care either way. She’d made this journey only to obtain Scarlet-Robed Envoy status. She only wanted to barely complete it and absolutely wouldn’t let Southern Chu sabotage the trade deal.
Qun Qing took out a handkerchief from her sleeve. Opening it, there was actually half a dry flatbread inside, which she quietly began nibbling.
Lu Huating hadn’t expected this reaction. He froze slightly and said: “The meals on the road are simple. Is my wife not eating her fill?”
Qun Qing said: “It’s fine. Serving in the palace, I’ve eaten things far worse than this.”
Lu Huating looked at her: “Shall we go outside to eat something?”
“It’s the middle of the night. Where would there be an inn outside? Since we’re avoiding assassination, shouldn’t we stay put safely?” Qun Qing said in surprise, reminding him quietly: “There’s nothing around here except grass.”
Lu Huating had already shaken out his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders: “Let’s go. Don’t alert the hidden guards at the door.”
Qun Qing felt that coming out with him was utterly absurd, but she was also very curious about where this person wanted to take her.
Beyond the inn, there truly was nothing else, only a stone stream. As the sound of water drew near, trees grew lush. Moonlight shone on the stream, revealing a silvery white color that in the night looked like a fairyland.
Not having seen such wild scenery in a long while, Qun Qing’s temple hair was blown by the moisture-laden mountain breeze, and her mood became expansive. Just as Lu Huating was about to speak, she had already lifted her skirt hem and stepped into the water: “Let’s go to the opposite bank. Don’t alert the people in the inn.”
Her balance was extremely strong, so walking on stones in water wasn’t difficult. Just as she was almost to the opposite bank, Qun Qing’s foot slipped and stepped into a gap. The person beside her suddenly gripped her waist, steadying her.
Seeing her stand firm, Lu Huating released his fingers: “My wife, there’s moss on the stones. Be careful.”
Qun Qing paused: “You walk so steadily.”
Lu Huating said indifferently: “When you walk often, you walk steadily. I could cross this kind of stream carrying two buckets.”
Qun Qing glanced at him, only seeing his profile in the moonlight. This person wore his hair in a tall cap and was dressed in fine robes. Since their first meeting, his every word and action had been graceful and elegant. It was hard to imagine he’d once carried a shoulder pole, walking through streams like this.
Lu Huating had already crouched down, picked up a stone to sharpen it on the ground, then suddenly struck it diagonally into the water with a “bang.” Immediately he reached into the water and pulled out a gray fish slightly larger than his palm.
Qun Qing watched, stunned.
This was the technique for catching fish?
Lu Huating had already rolled up one sleeve with one hand while using the other to knock the fish’s head unconscious. With a dagger he skillfully removed the scales, then cut open the fish’s belly, deftly pulling out the innards with one hand and washing them clean in the water.
Qun Qing watched the blood on his slender fingers dissipate in the water and turned her gaze toward the stream: “Did you learn this in the military?”
Lu Huating strung several fish on tree branches: “Campaigning away from home, you have to have some survival skills. I have to make sure my wife eats her fill.”
Before long, the grilled fish was set on a frame. Qun Qing watched Lu Huating sitting on the ground grilling fish and had an extremely absurd feeling.
The two of them seemed to have escaped the constraints of the Great Luminous Palace, broken free from official ranks and identities, and caught their breath in this interlude.
Lu Huating only heard rustling sounds. Looking up, he saw Qun Qing sitting on a stone with her back to him, letting down her long hair. He couldn’t help freezing: “What are you doing?”
Having traveled in such dusty conditions this whole journey, Qun Qing looked at the stream water and said hesitantly: “I want to wash my hair.”
“You’re going to groom yourself right in front of me like this?”
Qun Qing turned her face, not understanding: “You can grill fish, so why can’t I wash my hair?”
Lu Huating stared at her intently.
Her eyes held an edge, yet her long hair gave off a raven-black luster in the night, making her cheeks and neck appear even more pale and white, like a forest demon or ghost.
Qun Qing leaned forward. Just as she was about to immerse her long hair in the water, Lu Huating said from behind: “Don’t you know that washing your hair in ice water will leave a woman with lingering ailments?”
Qun Qing said: “I can endure it.”
“You can wait until we return to the inn and heat water to wash.”
“Then I’d still have to ask the attendant for hot water.”
“I’ve already requested hot water. I can let my wife wash first.”
Hearing these words, Qun Qing had no choice but to give up and accepted the grilled fish from Lu Huating’s hands.
The fish skin was sprinkled with pepper and salt. One bite and it was steaming hot.
“My wife, is it good?” Lu Huating said with a half-smile.
Qun Qing nodded. The firelight was dazzling. She blocked it with her form, her heartbeat pounding in her chest.
The envoys were still resting in the inn. Outside the inn, there were also hidden guards from Prince Yan’s mansion standing watch.
Qun Qing could hardly imagine what expression the envoys would have if they knew the Minister of Rites had brought the Chamberlain out in the middle of the night to grill fish by a stone stream.
Yet what you fear comes to pass—the two envoys at the inn pushed open their doors and came out. Qun Qing immediately shook off her outer robe and extinguished the fire. From afar they heard the Gaochang envoys come out and argue loudly with the hidden guards. They held their abdomens with their hands, seemingly in pain—the food at this inn had given them upset stomachs. After clamoring for a long while, they were finally persuaded to return.
Qun Qing felt sympathy in her heart for these two envoys. She finished eating in two or three bites and said: “Let’s go back. We still have to travel tomorrow.”
In that crude inn, Lu Huating indeed obtained a basin of hot water.
Qun Qing said thanks. After hastily washing and wiping herself in the partition, she lay down in the bedding.
Before long, the scent of sweet grass drew near. Through the thin curtain, she saw Lu Huating with his hair loose, lowering his head to tie the strings of his inner robe, then slowly wrapping the wound on his palm.
Having eaten someone’s food after all, Qun Qing said: “The floor isn’t clean. Why don’t you come up on the bed to sleep?”
Lu Huating’s movements paused. Qun Qing immediately regretted it.
But the next moment, he pulled open her quilt and lay down directly.
The sweet grass scent from his body came rushing over. Qun Qing suddenly realized how cramped this inn’s bed was. Her palms sweated and she didn’t dare move, almost unable to breathe smoothly. But hearing the person beside her sleeping soundlessly, she also remained motionless.
Like this, half-dreaming and half-awake until morning, Qun Qing suddenly awakened.
She was extremely sensitive to danger. Outside there were clearly sounds of fighting.
She sat up. Lu Huating also opened his eyes. Then the door was knocked on, and a tall attendant came in to apologize: “Just now outside there were bandits causing trouble, wanting to take advantage of dawn when guests were sound asleep to come rob things. As soon as they entered the door shouting, they were already driven away by the several hidden guards outside. Please check whether any valuables have been lost.”
“No one came in, so naturally nothing was lost.” Qun Qing’s gaze passed over those two attendants’ faces. Suddenly she saw with surprise that outside the window, the two envoys hurriedly got into their carriage and drove off, as if afraid they would catch up.
Then the translator ran in to report: “The envoys left a letter. This place isn’t far from Gaochang anymore. They need to hurry back to report, so they won’t wait for you two lords. If you two truly wish to see the queen, you may proceed slowly. They’ll respectfully await you both in the capital city.”
Very obviously, the food and lodging along this journey had been tormenting. The envoys had just suffered from vomiting and diarrhea last night, and this morning were disturbed by bandits again—they really couldn’t take it anymore. They didn’t trust Lu Huating’s arrangements and wanted to part ways with them.
“It’s fine to travel separately. But you said the route was already exposed. Will they be safe returning on their own?” Qun Qing said. “First have the hidden guards follow them. We’ll catch up.”
Lu Huating whistled at the window. The twenty accompanying hidden guards immediately tailed the envoys’ carriage.
Lu Huating leaned by the window watching them depart in the distance and said: “My wife need not hurry to pack. We’ll just proceed slowly.”
Everything happened too fast. Qun Qing was still somewhat dazed. When going downstairs, all the inn’s windows had been opened. Cold wind penetrated through, continuously blowing on her face. She always felt that something seemed wrong.
Probably because bandits had broken in this morning and caused some damage, the tables, chairs, and benches had all been moved to the side. Several attendants were cleaning the main hall.
Seeing the two come down, the attendant who’d knocked on their door this morning came up to greet them. Qun Qing said: “I forgot something. Our carriage is outside. Have the driver wait.”
That attendant smiled and agreed, then quickly went out the door.
Qun Qing returned upstairs and suddenly grabbed Lu Huating’s wrist, saying quietly: “Something’s wrong. Yesterday there didn’t seem to be this many attendants here. The roof leaks rain and they were too lazy to repair it, yet they’d have so many people cleaning the main hall? Yesterday that attendant couldn’t even be bothered to serve meals properly. This morning at dawn he couldn’t possibly go door to door asking if anything was lost. Those people just now aren’t attendants from this inn at all.”