As they traveled south along the official road for about ten miles before turning southeast, they eventually took the road leading to Yangshui County.
Qin Wan and Yan Chi had set out early, proceeding at a leisurely pace without any particular hurry. Although they had known each other for over half a year, this was their first journey together. Yan Chi, who usually preferred horseback riding, now sat with Qin Wan in the carriage.
Having left the capital, the complex affairs of the imperial city seemed to fade into the distance. With more than a day’s journey ahead, they finally had time for proper conversation.
While Qin Wan’s experiences as the “Ninth Young Lady” were rather sparse, Yan Chi’s tales were quite different.
He spoke of everything from the lonely smoke of the great desert to the snow and moon beyond the frontier. His stories of conquering cities and the magnificent frontier landscapes left her deeply moved. She had always sensed an inexplicable air of calm solemnity about him, but only now, hearing more of his tales, did she realize this temperament had been forged in the endless warfare and snow of the northwestern borders. This particularly earned her admiration and respect.
Perhaps it was heaven’s blessing, but despite being midsummer, a fine drizzle began to fall afternoon, instantly dispelling the heat. The carriage creaked along between green mountains and fields, creating a unique charm.
Bai Feng and the others rode outside, refusing even to don rain capes. Qin Wan breathed in the special fragrance of soil and grass unique to the countryside, feeling increasingly relaxed and open-minded.
The cool breeze filtered through the carriage curtains, its gentle swaying creating a pleasantly refreshing sensation. Qin Wan leaned against Yan Chi’s shoulder, growing somewhat drowsy. Yan Chi wrapped his long arm around her, letting her rest against his chest. “Sleep if you wish.”
Having risen early that day, and with no strangers inside or outside the carriage, Qin Wan indeed closed her eyes. Seeing her do so, Yan Chi lowered his head to watch her sleeping face, gradually breaking into a smile.
Qin Wan dozed lazily for a while, not quite falling asleep but feeling much more relaxed. When she had rested enough, the sky had darkened considerably. “I wonder if there are any settlements ahead…”
Yan Chi sighed inwardly, glad he hadn’t let her make this journey alone.
“There are. Don’t worry, there’s a market town a few miles ahead where we can stay at an inn tonight.”
Qin Wan realized Yan Chi had investigated everything beforehand and felt completely at ease.
After traveling another half hour, they indeed came upon a small market town. By evening, the marketplace was empty, but inns and restaurants remained open along both sides of the not-too-long street. Midway down the street stood a modest inn. Bai Feng had already ridden ahead and was waiting at the entrance with an attendant when the carriage stopped.
When Qin Wan and Yan Chi alighted from the carriage, the attendant was startled to see such distinguished guests in their small market town and became even more attentive. He stepped forward and said, “Greetings to the Young Master and his Wife. We happen to have one superior room remaining…”
“We—”
Qin Wan wanted to correct the attendant’s assumption, as she and Yan Chi weren’t yet married!
However, before she could finish speaking, Yan Chi grabbed her hand. With a faint smile, he replied very politely, “Please show us to the superior room.”
Qin Wan glanced at Yan Chi, who only held her hand more tightly.
Seeing the attendant smiling at them both, Qin Wan said nothing more.
They entered the main hall and turned left up the stairs. The superior room was at the far left end of the second floor. When the door opened, the room was indeed clean and tidy. Though the furniture wasn’t made of premium wood, it was quite remarkable for a rural market town. More notably, there were several fresh azaleas in a white porcelain vase by the window, adding a touch of elegance. Qin Wan hadn’t expected much from such a place, and she wasn’t particularly demanding, but the room gave her a pleasant surprise.
The attendant respectfully asked, “Are the two of you satisfied?”
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan. “Is my wife satisfied?”
They had been mistaken for a couple, and Yan Chi didn’t correct it, even calling her “wife”! Qin Wan felt her ears growing hot – this was the first time he’d called her that!
Qin Wan nodded, “It’s quite nice.”
Yan Chi then said, “We’ll take this room. Have my attendants make arrangements, prepare hot water, and send your best food to the room.”
The attendant was delighted and responded respectfully. Bai Ying brought in their luggage, set it down, and withdrew, closing the door behind her. With Bai Ying gone, only the two of them remained in the room.
Qin Wan turned to look at Yan Chi. “You’re staying here tonight?”
Yan Chi smiled at Qin Wan. “Why not? We’re both young and appear newly married. Is there any reason for us to sleep in separate rooms?”
Qin Wan’s eyes widened. “Who’s newly married to you?!”
Qin Wan couldn’t help but blush, making Yan Chi laugh. Her shy demeanor was quite different from her usual self, and Yan Chi found it increasingly alluring. He stepped closer, removing his outer robe while saying, “We’ve left the capital – what’s wrong with pretending to be newlyweds?”
After removing his outer robe, Yan Chi tossed it onto a nearby couch and walked toward Qin Wan with a meaningful smile. Seeing his expression, Qin Wan’s face changed instantly, and she began backing away. “What do you mean, pretending to be newlyweds? Don’t you dare try anything!”
By now night had fallen outside the window, and a dim lamp lit the room, creating an inexplicably intimate atmosphere in the dim light. As Qin Wan retreated, Yan Chi advanced. After a few steps backward, the room being not very large, Qin Wan felt something hit the back of her legs, and she lost her balance, falling backward—
Yan Chi’s brow furrowed as he quickly stepped forward to catch her waist. Qin Wan fell sitting onto the bed, nearly hitting her head on the bedpost, though Yan Chi’s embrace had protected her. Startled by Yan Chi’s behavior and almost falling, she was momentarily dazed. Seeing her like this, Yan Chi burst out laughing. “What did you think I was going to do? Why so nervous?”
Yan Chi lay down on the bed, his gaze falling on Qin Wan, full of teasing mirth.
Only then did Qin Wan realize Yan Chi had deliberately scared her, and her ears grew hot again. Yan Chi patted the space beside him. “You must be exhausted from riding in the carriage all day. Lie down.” Seeing Qin Wan’s hesitation, Yan Chi laughed. “Don’t you trust me?”
Qin Wan glared at Yan Chi before finally lying down beside him.
After spending the whole day in the carriage, she felt her entire body had been shaken loose, so she did truly lie down. As she lay there, there was a rustling sound, and Qin Wan was surprised to find Yan Chi taking her hand.
Qin Wan’s heart warmed as she recalled the attendant’s words calling her “wife.”
“Qin Chaoyu’s wedding is approaching, and after Feng Chenbi and the Prince of Cheng’s wedding, the Empress Dowager and Imperial Princess will surely think about your and Yue Ning’s marriages. Even the Fifth Princess has found a match…”
Yan Chi suddenly spoke, turning on his side to look at Qin Wan.
Qin Wan also turned to face him, their faces close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Looking into Yan Chi’s phoenix eyes, she suddenly asked, “Why didn’t you stop me this time? I remember you used to warn me that the Prince of Jin’s case and Official Shen’s case were untouchable.”
Yan Chi raised his hand to caress Qin Wan’s cheek. “If I warn you, try to stop you, would you listen?”
Qin Wan blinked, momentarily silent, but her silence was itself an answer. Yan Chi smiled, “In that case, I should naturally support you. You said before that you still had one unfulfilled wish…”
Yan Chi didn’t finish his sentence, only gazing intently at Qin Wan. Their eyes met briefly before she lowered her gaze. Yan Chi sighed and pulled her into his embrace. “As I said before, I won’t force you. I’m already very happy that you’ve told me why you’re going to Yangshui County.”
The more Yan Chi spoke this way, the more guilty Qin Wan felt. Yan Chi indulged her in everything, and now he was even joining her investigation into the Prince of Jin’s case. Though Yan Chi hadn’t said it, Qin Wan knew that if others discovered her investigation, it could cause tremendous waves in the capital. Qin Wan bit her lip, suddenly making up her mind.
“Your wish is to uncover the truth behind the Prince of Jin’s case. I want to know if Official Shen was wrongly accused.”
Qin Wan felt Yan Chi’s breath pause for a moment before he asked, “And if Official Shen was wrongly accused?”
A heaviness appeared in Qin Wan’s eyes. “If he was wronged, then I must seek justice for him.”
Qin Wan’s head rested on Yan Chi’s shoulder, his heartbeat and breathing in her ears. She had expected him to ask why after her declaration, but instead, Yan Chi simply tightened his embrace and pulled her onto himself.
Qin Wan’s perspective shifted suddenly, and she found herself lying on top of Yan Chi, looking into his eyes. Yan Chi smiled, “I had guessed as much. If that’s the case, we’ll need to plan carefully.”
He didn’t ask why, because he largely understood that the reason was deeply buried in Qin Wan’s heart, not to be spoken unless necessary, and even then, she might hesitate.
Qin Wan looked at him. “You don’t even ask why. Do you truly have no demands of me?”
Did he have no requirements of her? In all this time, he had never seemed to demand anything from her…
Yan Chi laughed at her words. “Who says I have no demands? My only demand is for you to be my wife.”
Yes, he had just been calling her “wife.” Qin Wan’s heart softened, and she laid her head on his chest. Before, she had worried that her actions would affect him, but now that he had resolutely joined her cause, those concerns diminished. Moreover, Yan Chi was right – after the grand weddings in the capital, she would have nowhere to hide.
Though Qin Wan had made up her mind internally, she didn’t show it. She suddenly propped herself up, looking down at Yan Chi. “Is it really that simple to make me your wife?”
Qin Wan snorted lightly, attempting to get up, but as she rose halfway, Yan Chi pulled her back down.
Her chest collided with his, his arms around her waist preventing movement. Yan Chi narrowed his phoenix eyes. “Then what would it take to make you my wife?”
As Qin Wan’s eyes darted around, thinking of an answer, footsteps sounded outside. Her face changed color, and she tried to scramble off Yan Chi, but he deliberately held her slim waist, refusing to let go. In her desperation, she flailed about like a fish with arms and legs while Yan Chi laughed heartily—
When Bai Ying and the attendant entered with hot water and food, they found Qin Wan sitting on the low couch by the window, with Yan Chi perched on the windowsill, looking at her amusedly. The bed was in disarray, though what had transpired remained a mystery.
Bai Ying arranged the meal without a sideways glance, and after the attendant set down the hot water and offered some polite words, they withdrew. As the door closed, Yan Chi stood up and smiled, “Come, let’s eat. We need to leave early tomorrow to reach He Family Village before nightfall.”
Yan Chi led Qin Wan to the table by the hand, and now they were calm. This was their first time dining alone together at the same table. While Qin Wan ate quietly, Yan Chi constantly served her dishes. His long arms made it particularly convenient as he attended to both their needs. Qin Wan observed this silently, surprised by his attentiveness. By the end of the meal, she felt quite full.
After dinner, Qin Wan went to wash up. Because of Yan Chi’s presence, she hadn’t planned to bathe, but to her surprise, he poured both buckets of hot water into the wooden tub. “I wasn’t planning to wash,” she said.
Yan Chi shook his head. “Though it was cool today, you’ve still sweated. You should wash to avoid discomfort.”
Sensing her thoughts, he smiled and added, “I’ll have Bai Ying come up while I go downstairs to give some instructions.”
Qin Wan breathed a sigh of relief. Though Yan Chi occasionally embraced and held her, he was extremely respectful in such matters. Soon Bai Ying came up and took out clean clothes from their luggage, allowing Qin Wan to bathe comfortably.
When Qin Wan had changed and still saw no sign of Yan Chi returning, she worried about the propriety of his staying there. As she fretted, Bai Feng came up with a message that Yan Chi would be sleeping in a room downstairs.
Qin Wan let out a breath of relief while laughing – so Yan Chi had been teasing her all along!
With Yan Chi gone, Bai Ying rested on the long couch by the window, providing companionship for her mistress. The night passed, and early the next morning, Qin Wan rose. After washing up, Yan Chi personally brought breakfast up. After they finished eating, they set out toward He Family Village, now within Yangshui County’s borders.
Yangshui County, under the capital’s jurisdiction, was quite wealthy compared to more remote counties. He Family Village wasn’t in the county town itself. After a short while, their carriage turned onto a small path, muddy from the previous night’s rain. Fortunately, the weather was clear and not too hot. They traveled most of the day, reaching the outskirts of He Family Village by sunset.
There were no inns in the village, but fortunately, Yan Chi had sent Bai Feng ahead on horseback.
When they reached the village, Bai Feng was already waiting. “Master, Princess, I’ve made inquiries. Zhao Xun’s house is at the east end of He Family Village. After searching for a while, I found only one farmhouse where we could stay. There’s just an old grandmother and her daughter-in-law there – I heard the son works away from home. They agreed to let us stay one night for a modest sum.”
Bai Feng had handled everything properly. Yan Chi nodded, and the group followed him into the village.