After a few moments, Xie Zheng straightened up. His face, cold as jade, now showed no trace of emotion. It was as if the vulnerability from moments ago had truly been just an illusion in Fan Changyu’s mind.
He reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Fan Changyu’s ear, simply saying, “Go change your clothes.”
Though Fan Changyu had many questions, she had no choice but to suppress them for now.
The Presentation Institute was full of people and prying eyes. If she let him wait outside, a guard of the Institute leaving her room would be seen and could lead to unsavory rumors if word spread.
To avoid unnecessary complications, it was best not to let him leave the room at all.
She picked up the guard uniform that had fallen to the floor and, after a moment’s hesitation, stepped behind the folding screen.
As she unfastened the soft armor she wore, Fan Changyu peeked out worriedly to glance at the man standing with his back to her in the room.
Except for the night before he entered the capital, even when they had shared a bed, they had always slept fully clothed. She had never undressed in front of him in broad daylight before.
Fan Changyu felt very uncomfortable.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zheng, with his back to her, spoke as if he had eyes in the back of his head, “Don’t worry, I won’t look.”
Fan Changyu felt a pang of embarrassment at having judged his character unfairly. She withdrew her head and began to rustle out of her clothes.
From beyond the screen came the latter half of Xie Zheng’s calm statement: “Haven’t I already seen everything there is to see, both what should and shouldn’t be seen?”
Fan Changyu’s hands froze in the act of untying her sash. Her eyes flashed dangerously as she gripped the folding screen behind her with one hand. As the wooden screen creaked under her grip, she enunciated each word: “Xie. Zheng!”
A very soft chuckle came from outside: “I’m just teasing you. Hurry up and change.”
As Fan Changyu put on the guard uniform, she glanced toward the screen again out of the corner of her eye, unconsciously furrowing her brow.
Xie Zheng was doing this on purpose.
He seemed to not want her to ask too many questions, which was why he deliberately changed the subject like this.
After Fan Changyu finished changing and walked out, she didn’t pursue the matter further. While fastening the vambrace on her sleeve, she asked, “Who are you taking me to see?”
The guard uniform was dark blue. She had tied all of her long hair up into a small bun on top of her head, exposing her long, fair neck. Her features were naturally sharp, giving her a unique air of heroism.
However, with the leather belt cinched tight around her waist, she looked too slender, unlike a man.
Xie Zheng leaned against the carved openwork moon gate separating the inner and outer rooms, quietly watching Fan Changyu, his eyes as deep and dark as an ancient well that never saw daylight: “You’ll know when we get there.”
As Fan Changyu approached, he suddenly raised his hand, with its slightly protruding veins, to unfasten the collar she had just secured.
Fan Changyu started in surprise and dodged sideways. The delicate skin of her neck brushed against his cool fingertips, instantly making half her neck tingle.
She rebuked him in a low voice: “What are you doing?”
Xie Zheng looked down at her. The windows and doors were tightly shut, making the room dim and accentuating his handsome, sculpted features.
“Your waist is too thin. You’ll be recognized. We need to bind two pieces of cotton armor.”
His voice was very calm as his fingertips moved to the right, hooking and pulling to unfasten Fan Changyu’s securely tied collar without any obstruction this time.
With such a dignified reason given, Fan Changyu couldn’t bring herself to be angry with him anymore. But he was standing too close; his breath was filled with that cold scent of northern snow mixed with soap. Combined with the almost-but-not-quite touch of his fingertips, it made the tip of Fan Changyu’s nose break out in a fine sweat.
As he began to undo the leather belt at her waist, Fan Changyu stepped back, quickly unfastening it herself with both hands. “I’ll do it myself.”
Without the belt to hold it closed, her outer robe fell open, revealing the loose white undergarment beneath. Only two ties at the front held it in place, and the slender curve of her collarbones was now visible.
The teeth marks on her left collarbone had faded considerably, leaving only two rice-grain-sized marks at the top and bottom.
As she bent her head to tie two pieces of cotton armor around her waist, a loose strand of hair fell forward, dangling right at her shoulder and neck.
Xie Zheng reached out to brush away that strand of hair. The sensation of the hair being drawn across her skin was indescribably ticklish. Fan Changyu instinctively shrank her neck, frowning slightly as she looked up at Xie Zheng. His calloused fingertip came to rest on the two tiny marks left by his teeth.
Fan Changyu’s shoulders twitched again—his fingertips were very cool.
Xie Zheng made no further untoward moves. His gaze merely swept over the now noticeably flatter curve of her chest as he asked, “Bound your chest again?”
Though he was only touching her collarbone with two fingers, Fan Changyu felt as if he were holding some sharp weapon to her throat. It seemed all the strength in her body was being drawn out through his fingertips.
She struggled to maintain her composure as she replied, “It’s more convenient when wearing armor.”
Xie Zheng gave a noncommittal “Mm,” his fingertips idly tracing the teeth marks on her collarbone. Suddenly, his right arm flexed powerfully, wrapping around Fan Changyu’s waist and lifting her onto the round table.
Fan Changyu leaned back unexpectedly, barely managing to steady herself by bracing her hands on the table’s surface. Before she could react, Xie Zheng had gripped her chin and was kissing her.
This position left her with no choice but to submit, making it easy for Xie Zheng to deepen the kiss.
Even as he kissed her, he managed to free a hand to securely tie the cotton armor around her waist, then close and fasten her outer robe. Lowering his gaze to glance at her, he bit the collar of her left shoulder and pulled it down, covering the faded teeth marks with a fresh red mark before adjusting her collar back into place.
Fan Changyu’s breathing was very unsteady. Though her clothes were no longer disheveled after his adjustments, her cheeks were flushed pink, and her hands gripping the edge of the table had white knuckles from the effort.
Xie Zheng raised his head and placed two more quick kisses on her slightly swollen red lips before saying, “If you keep looking at me like that, we won’t be leaving this room today.”
His voice was lower than usual as if he’d been drinking, with a husky magnetism.
As Fan Changyu’s gaze gradually cleared, she grabbed his collar from her current position, pulling him down close to her. She opened her mouth and bit down hard on the junction of his neck and shoulder.
Xie Zheng let out a soft hiss, but before he could react, Fan Changyu had already released him and jumped down from the table.
She took several steps away before turning back to look at him, her eyes holding the wildness and defiance of a leopard: “Let’s go.”
Xie Zheng pulled up his collar to cover the teeth mark on his neck and shoulder, lightly tracing the mark with his fingertip before unhurriedly following her.
Since Xie Zheng had said someone would inform Xie Qi and the others of her whereabouts, Fan Changyu didn’t specifically seek out Xie Qi to explain.
Using the pretext of going shopping, the two left the Presentation Institute and entered a shop selling brushes, ink, and paintings. They were led to the second floor, where servants brought them clothes to change into.
Fan Changyu stood by the window of the private room, pushing it open a crack. She watched as two Blood Riders wearing the guard uniforms they had just discarded left, immediately followed by several plainclothes individuals who discreetly tailed them. Startled, she turned to ask Xie Zheng, “Did you know all along we were being followed?”
Xie Zheng sat at the table, his long fingers with their light scabs holding a cup of clear tea. He raised his eyelids slightly and said, “Guards and servants leaving the Presentation Institute are always followed.”
Fan Changyu understood the meaning behind his words. Those people were the eyes of the palace.
Even when sending servants or guards out on errands, the Emperor would have them secretly watched.
She returned to sit at the round table covered with exquisite embroidered satin and asked, “Where are we going next?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of horses neighing as a carriage stopped could be heard from downstairs.
Xie Zheng set down his teacup: “The carriage is here.”
Seeing him stand up, Fan Changyu also picked up the veiled hat brought by the servant and followed.
This veiled hat was used by noble ladies or young misses in the capital to cover their faces when going out. With this hat on, Fan Changyu wouldn’t need to apply any disguising cosmetics to her face.
As they were leaving, a “husband and wife” pair from the carriage were being led upstairs by the shop’s servants. Fan Changyu noticed that the couple’s clothes were identical to what she and Xie Zheng were wearing.
Seeing the servant give an almost imperceptible nod to Xie Zheng, and the “couple” enter the private room they had just vacated, Fan Changyu guessed that these were also Xie Zheng’s people.
As it wasn’t the right time to speak, she remained silent. Following Xie Zheng downstairs, he bought two calligraphy scrolls before leading her to the carriage waiting by the road.
The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage set off into the busy market. After they had gone some distance, Fan Changyu lifted a corner of the curtain to look back. Confirming that no one was following them, she lowered the curtain and asked Xie Zheng, “Are the people in that shop yours?”
Xie Zheng sat leaning against the carriage wall. The curtain at the window fluttered in the breeze, casting shifting light on his disguised face, which still couldn’t hide his superior bone structure.
He answered, “That’s a Zhao family business.”
Fan Changyu remembered the Zhao family bookstore that had opened in Qingping County, but she hadn’t realized the Zhao family also had businesses in the capital.
After Xie Zheng closed his eyes to rest, Fan Changyu lifted a small corner of the curtain to observe the street scenes along the way.
The capital was indeed more prosperous than any place she had ever been. No wonder Chang Ning had been so excited after going out for a stroll.
Fan Changyu watched for a while, resting her elbow on the window, then turned her head to stare at Xie Zheng with his eyes lightly closed.
He had something on his mind, but he was unwilling to tell her.
Fan Changyu pressed her lips together slightly. She didn’t much like the dejected feeling rising in her heart because of this.
As she was lost in thought, staring at him, the man who had been keeping his eyes closed suddenly opened them: “What are you looking at me for?”
Caught red-handed, Fan Changyu felt both guilty and embarrassed. She quickly sat up straight, coughed lightly, and said, “I was curious about what material your face mask is made of.”
Making a human skin mask isn’t easy. When they left the Presentation Institute, Xie Zheng wore a human skin mask that fit the contours of his face, while Fan Changyu applied some disguising cosmetics.
When they changed clothes at the bookstore, the cosmetics on her face had been cleaned off.
Hearing her say this, Xie Zheng raised his hand to his face and peeled off the scarred face mask, handing it to her.
Fan Changyu took it and felt it carefully, frowning as she said, “I can’t tell what it’s made of.”
Xie Zheng said, “I thought you might guess it was human skin.”
Fan Changyu’s expression changed instantly. Her almond eyes widened, her pupils contracting, looking just like a startled cat.
Seeing her like this, Xie Zheng lowered his gaze to hide the amusement in his eyes. The gloom that had been accumulating in his chest seemed to dissipate a little.
Fan Changyu’s face showed a complex expression. Using just her two thumbs to pinch the edge of the mask, she handed it back to Xie Zheng with a conflicted look, saying, “They say that debts are settled when a person dies. But to skin, someone after they’re dead to make a mask is really bad karma. You shouldn’t use this anymore.”
Xie Zheng propped his chin on one hand, gazing at her intently as he deliberately said, “But there’s no material more suitable than human skin. It’s extremely flexible and fits perfectly…”
As he spoke, he pushed the mask Fan Changyu had returned closer to her: “If you don’t believe me, try it on yourself.”
Fan Changyu’s face had almost turned green. She looked at the skin mask so close to her as if facing a great enemy, stiffening her neck as she said, “I won’t try it!”
She looked like a leopard cat about to bristle.
A muffled laugh escaped from Xie Zheng’s throat: “You believed it?”
Fan Changyu realized she had been tricked and glared at him without speaking.
Xie Zheng chuckled and said, “It’s made of donkey glue by an alchemist.”
The curtain was occasionally lifted by the wind, revealing scenery that had changed to the outskirts of the city.
Fan Changyu held the mask in one hand, her other hand clenched into a fist. As the driver reined in the horses to stop, she threw the mask at the opposite seat, immediately followed by several “bang bang” punches flying out.
When Xie Zhong heard the horse’s neigh and came out of the estate, he heard a series of loud “crash bang” noises from inside the carriage stopped at the estate’s gate.
A moment later, a young lady in a lotus-colored gauze dress jumped down first. She had bright eyes and white teeth, with a beautiful face, though she looked a bit fierce. However, her eyes were clear, giving her somewhat of an honest, easily fooled appearance—quite a spirited young lady.
Xie Zhong didn’t recognize Fan Changyu but thought that since she was brought here by the Blood Riders’ carriage, she must not be an outsider.
Shortly after, Xie Zheng walked out of the carriage. For some reason, he had put the scarred face mask back on.
Seeing him, Xie Zhong quickly cupped his hands in salute: “My Lord.”
Xie Zheng nodded slightly, his voice betraying no emotion: “How is General Zhu’s recovery?”
Xie Zhong replied, “Everything else is fine, but his legs can’t be healed.”
This was something the doctor had warned about early on.
Xie Zheng turned his head to look at Fan Changyu, whose anger hadn’t completely subsided, and said softly, “The person I wanted you to meet is inside.”