Chapter 23 Sharing a Perilous Journey, Affection Arises (Part 6) Such overly intimate...

"Jinniang was all alone and pregnant, making life very difficult. She finally gave birth, but because her husband's new wife hadn't conceived, she was taken away by her husband's family. Jinniang couldn't bear the blow and went mad, searching for her child in the streets every day. So pitiful..."

The cries grew closer. Jinniang, her hair disheveled, frantically crashed into the people and stalls around her, muttering incessantly, "Has anyone seen my child... my child... he's so chubby and cute... please, tell me where he is..."

Shouts and curses rang out from the street: "Get out of my way! You lunatic! Don't block my way to do business!"

"That damn woman is such bad luck! She ruined my good mood!"

The proprietress couldn't help but sigh, "Alas... such a beautiful woman, tormented to this state. What a tragedy..."

Jinniang dug her fingers deep into her disheveled hair, tearing at it again and again. She sat blankly on the bustling street, murmuring, "Has anyone seen my child... my child..." Her voice was erratic, like a candle flickering in the wind, about to be swallowed up by the clamor of the street at any moment.

Ye Yixiang finished the last drop of soup in her bowl and was about to get up to pay the bill when she saw Jinniang suddenly raise her head—her previously empty and lifeless eyes suddenly burst forth with a terrifying light, staring intently at her face.

"Smack!"

A resounding slap landed squarely on Ye Yixiang's face! The burning pain instantly spread across her face.

"It's you! It's you! It's definitely you!" Jinniang screamed, her eyes bloodshot and spittle flying as she pointed at Ye Yixiang. Her voice was so shrill it could pierce eardrums. "You heartless, damned bastard! I've finally caught you!"

A... a heartless man?!

Ye Yixiang covered her instantly swollen cheek, completely frozen on the spot, her mind buzzing. Wu Luozhu was also stunned, her mouth agape, and it took her a long time to react. She jumped up and down in anger, rushing forward to pull Jinniang away: "You crazy woman! What nonsense are you talking about! This is my sister! She's a woman! Look carefully! How could she be a heartless man!"

Jinniang, however, possessed immense strength. She flung Wuluozhu aside, her withered fingers trembling as she gestured back and forth between Ye Yixiang and Wuluozhu, who had come to her aid. A mocking sneer, as if to say, "I have already seen through everything," appeared on her face.

"Ha! I get it! You abandoned us, mother and son, for this little vixen, didn't you?!" She pounded her chest, tears streaming down her face. "You think I'm too old and faded, don't you?! All those vows of eternal love under the moonlit flowers were just bullshit! Now you parade around with your new lover! Have you lost your conscience?!"

This series of accusations, delivered with great emotion and information, was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a boiling oil pan, instantly igniting the entire street corner!

"Huh—!" The passersby, vendors, and diners around all gasped in shock, and then a frenzy of discussion, ten times more intense than before, erupted! Countless gazes, like searchlights, focused on Ye Yixiang, filled with shock, disdain, and the excitement of watching a good show.

Ye Yixiang was stunned by the sudden label of "heartless man." She endured the burning pain on her face and explained, "Miss, please don't misunderstand. I am a woman." She even subconsciously puffed out her chest. Although it wasn't particularly impressive, her female features were still obvious.

Upon hearing this, Jinniang jumped up and down, her finger almost poking Ye Yixiang's nose: "Bullshit! Don't think you can fool me just because you're wearing a skirt and speaking softly! Even if you turn to ashes, I'll still recognize your bewitching eyes!"

"Good heavens! This...this...looking closely, it really does seem to be a young woman!" An older woman carrying a vegetable basket squinted as she examined her.

"A young lady? Humph! Have you forgotten the notices posted by the government a few days ago, about how they just caught a womanizer who dressed as a woman and swindled money from women? That thief could convincingly portray a woman even better than a real one!" A middle-aged scholar, who thought himself knowledgeable, analyzed with a nod of his head, drawing a chorus of agreement.

“Yes, yes, yes! I think this kid… oh no, this ‘girl’ is taller than the average woman, and her features are rather heroic, maybe she really is…”

"Tsk tsk, the world is going to the dogs, people's hearts have lost their way! He's good-looking, yet he did such a despicable thing! Poor wife, she's lost her child..."

"Well done! This kind of heartless and treacherous scoundrel deserves to be beaten to death in the street!"

As Ye Yixiang listened to the increasingly outrageous speculations and accusations around her, and looked at Jinniang's "grief and indignation" appearance, she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. In all her years, this was the first time she had ever experienced such a profound sense of injustice, a feeling that could never be cleared even if she jumped into the Yellow River!

Urozhu's face turned bright red with anger, and she screamed at the crowd, "You're talking nonsense! My sister is a woman! Are you...are you all blind?!"

"Jinniang!"

A cold, deep shout, like a bucket of ice water poured on a freezing winter day, instantly froze all the noise.

The noisy crowd automatically parted to the sides, making way. Several guards dressed in Qiankun Fang uniforms strode over, the leader of whom was Yun Yi, whose face was handsome but whose gaze was as calm as an ancient well.

The surrounding murmurs seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, instantly silencing them. All eyes turned to the manager of Qiankun Workshop.

Upon seeing Yun Yi, Jinniang suddenly fell silent. She knelt down with a thud, clutching Yun Yi's robes and weeping bitterly, "Lord Yun, I was wrong... I shouldn't have trusted the wrong person back then, and I shouldn't have ignored the shopkeeper's advice..."

She cried her heart out, her face streaked with snot and tears: "If I had listened to the shopkeeper back then, I wouldn't be in this state... Lord Yun, I know I was wrong..."

Yun Yi gestured to the guards to help Jin up, "Go back and take your medicine first."

After Jinniang was taken away, Yun Yi turned to Ye Yixiang, his gaze lingering on her swollen cheeks for a moment. He bowed slightly, his tone flat yet carrying a hint of formulaic apology: "Miss Ye, you have been frightened. Jinniang's old ailment has relapsed, and she is delirious. I apologize on behalf of Qiankun Workshop for any offense she may have caused."

Uluzhu interrupted angrily, her small body shielding Ye Yixiang like a little animal protecting its cub: "She clearly did it on purpose! Look, my face is all swollen!"

Yun Yi's gaze swept lightly over Wu Luozhu, and she was not angered by her accusation. She calmly said, "What you say is reasonable. It was my oversight. I was in a hurry today and did not have time to prepare an apology. Tomorrow, Qiankun Workshop will prepare a small gift and send it to Lord Nie's residence to express my apology. I hope Miss Ye will accept it."

Just as Ye Yixiang was about to politely decline, she saw Yun Yi nod slightly again, then turn around and leave with the remaining guards. Their figures quickly disappeared around the street corner, leaving her no chance to refuse.

A carriage, decorated in a low-key yet luxurious manner, slowly drove up and stopped in front of Ye Yixiang.

The servant respectfully led the horse, bowing his head and saying, "Madam, the general has instructed the guards to escort you two ahead, saying he has important matters to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Ye Yixiang's heart skipped a beat. The General? Chu Huaili? She subconsciously wanted to have Wuluozhu and her brother get on the carriage as well, but then the servant added, "The General only ordered that Miss Ye be escorted; the other two will be escorted by the guards of the manor."

She had no choice but to get into the carriage, feeling vaguely uneasy.

She was startled the moment the curtain was lifted.

Inside the carriage, Chu Huaili sat upright in the main seat. He was not dressed in military uniform, but only in a dark purple casual robe, yet he still stood tall and imposing. He seemed to have been waiting for her all along; upon seeing her enter, his deep gaze fell upon her, showing no intention of getting up to leave.

The car interior wasn't spacious to begin with, and his tall frame occupied almost half the space, creating an invisible sense of oppression. Ye Yixiang hesitated slightly before reluctantly getting in, carefully choosing a side seat near the window to try and keep her distance from him.

The carriage started slowly, its wheels making a rhythmic sound as they rolled over the cobblestones. Inside, all was silent except for the soft breathing of the two people.

Chu Huaili lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over her cheek, which was covered with red and swollen finger marks. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice low and deep: "I'm sorry about what happened this morning."

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, but his words instantly pulled Ye Yixiang back to that shameful scene from the morning.

The cramped space was filled with his faint fragrance, mixed with a cool aura. Her cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and even her ears felt burning hot.

She hurriedly turned to the side, pretending to be calm, and lifted a corner of the car window curtain next to her, feigning to admire the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, letting the cold winter air dispel the heat on her face.

Just when she thought she could escape for the time being, she suddenly felt a gentle touch on her face.

She turned around in surprise, meeting Chu Huaili's deep eyes, which were inches away from hers. He had somehow gotten close, holding an open white jade porcelain box containing a translucent ointment. His long, slender fingers dipped a small amount and gently applied it to her burning cheeks.

The coolness of my fingertips and the pleasant scent of the ointment instantly relieved the burning pain on my face.

Such an overly intimate gesture made Ye Yixiang flustered. She subconsciously turned her head to avoid it, her voice trembling slightly: "General... there's no need to trouble yourself, I can do it myself."

Before she could finish speaking, the person in front of her did not respond at all. Instead, her waist suddenly tightened, and she was firmly held by a strong and powerful arm. With a little force, he pulled her closer to him, almost pressing her against his firm and warm chest.

Chu Huaili's expression turned cold at that moment, a hint of barely perceptible anger flashing in his deep eyes. Wasn't she the one who cared most about her appearance?

She used to avoid the sun to keep her skin fair and delicate, but now that her cousin is gone, she doesn't even care about her appearance anymore? Or is it that... in her heart, only her cousin deserves her stunning beauty?

A note from the author:

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I'm going crazy! I've revised the next chapter so many times but it still won't pass the review. Do young people these days eat such bland food? [Question mark]