Chapter 29 Living Under the Same Roof
Bai Hua and Ning Jue quickened their pace down the mountain. When they reached the end of the mountain path, they saw an ebony carriage waiting at the foot of the mountain.
The carriage was ornate, its interior gleaming with a dark luster. Pulling it was a dark brown steed with glossy coat, a strong physique, a neatly trimmed mane, and a red tassel around its neck.
Judging from its appearance, this carriage doesn't look like it came from an ordinary rental shop; it seems more like the private property of a wealthy family, meticulously maintained on a daily basis.
Bai Hua pondered for a moment, then looked up and saw someone getting off the train. She waved to them, squinted and looked closely, recognizing that the person was Zang Fan.
He turned and sat on the front of the carriage, holding a leather whip in his hand, clearly intending to drive it himself and give them a ride.
Bai Hua looked at Ning Jue beside her, wanting to pull her hand away from his grasp. It was fine when they were alone, but why should they be doing this in front of others?
Ning Jue, however, refused to cooperate, tightening his grip on her hand with an untimely stubbornness: "You could hold my hand just now, why can't you now?"
Bai Hua was slightly embarrassed, suppressing her embarrassment, and whispered to remind him, "With Young Master Zang here, even if we need to pretend to be related, we can do so after we board the ship. Just act naturally in front of acquaintances."
Ning Jue, however, had a different reasoning: "If I suddenly start pretending, I'm afraid you won't be able to get into character quickly. Wouldn't it be better to get used to it first?"
Bai Hua hesitated, unable to refute him.
As she approached Zang Fan, two tall men surrounded her from both sides. Bai Hua was shrouded in shadow, and she lowered her eyes, trying to pull her hand away, but she could not move it even an inch.
Helpless, she kept her head down the whole time, afraid that this scene would be seen by Zang Fan and that she would be met with his cold sarcasm or his sarcastic questioning, accusing her of playing some new seductive trick.
If that's true, she's truly innocent.
Surprisingly, Zang Fan did not make any sarcastic remarks.
The three of them faced each other, and he simply chatted casually with Ning Jue in a normal manner, without any obvious emotional fluctuations.
Bai Hua hesitated and raised her eyes, just as he was looking down at her.
Their eyes met, and Bai Hua was puzzled, wondering why a fleeting, almost imperceptible, sympathy crossed Zang Fan's eyes when he looked at her.
pity?
She must have seen it wrong.
Zang Fan looked away, jumped onto the carriage, and gestured for them to hurry up and get on the carriage to continue their journey.
Ning Jue and Bai Hua sat in the carriage. The carriage was bright and spacious, with exquisite furnishings. The walls were inlaid with beautiful mother-of-pearl, and the seats were covered with fine velvet cushions. On a small table to the side were two cups of fragrant tea and several plates of pastries, and incense smoke curled from the incense burner in the middle.
Zang Fan gave a shout from the outside, flicked the reins, and the axle groaned as the cart rumbled and headed southeast.
...
The carriage arrived in Danzhou at dusk, when the twilight was bright orange and the sunset was like a painting.
Before boarding the ship, Zang Fan seemed to have something to say to Ning Jue alone. He glanced at Bai Hua and cautiously pulled her aside.
Bai Hua was used to this; Zang Fan had been wary of her for quite some time.
Zang Fan spoke in a low voice: "I've roughly found out why Bai Shu'an is imprisoned in the capital, the reason you asked me to inquire about it. It's just that his superior embezzled disaster relief funds and is looking for a scapegoat. The Earl's Mansion is now in decline and powerless, and Bai Shu'an, as the son of a disgraced official, has completely ruined his career prospects, so naturally everyone can kick him while he's down. I also heard that the Vice Minister of Justice who presided over the case had some past conflicts with the Bai family. After the Bai family fell from grace, he wanted to arrange for his second son to marry Bai Hua as a concubine, but Bai Shu'an refused. So it's hard to say whether there was any personal vendetta involved."
Ning Jue's expression was solemn. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "If convicted, will my life be in danger?"
Zang Fan shook his head: "It's hard to say. The severity of the crime can vary, depending on the presiding judge's conscience. Bai Shu'an's evidence of embezzlement is incomplete, but if he is forced to confess and forced to sign a confession, there will be no turning back."
Ning Jue earnestly instructed: "Take this matter very seriously. Try your best to utilize your connections from your time in Beijing. If you cannot ensure Bai Shu's release, at least protect him from immediate danger. Also, send someone to secretly protect his family so that they are not bullied by evil people."
Zang Fan replied, "I understand. I've already bribed the jailers to make sure Bai Shu'an suffers as little as possible. There's another matter that I've also subtly inquired about."
Ning Jue: "What is it?"
Zang Fan scoffed, "Rong Linyan used Bai Shu'an's safety as an excuse to repeatedly urge Bai Hua to take risks and learn your sword techniques. But he's two-faced, only focused on the Lone Goose Sword Manual, and doesn't care much about Bai Shu'an's family. As far as I know, ten ingots of silver would be enough for Bai Shu'an to get a clean quilt in prison. Rong Linyan doesn't even care about that. Is he afraid of being associated with a criminal and affecting his future career? He's really heartless."
Ning Jue said coldly, "Rong Linyan is selfish and always puts himself first. What's so surprising about that?"
Zang Fan clicked his tongue: "It's because he's such a good actor. He usually acts like a righteous savior, but when it really comes down to it, he's just a despicable scoundrel who only knows how to lie to his own cousin."
Ning Jue sensed something and said, "I see that you no longer have the same malice towards A Peng as you did at the beginning."
Zang Fan coughed lightly, stubbornly refusing to admit it: "Really? I was just telling the truth, I just couldn't stand it. Besides, she really is quite pitiful, an orphan, her brother is guilty, and she's stuck with such a wicked cousin, she really has no choice in the matter. In addition, her methods of infiltration are naive, she poses no threat to you at all, why should I continue to target her? On the contrary, I should worry about her. She's accompanied you south all the way, maybe she'll take the act for real and become yours."
Ning Jue remained tight-lipped and did not continue the topic with him.
He patted Zang Fan on the shoulder and earnestly instructed him, "Keep a close eye on things in the capital. If anything happens, send me a message by carrier pigeon."
Zang Fan also warned him: "Be careful on your journey. Duan Yi is no ordinary person. As for whether he can be trusted, you should decide for yourself."
Ning Jue nodded.
...
The setting sun was like blood, and we parted ways on the shore.
Ning Jue, holding Bai Hua's hand and carrying a bundle, climbed the gangway. Zang Fan also started his carriage; the whip cracked crisply in the air, the horses' hooves clattered, and the two sides grew further and further apart.
Once aboard, a boatman dressed in coarse brown clothes and wearing a white headscarf greeted them, checked their tickets, and led them to their respective cabins to rest.
The ship is quite large, with three decks of passenger cabins, and the higher up the deck, the more expensive the ticket.
Zang Fan had asked a friend to buy the tickets at the last minute, but the best seats on the top deck were already sold out, so they had mid-range tickets for the middle deck.
After descending two flights of stairs and turning three corners, the boatman finally led the two to the door of their room.
The space inside was small, with two simple beds and a small porthole in the middle, from which you could see the vast blue sea and flocks of birds soaring in the air near the dock.
After the guests entered, the boatman routinely gave them a few words of advice: "Do you two have any experience sailing? There may be heavy rain and storms tonight. If it's your first time on a boat, the turbulence might keep you awake and you might feel scared. But don't worry too much, our captain is an experienced veteran and will definitely ensure everyone's safety on the voyage."
Ning Jue replied, "I've been on a boat before, but my wife hasn't. If there's a storm, I'll take extra care of her at night."
Upon hearing the unfamiliar address, Bai Hua was momentarily stunned, and her cheeks quickly flushed red.
However, she did not show any intention of refusing. Since the two had agreed in advance to present themselves as husband and wife when traveling, she could not show too much unnaturalness, lest it arouse suspicion.
So, even though she wasn't used to it, she still gave the boatman a gentle smile, pretending to be calm.
The boatman's gaze swept over the strikingly beautiful couple before him, without a doubt that it was real, and he felt nothing but envy.
He responded and gave some instructions about things on the ship: "If you are considerate, my wife will suffer less. The ship will be leaving soon, so you two can go up to the deck for some fresh air. When it's time to eat, you can also go to the kitchen to eat with the other guests, but the food will be rather simple, so please be prepared."
Ning Jue nodded, but didn't seem very enthusiastic.
Not wanting the conversation to fall flat, Bai Hua chimed in, "Boatman, go ahead and get busy. Let's make the beds first, and then we'll go for a walk on the deck in a bit."
The boatman smiled, nodded, and left.
Closing the cabin door makes it even clearer how cramped the space inside is; if two people were to stand at the same time, they would feel somewhat restricted.
Bai Hua brushed past Ning Jue, intending to help them make the bed, but Ning Jue stood still, refusing to budge. Helpless, Bai Hua leaned back, but lacking control, she swayed unsteadily.
Ning Jue reacted quickly, wrapping his right arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace.
Bai Hua was surprised, placed her hand on his chest, and stammered, "I... I can stay calm."
Ning Jue didn't immediately withdraw his hand, but instead caressed the sensitive area around her waist, asking in a questioning tone, "Why are you being so stubborn?"
The temperature was rising, and the air was filled with a hot and viscous substance, as if something invisible was silently stirring.
Bai Hua blushed again, at a loss for what to do. She tried to push him, but it was as if she were moving a tall mountain, and she couldn't budge him at all.
She lowered her dark eyelashes, looked away, and murmured, "...Young master, please don't do this."
Ning Jue's throat tightened at her scolding, and the veins under his temples also throbbed. His heart stirred, but his face remained unchanged, and his tone was as usual: "I was just afraid you would fall."
Bai Hua's voice was weak as she didn't look at him: "No, I'm standing firm now."
Ning Jue waited deliberately for a while before finally letting go of his hand.
Bai Hua broke free of her restraints and quickly dodged away, standing alone by the bedside, blushing as she bent down to silently make the bed.
After she finished laying out her own, she turned around and helped Ning Jue lay out hers as well.
It's inconvenient for a man and a woman to share a room, but if they sleep in separate rooms, Ning Jue is worried about Bai Hua's safety and doesn't want her out of his sight. Bai Hua is also afraid to be alone in an unfamiliar environment. So, they compromised and chose to share a room, but there are two beds in the room.
It's somewhat inappropriate, yet there's something about it that's not quite right.
When the young master got the boat ticket and asked her about it, she struggled for a long time before she managed to nod and agree, suppressing her embarrassment.
The two were to spend seven days together, and she only hoped that everything would be peaceful and uneventful.
Ning Jue stood by the porthole, gazing at the slowly moving seascape, then turned to her and asked, "Want to go up to the deck and take a look?"
Bai Hua snapped out of her daze, trying to calm herself down, and replied, "Okay."
When they went up, there were already many guests on the deck enjoying the breeze and gazing into the distance.
Ning Jue looked around and led Bai Hua to a quiet spot on the side of the sea, where there was no one around and the view was peaceful.
The ship was slowly accelerating, gradually moving away from the port and into the wider blue sea.
The damp, salty sea breeze, carrying a hint of fishiness, entered Bai Hua's nostrils. She found the scent magical. She placed her hands on the railing, leaned forward slightly, and looked at the fiery clouds that seemed both distant and close at hand. Her heart was stirred.
So vast, so beautiful.
Confined to their homes for those years, whether in Jingqi or Jiling, the courtyards were always the same, with the sky visible from all four corners. To be able to walk by the sea and stand by the sea like this was something that young ladies of the past would never have dared to even dream of.
The wish she had cherished since childhood, born from reading travelogues, a luxury she had now unexpectedly and easily fulfilled during her time of hardship.
She was deeply moved as she watched the fiery clouds gently kiss the azure sea. This scene would likely stay with her for a long, long time.
The person accompanying her to watch the sea at this moment appeared out of place, but... isn't that another kind of fate and luck?
Bai Hua was overwhelmed with complex and indescribable emotions as she admired the scenery, but also missed someone.
Ning Jue stood quietly to the side, watching her. He had one hand behind his back and the other slightly forward to prevent her from being blown over by the sea breeze because of her slender figure.
Seeing the comfort on her face, Ning Jue suggested, "Why don't you open your arms and feel the wind? Don't worry, I'll protect you from behind, you won't fall."
Bai Hua turned her head and looked into Ning Jue's eyes, clearly seeing her own reflection in his deep pupils.
As if encouraged, she nodded without hesitation.
"careful."
Ning Jue held her arm, indicating that she could stand on the edge of the railing, where she could be higher and see further.
Bai Huaxin climbed to a high place, looked ahead, and slowly exhaled.
She moved slowly and carefully stretched her shoulders, trying her best to remain brave and relaxed even when facing the bottomless deep sea.
Ning Jue was behind her, supporting her arm and her waist.
Even though I was aware of the risks, I still took extra precautions.
Bai Hua stared at it for a long, long time, absorbing each frame of the travelogue into her mind.
She greedily thought that she must remember as much as possible so that when she had the opportunity to return to Jingqi and reunite with her old friends, she would vividly describe all the scenes she had witnessed.
When that time comes, her close friends, who have never even been to Kyoto, will surely be very envious of her experiences.
The fiery clouds in the distance slowly disappeared.
The sea level began to ripple, and the ship's swaying gradually increased, from barely perceptible to becoming noticeable.
Immediately afterwards, dark clouds rolled in, and raindrops began to fall on my shoulders.
The boatman came to the deck and shouted loudly, waving his arm to warn everyone that a heavy rain was coming and that everyone should go back to the cabins to take shelter from the rain or go to the kitchen for a meal.
Ning Jue lifted Bai Hua down and saw that her cheeks were wet and her hair was messily stuck to her forehead, but her smile was bright and vivid, which made his heart skip a beat.
He asked, "Are you happy?"
Bai Hua's eyes sparkled as she nodded sincerely, "I'm so happy."
Ning Jue smiled too, her smile equally genuine.
He thought that even if he eventually found Duan Yi but couldn't find any clues about his master's poisoning, making her smile at this moment would make the trip worthwhile and his efforts worthwhile.
Instead of returning directly to the cabin, the two followed the flow of people and went to check out the kitchen first.
Just as the young master had said, the food on the ship was simple, consisting only of some grain porridge and pickled vegetables, which looked tasteless.
The two of them each took a bowl of seaweed soup and nothing else, returning to their cabin to eat.
Their packages also contained their own braised beef, dried pickled vegetables, and some whole-grain biscuits.
Bai Hua carefully divided them into seven days' worth, took out today's meal in an orderly manner, divided them into two portions, and ate them with Ning Jue.
Aunt Li's braised beef is truly exceptional; the meat is incredibly flavorful and delicious. It's a real treat to be able to taste this on my travels.
Bai Hua had an unusually good appetite and planned to finish all the coarse grain cakes in her hand.
Ning Jue reminded her at the right moment: "It's best to eat until you're 70% full, in case you get seasick tonight and have an upset stomach."
She didn't feel uncomfortable now, but it was better to be prepared, so Bai Hua put away the coarse grain biscuits, planning to eat them tomorrow morning.
...
After getting ready, the two went to the restroom separately to wash up.
Bai Hua had just finished washing up and came out of the washroom when, unexpectedly, the ship was slowly entering the most violent part of the storm. The ship began to rock violently, rising and falling, and swaying violently.
She could not keep her balance at all, and even when she was holding onto the wall, she still had difficulty moving forward.
The wind and rain outside the porthole were pouring down, like a waterfall being cascaded down from a large bucket.
She had never experienced such a terrifying scene before, and she was terrified. She thought to herself, no wonder the boatman had specifically warned them after they boarded the boat; it turned out that this storm was not as gentle as she had imagined.
Looking at the hatch, which was only ten feet away from her, she found it difficult to move forward. It was as if she took one step forward and then took ten steps back. After expending a lot of effort, she felt that she was getting further and further away from the hatch.
Other guests nearby were also rushing past her, both men and women, and they bumped into her shoulder hard as they passed her.
Bai Hua hissed in pain, enduring the fear of groping in the dark, gritting her teeth, and continued to move forward while holding onto the wall.
"A Peng?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind.
Bai Hua's tense nerves slowly began to relax when the other person reached out and touched her waist.
Still shaken, her heart pounded. Feeling the real warmth of his palm, she turned around, her fear lingering. She hesitated for a moment, then threw herself into his arms without hesitation.
She was still trembling as she pressed against his chest.
After a while, most of the pedestrians had dispersed, and the corridor gradually became empty.
Bai Hua looked up, clutching Ning Jue's sleeve, and asked worriedly, "...Young Master, will the boat capsize? I can't float, will I drown here? I can't die yet..."
"No, no." After a moment of surprise, Ning Jue hugged her back, his palm stroking her back as he gently and patiently comforted her. "It's normal for ships to encounter storms at sea. An experienced captain will handle it in time. The ship won't capsize, and you won't fall into the sea. Go back to your cabin and get a good night's sleep. When you wake up tomorrow, the sun will be out, and everything will be calm. Don't worry, I'm here."
Whether Bai Hua believed it or not, she listened quietly without letting go of her hand.
Ning Jue waited a while, and seeing that she still didn't react, he tentatively asked, "May I carry you back?"
Bai Hua hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly, indicating her willingness to cooperate.
Ning Jue understood, picked her up horizontally, strode back to the cabin, carried her to the bed, and helped her take off her shoes.
Bai Hua crawled under the covers, still shaken, and pulled the edge of the blanket over her head.
Ning Jue sat down on the edge of her bed and made casual conversation with her, trying to distract her from the amplitude of the ship's up-and-down movement.
"After all that commotion, are you feeling nauseous or seasick?"
"……fine."
"You were so happy when it was drizzling outside, but now that the rain is pouring down, you hate rainy days?"
"no the same."
Ning Jue patted her blanket lightly, trying to make her aware of his presence so she could feel more at ease.
Outside the porthole, another white lightning bolt suddenly cleaved the dark sky, accompanied by a deafening roar of thunder. Bai Hua flinched slightly.
Ning Jue sensed her unusual behavior, looked away, and leaned down to ask her, "Are you... afraid of thunder?"
Bai Hua did not respond.
Ning Jue got up, tucked her in, and prepared to sit back on his own bed.
Just as he got up to leave, a slender, white wrist emerged from under the covers, grabbing him precisely and pulling with a distinct force.
"...Young master, don't go, I, I'm scared."
Ning Jue didn't leave. He squatted down and helped her pull the blanket back so she wouldn't suffocate.
He said, "Don't worry, I'm not leaving. We were in the same room anyway."
Bai Hua asked, "Can we hold hands? Let me know someone's here with me."
Ning Jue: "I'll squat here and hold your hand. Go to sleep."
Bai Hua pursed her lips, feeling genuinely apologetic.
Even just squatting for a short while makes my legs go numb, let alone waiting for her to fall asleep peacefully.
With the ship rocking like this, she'll definitely have trouble sleeping. How long will the young master have to wait?
This is not a good idea.
Bai Hua's gaze passed over Ning Jue and went to the bed behind him. She quickly came up with a new idea.
But she was too embarrassed to bring it up herself.
So he pursed his lips, hesitated and remained silent, his eyes showing even more difficulty.
Ning Jue glanced at her twice, then turned his head back, seemingly understanding.
He tentatively asked, "Shall I push my bed a little closer to yours, so it will be easier to hold your hand that way?"
Bai Hua acquiesced.
Ning Jue acted quickly.
However, instead of keeping the two beds 'close', he simply avoided the hassle and combined them together.
With bedding laid on top, it looked just like a bed.
Bai Hua blinked and saw that there wasn't even a gap between the two beds, realizing that the young master hadn't fully understood her intentions.
But I felt really bad if she kept making demands.
The young master had been accommodating her, so she felt embarrassed to trouble him to move the bed again and pulled it back a little.
He hesitated, pursing his lips, his face flushed.
Bai Hua finally acquiesced once again.
Ning Jue lay down, and without asking any questions, took her hand in his own.
Bai Hua was very nervous.
In her mind, at this moment, the two of them were no different from sleeping in the same bed.
Ning Jue was much more composed and casually asked her, "Are you feeling better?"
Bai Hua murmured softly, "...Mmm."
Ning Jue: "Don't be nervous, the storm will pass soon."
Bai Hua looked forward to it: "Okay..."
No sooner had these words been spoken than a terrifying flash of lightning appeared in the porthole, followed by a thunderclap.
Unable to maintain her composure, Bai Hua trembled and nearly cried out.
In her panic, she rolled over and hugged Ning Jue's waist, pressing her forehead against his broad back.
Even though they were separated by a blanket, Ning Jue could still clearly feel the force with which Bai Hua pulled her arm back, and... the fragrance of her neck.
The area where the ship was traveling was filled with thick clouds and frequent thunder. Bai Hua dared not relax at all and let go of Ning Jue's side.
To make her more comfortable, Ning Jue lifted the blanket and took her in.
At the same time, she comforted him, saying, "It's okay. The situation is special. Come closer to me and take shelter for a while. You can go back to sleep after the thunder stops."
Bai Hua suppressed the blush that spread across her face, neck, ear tips, and the rest of her body, and nodded with difficulty.
After thinking for a moment, she deliberately turned her back to him, holding only Ning Jue's hand, but not intending to face him.
It seems that this is an attempt to preserve the final boundary.
Ning Jue smiled wryly; she was truly adorable.
However, she probably didn't realize that nestling into his arms with her back turned was far more tempting than facing him head-on.
At this moment, the waves were surging, and the ship was rocking left and right. She couldn't keep her balance. At first, she was a little distance away, but then she was out of control, and her back slowly pressed completely against his chest.
Besides her back, her buttocks were also completely rubbing against him.
The ship continued to brave the wind and waves, braving the wind and rain, growing stronger with each battle, and forging its own valiant course amidst the swaying and rocking.
Bai Hua, following the violent rise and fall of the ship, gave him a light and heavy stimulation in his lower abdomen, her presence felt strong.
Ning Jue's brows were tightly furrowed, his teeth were clenched, his blood was boiling, and he felt a surge of thirst in his throat.
The palms of his hands, which were clasped together, slowly became sweaty, damp, and sticky.
He sighed, closed his eyes, and realized that what was beyond his control... had indeed happened.
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