Hot spring
By the time they made their round trip, it was already curfew time. The three of them discussed it and decided to rest outside and enter the city the next day when the city gates opened.
As night fell, the occasional sound of cold wind whistling through bare branches echoed across the desolate countryside, sending a chill down one's spine.
The temperature dropped sharply at night. Jie Xiangsi tightened her cloak, buried half her face in the soft fox fur, and turned to look at Zhou Yanzhi, who was deep in thought, and said, "Cousin, if the officials of Yangqu were just trying to make money, they could have ignored these disaster victims. Why did they go to all this trouble to drive them out of the city?"
Zhou Yanzhi rubbed his temples. "I don't know, but looking at things today, I have a feeling that there's something wrong with those people in the city."
To dispel Xiangsi's doubts, she asked, "Why do you say that?"
"hand."
"Hands?" Jie Xiangsi asked, puzzled.
Zhou Yanzhi stretched out his hand, gesturing for Xie Xiangsi to look. Xie Xiangsi didn't understand why, but Zhou Yanzhi's hand was indeed beautiful, with distinct joints and long, slender fingers, like lustrous and translucent jade.
Zhou Yanzhi explained, “Although I carry a knife, I don’t use it for long periods of time, so the calluses on my palms, the base of my thumb and index finger are not thick. But those people in the pharmacy before had a layer of obvious and hard calluses on these three parts.”
Upon hearing this, a brilliant idea flashed into Jie Xiangsi's mind.
Because their father and brother wore armor for a long time, the skin on the back of their hands was different from the surrounding skin due to the constant friction of the armor plates. In addition, because they held swords and guns for a long time, calluses had formed on their hands, which were concentrated on the key areas where they held the weapons.
Surprise flashed in her eyes, and Jie Xiangsi whispered, "You mean...they are private soldiers?"
Zhou Yanzhi nodded. "I have my doubts."
After all, driving the natives out of the city was too outrageous, and Zhou Yanzhi couldn't think of any other reason why the officials of Yangqu would do such a thing.
Moreover, the people the court sent to Yangqu have all disappeared without a trace since they left, which is too suspicious.
If Yangqu really has a private army, that would be a matter of national importance.
Suppressing his doubts, Zhou Yanzhi said in a deep voice, "We'll take a closer look tomorrow."
...
The next morning, the three of them entered the city at dawn.
The city remained in a state of ruin. The cold wind blew up specks of dust on the streets, and a few pedestrians walked by sparsely, their cotton boots crunching on the snow.
After driving the carriage through the city, Zhou Yan ordered them to rest at an inn.
While Ji Feng was setting up the carriage, Jie Xiangsi moved two steps closer to Zhou Yanzhi and whispered, "Cousin, someone is watching us."
In fact, she had this feeling yesterday, but today the feeling was even more obvious. If yesterday it was just a secret spying, then today it was a stare that was almost face-to-face, which made people shudder.
Zhou Yanzhi naturally sensed it too. He glanced around and met those probing gazes in the air. He slightly turned to stand in front of her, blocking those malicious eyes, and gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid."
If nothing unexpected happens, someone should come looking for them soon.
Sure enough, not long after Ji Feng returned and sat down, a waiter came running up to them with a sheepish grin, "Gentlemen, shall we see what you would like to eat?"
Ji Feng glanced at Zhou Yanzhi and replied, "My master prefers light flavors. Do you have any seasonal vegetables that you can stir-fry?"
Upon hearing this, the servant exclaimed "Oh dear!" and said with distress, "Are you kidding me? It's freezing cold here, and we're..."
Ji Feng pulled out a silver ingot. "Do you have one?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" The servant neatly took the money and then called out to a waiter not far away, "One order of stir-fried seasonal vegetables!"
After wiping the white handkerchief off his shoulder a couple of times, the waiter said with a casual smile, "Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be locals."
Ji Feng curiously said "Oh," and replied, "You could even tell that?"
The servant chuckled and said, "You gentlemen's appearance and demeanor are clearly not from a small place like ours. Only a big city like the capital could produce such distinguished people. Am I right?"
Zhou Yanzhi chuckled, "That's right."
Almost the instant he finished speaking, Xie Xiangsi heard the sound of a blade being gently pulled out.
The servant took a few inches back almost imperceptibly, but still had a smile on his face. "Then I was right."
The air suddenly became still, pressing down on everyone. The eerie atmosphere tightened inch by inch like a venomous snake, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Just as Jie Xiangsi's heart was about to reach its peak, a deep voice came from outside the inn.
"I was unaware of Lord Song's arrival; I have failed to greet you properly!"
The inn fell silent for a moment, then a figure surrounded by people walked in.
The not-so-spacious lobby was instantly filled with a large group of people. At the head of the group was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark scarlet official robe. His features were broad and dignified, but his brows had a sharp edge that inspired awe in everyone.
This should be Lord Yang Hui, the supervisor of Yangqu Prefecture, who is in charge of handling major matters within the prefecture.
Jie Xiangsi's heart tightened, and she and Ji Feng quickly stood up and walked behind Zhou Yanzhi.
Yang Hui stepped forward and, before Zhou Yanzhi could rise, bowed deeply, lowering his posture considerably. "Your humble servant Yang Hui greets Lord Song."
Zhou Yanzhi raised an eyebrow imperceptibly.
Song Baiyu was merely a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, while Yang Hui was a fourth-rank prefect of Yangqu. If Yang Hui didn't know who sent Song Baiyu or what his purpose was, he wouldn't have needed to adopt such a humble attitude.
Only the Emperor and Song Baiyu knew that Song Baiyu was going to leave the capital. How did Yang Hui find out?
Is it Song Baiyu, or is there a problem with the palace?
Zhou Yanzhi coughed lightly, stood up, bent down and helped Yang Hui up, saying politely, "Lord Yang's official rank is above mine, so this is too much for me."
Yang Hui smiled faintly, "You jest, sir."
He was cautious by not revealing that he knew who had sent Zhou Yanzhi.
Looking at the three people in front of him, Yang Hui smiled and said, "My lords have come from afar and must be tired from their journey. Why don't I, your humble servant, show you hospitality and invite you to stay at my residence for a short rest?"
Zhou Yanzhi nodded, "Then thank you very much, Lord Yang."
So the three of them were then escorted by that group of people to the Yang residence.
Ostensibly, Yang Hui was doing this to be a good host and to treat them well, but all three knew that Yang Hui was only doing this to keep them by his side and to test them.
After all... if they could think of impersonating Song Baiyu and going to Yangqu, Yang Hui might not be so unaware.
The group followed the elegant and quiet corridor inside the mansion to a serene courtyard filled with bamboo.
The snowfall today wasn't heavy; only a thin layer of snow covered the bamboo leaves. When the wind blew, the entire clump of bamboo swayed gently from side to side, with snowflakes falling softly.
Amid the sound of falling snow, Yang Hui beckoned to several maids and respectfully said to Zhou Yanzhi, "Lord Song, please rest for a moment. I will come to invite you to the front hall shortly."
Zhou Yanzhi nodded, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Yang."
...
When the master wanted to take a bath, Ji Feng, as a guard, naturally didn't need to follow, but Jie Xiangsi, as a maid, naturally had to stand aside and serve him.
It is said that Yang Hui was also shrewd. Although the courtyard looked ordinary from the outside, it was actually quite extraordinary inside. The air was filled with water vapor, and a hot spring pool was built in the backyard.
The jade-paved hot spring was steaming and filled with white mist, while the surrounding area was covered with white snow and swaying green bamboo, like a fairyland on earth.
Even though she had seen many grand occasions in the capital, Jie Xiangsi couldn't help but exclaim, "They really know how to enjoy life!"
Zhou Yanzhi remained as composed as ever, only slightly squeezing Jie Xiangsi's fingertips, and when she looked over, he lowered his eyes slightly to look at his left arm.
My heart trembled as I tried to unravel the mystery of unrequited love.
Oh no, Zhou Yanzhi is still injured!
Although there are rumors circulating in the capital that Zhou Yanzhi is dead, it is just a rumor. In order to convince the person behind the scenes that Zhou Yanzhi is dead, the three shadows might tell him where Zhou Yanzhi was injured.
No wonder Yang Hui brought the person back and made him take a bath.
Seeing that the maid sent by Yang Hui was about to grab Zhou Yanzhi's collar, Xie Xiangsi slapped her hand away and wrapped her arm around Zhou Yanzhi's arm. She then said to the astonished maid beside her in a sweet voice, "Our young master does not like to be served by others when he is bathing. You may leave!"
“This…” The maid beside him hesitated and looked at Zhou Yanzhi with some doubt.
Seeing that she still hadn't left, tears welled up in Jie Xiangsi's eyes, and she forcefully pushed the maid away, saying, "Don't think I don't know what you two are up to. I advise you to put away your little schemes!"
Sensing something was amiss, a maid quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, pulling the other maid aside and bowing slightly to Xie Xiangsi, "I'm sorry, young mistress, we'll take our leave immediately and return after you two have finished your baths."
After saying that, he gave the remaining maids a wink and they all went out together.
Hearing the door close, Xie Xiangsi immediately released her grip on Zhou Yanzhi's hand, interrupting him before he could speak, and whispered, "Cousin, you should go downstairs now!"
Under Zhou Yanzhi's shocked gaze, Xie Xiangsi quickly pushed the person into the hot spring, turned her back and said in a trembling voice, "You...you take off your clothes first."
Zhou Yanzhi: "?!"
Although puzzled, Zhou Yanzhi obediently took off her clothes, though she still left her undergarments on.
Hearing the rustling sounds stop, and thinking about what she was about to do, Jie Xiangsi's face flushed slightly. She whispered, "Cousin, turn your back."
Having received a response, Jie Xiangsi took a deep breath, and with a "rip" sound, a piece of off-white fabric was torn off.
"thump--"
Jie Xiangsi went into the water.
Looking at the undergarment clinging to Zhou Yanzhi's body, Jie Xiangsi frowned. "Cousin, you've taken off your top too."
A flush rose to his face, and Zhou Yanzhi couldn't help but ask, "Cousin, you..."
Seeing the look of shame and indignation on Jie Xiangsi's face, Zhou Yanzhi swallowed his words and silently took off his shirt, revealing his naked body underneath.
Without a doubt, Zhou Yanzhi has a really good physique, fair skin with smooth muscle lines and full of strength, only the few scars on his body somewhat detract from his beauty.
Seeing the still red wound on Zhou Yanzhi's left arm, Jie Xiangsi frowned, took the wet cloth in her hand and applied it to the wound, carefully smoothing it out so that the cloth fit tightly against the arm.
After fiddling with it for a while, Jie Xiangsi stepped back slightly, looked at the wound on her arm that was perfectly covered by the cloth, and relaxed her furrowed brow.
If combined with lighting and distance...
It should be roughly the same.
Looking up at Zhou Yanzhi's lowered eyes, Jie Xiangsi whispered, "Cousin, you'll have to cooperate with me from now on."
"good."
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