Chapter 19 Guest Room

There was a knock at the door. Shang Yuji nudged the person hanging on her with her knee: "Get your clothes straight and go open the door."

"Okay." Jiang Xi got out of bed, her long, silky hair flowing smoothly as she got up.

Shang Yuji also stood up. Her hair, which had become messy and loose after playing around, was now disheveled. She simply took off her hair ribbon and let her black hair fall loosely down her back.

Yang Bai didn't go inside. He handed the food box to Jiang Xi, who opened the door. He noticed the slightly wrinkled corner of Jiang Xi's clothes but ignored it as usual. He instructed Jiang Xi, "The porridge is still a little hot. You can let it sit for a while before eating. There are other light dishes in it. If there are any you can't finish, you can tell me later. I will avoid them next time."

He nodded and took the food box, said goodbye and closed the door, then carried the food box to the wooden table and brought out the dishes one by one, arranging them in an orderly manner.

Yang Bai brought enough food for two people to eat in the house.

Nowadays, the inn's lobby is mostly used by people seeking shelter from the rain and taking a break. Since Miss Shang is not feeling well, and the lobby is a mixed bag of people, it would be more appropriate for her to have dinner alone in her room.

Jiang Xi saw Shang Yuji walking over with her hair down and said, "Aji, let me tie your hair up. I've learned a lot of new hairstyles!"

Seeing that he really wanted to get started, Shang Yuji nodded and sat down in front of the dressing table. Jiang Xi picked up the hair ribbon she had placed on the dressing table, combed her slightly messy hair little by little, and then carefully divided it into two sections and began to braid it.

Fold the braid upwards and tie it up, then use a hairband to secure it, and use a hairpin to fix the braid behind the left and right ears. Finally, put the hairband behind your back.

Two long ribbons hung down her back. Shang Yuji looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head. The girl's double buns, along with the ribbons swaying behind her head, made her look clever, quirky, and lively.

Jiang Xi's hairstyle wasn't particularly elaborate, but he looked as if he were facing some kind of century-old problem, his face serious and his steps cautious. Shang Yuji looked at his unusually cold expression in the mirror and found it rather novel.

Whenever she was by his side, he would always smile back when they made eye contact, so she forgot that he could also have a cold face.

However, his cool demeanor made him appear less dull and slow, and more intelligent and wise, at least making him seem less easily fooled.

Shang Yuji touched the end of the hair bun with one hand and praised, "It's tied very beautifully. I like it very much."

Hearing that she liked it, Jiang Xi took the initiative to say, "I will continue to learn new ways to tie your hair. Ah Ji, I want to tie your hair too!"

He wanted to keep tying Ah Ji's hair up!

Shang Yuji encouraged, "Okay, I'll tie them all up for you when I have time."

After washing their hands and finishing their dinner together, Shang Yuji took Jiang Xi, who was carrying the food box, downstairs to return it.

As soon as the guest room door opened, a burst of noise erupted from behind the wooden door. The lobby was packed with people, mostly travelers like them who had decided to stay at the inn temporarily because they were worried about rain in the middle of the night.

Shang Yuji didn't intend to get involved too much. She went downstairs to return the food box to the waiter and then turned to go back.

She saw Yang Bai gathered with the guards. Thinking of the accident in the carriage, Shang Yuji decided to go over and thank him.

The corner where Yang Bai and the others were staying was secluded and quiet. It's a mystery how she found this place.

As she approached, Shang Yuji saw Yang Bai's broadsword lying across the table. He sat down with an imposing air and slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang. She said in a deep voice, "There aren't many guest rooms. Except for Miss Shang and Young Master Jiang's rooms, which can't be moved, the rest of you can squeeze in and there will still be room for you!"

The group of people in front of her had their faces contorted for some reason, winking and making faces at her, and seemed to be itching all over, as if they wanted to jump up.

Yang Bai thought they were upset about what she had said and was about to tighten their belts again when Xiao Fang coughed twice and called out, "Miss Shang, what brings you here? The medicine is in the inn's kitchen, being watched by Xiao Yue. I'll bring it to you later!"

As Yang Bai considered a possibility, his mind went blank and slowly turned around, only to see Miss Shang's smiling, squinting face.

"Miss Shang, why did you come downstairs? Is there something you want to tell me?" Yang Bai abandoned his bold posture and stood up cautiously to ask.

...Hopefully, Miss Shang didn't hear what she said!

Shang Yuji said gently, "Miss Yang, shall we talk about the guest rooms?"

She must have heard it!

Yang Bai waved his hand, temporarily dismissing the team, and led Shang Yuji to sit on a stool covered with a towel.

Shang Yuji cut to the chase and asked, "Tell me, how many guest rooms have we booked?"

"Four rooms... Because so many people decided to stay at the inn due to the rain, we only have four rooms left at the last minute." Yang Bai scratched his head, not hiding anything.

Of the four guest rooms, she and Jiang Xi took up two, leaving the remaining dozen or so tall and strong people to squeeze into the other two rooms.

Shang Yuji turned her head and asked Jiang Xi, "Haitian, would you like to share a room with me?"

Jiang Xi was more than willing and readily agreed, "Yes, yes, I want to share a room with Yun Xiao!"

“Girl, don’t worry about us!” Yang Bai realized what she meant and stopped her. “We’ve been traveling all over the country for years, and we’re used to sleeping in the open. It’s enough for us to have a place to stay now.”

Upon hearing Jiang Xi's reply, Shang Yuji turned around, looked directly at Yang Bai, and said in a deep voice, "Miss Yang, Hai Tian and I are both happy to do this, so please don't let us down."

Despite Yang Bai's repeated attempts to dissuade him, Shang Yuji ultimately made the decision.

"Miss Yang, I am the employer, you must follow my orders!"

Yang Bai was stunned for a moment, then lifted his robe and knelt down on one knee with a thud, clasping his hands in a fist: "I thank you, young lady. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, please do not hesitate to come to the Yang family to help me. I will do my utmost to help you, even at the cost of my life!"

This kneeling not only startled the Yang family gang who were watching from afar, but also frightened Shang Yuji, who had originally intended to argue her case.

Xiao Fang stopped her excited companion: "Don't go over there. Miss Shang isn't the kind of person who enjoys making things difficult for others. This is mostly the gang leader's doing. We'd better not disturb him."

Recalling the actions of the merchant along the way, everyone agreed that he was kind and benevolent. Considering their own gang leader's temperament, they thought it might really have been his own choice.

Startled, Shang Yuji took two steps back, turning away from where Yang Bai was kneeling. After a moment, she moved two steps to Yang Bai's side, grabbed her arm and lifted her up, saying, "Get up, Miss Yang, please get up. What will others think of me if they see this!"

Jiang Xi stood behind Shang Yuji, and pulled on Shang Yuji's arm, exerting force from behind to pull Yang Bai, who was kneeling on the ground, up like in a tug-of-war.

"It's no use you helping me up. Go help Miss Yang with her other hand and lift her up." Shang Yuji loosened her grip a bit and turned to Jiang Xi to say this.

Jiang Xi went to listen to her words and was about to walk to Yang Bai's other side when Yang Bai stood up on his own and looked at her solemnly: "What I just said was true. If you need anything, please feel free to ask!"

"Alright, I agree. Miss Yang, you can't refuse to arrange the guest room any longer."

"Thank you, young lady."

Finally, Shang Yuji bid farewell to Yang Bai, took Jiang Xi back to the second floor, took the bag from his room, and went into the room where she had been staying.

Jiang Xi was overjoyed throughout the journey, and eagerly picked up her bag and set off. Once inside her house, she immediately placed her bag neatly next to her.

After Shang Yuji drank the medicine, Jiang Xi took out some candied fruit from her bundle and used it to relieve the bitterness in her mouth.

After washing up, the two sat on the bed and chatted. As evening approached, the wind made the window rattle. Shang Yuji closed the window, making sure it was securely closed, before returning to the bed.

Jiang Xi, who had changed into his nightgown, had not yet gotten into bed. After Shang Yuji entered the inner side of the bed, he blew out the candle and got into bed in the dark.

The summer night, which was usually sweltering, was brought cool by the approaching wind and rain. Listening to the howling wind through the window, Shang Yuji felt a hypnotic drowsiness.

Jiang Xiqu could be described as having skin as white as ice and bones as jade. Touching her felt like touching a piece of cool jade. It took a while for their body temperatures to equalize. Shang Yuji found a comfortable position, said sweet dreams, and closed her eyes to fall into a deep sleep.

Jiang Xi wrapped her arms around the person in her arms, inhaled the pear blossom-like scent emanating from her, gently nuzzled her hair, and then closed her eyes to drift off to sleep.

A sudden downpour struck in the dead of night, the rain pouring down with the force to wash over the heavens and the earth. People who had already fallen asleep were oblivious to it. A few were awakened by the sound of the rain, but they thought it was just the continuous dark clouds that had been gathering for days, and that it was going to rain heavily.

As night deepened, Shang Yuji found herself standing alone in an unfamiliar city, with large raindrops pelting her. She quickly found a rooftop to take shelter from the rain.

The rain grew heavier and heavier, as if it would last forever. Gradually, the water could not drain away in time, and it slowly overflowed her shoes and socks, climbed up her ankles, and even submerged her calves.

With her trousers sticking wet to her legs, Shang Yuji was worried about the still-rising water level. She looked around, searching for a high place where she could take shelter from the rain.

She looked up and saw the city tower. The tower was tall enough to provide shelter from the rain. She only hoped that the soldiers on the tower would be accommodating and let her go up to take shelter from the rain.

Walking through water up to her calves, the water resistance limited her speed, but she still managed to slowly reach the towering city wall.

Shang Yuji climbed the steps to the side, her whole body soaked. She reached the top of the city wall, wringing out her wet clothes as she looked worriedly into the city.

The rain was too heavy, but luckily she had a place to take shelter.

But why weren't there any soldiers patrolling the city gate to stop her?

Or rather, strangely enough, she didn't hear a single sound in the city.

The city was dark and gloomy. She could assume that the people were reluctant to light candles because they didn't want to spend money on candles, but with such heavy rain, didn't anyone get up in the middle of the night to remind them?

The vast city was deserted, as if it were an empty city.

It's not a city of people, but more like a city in a rainstorm revelry.

Amidst flashes of lightning and thunder, a blinding bolt of lightning illuminated the sky and earth, turning it into daylight in an instant. This was followed by a deafening roar of thunder, mixed with the sound of something colossal cracking apart from afar. Her heart trembled—

In the brief light, she saw that all the houses in the city were submerged in the murky rainwater. The water rose rapidly, as if replenished, climbing quickly, and even the houses in the low-lying areas were completely submerged.

She also saw that the archway hanging on the city wall read "Jingzhou City".

A note from the author:

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