Chapter 25: Xie Jingru, his lover, was struck by lightning. Does Yu Qing have someone else outside? ...
Since taking on the new position, Yu Qing not only has to attend court, but also has to frequently travel back and forth to the Cavalry Camp. Once things become too much, the available time is stretched, and he cannot stay in the mansion for long the whole day.
If I count carefully, the time I can spend with Qingjia is relatively stable only during dinner time. Occasionally, when she comes home late, even that moment is shortened.
Yu Qing only wanted to push forward various military affairs as quickly as possible in the first two or three months. As long as the foundation was laid, he wouldn't have to worry too much in the future and would have more free time.
Yu Qing went on patrol in person that day. Everything was going smoothly. She just observed the terrain and route to see if any adjustments were needed.
As a result, on the way back to the camp, a disheveled servant came out from somewhere beside the official road, crawling and rolling, and asked the officers and soldiers for help, saying that he encountered bandits while traveling and the mansion's convoy was robbed. He took advantage of the chaos to escape, and his master and the others were still in unknown condition.
Yu Qing had also fought bandits outside. In her opinion, mountain bandits were not uncommon, but what was rare was that they appeared under the feet of the emperor.
The defense of the suburbs of the capital has always been adequate, and there are troops stationed in this area, so there are rarely any disturbances. However, there are some unscrupulous bandits who dare to block the road and hijack the carriages of wealthy families.
She led a team into the nearby mountains and searched for less than an hour before finding a not-so-big bandit den. Several people were killed on the spot, and the remaining dozen or so people, including the bandit leader, were all captured alive.
Fortunately, everyone in the convoy survived. Yu Qing looked over and saw a young woman in the middle of the group, most likely from a wealthy family, who must have been terrified.
"Are you okay? Can the carriage still move?" Yu Qing asked.
Hearing everyone around her calling her General, the young lady raised her head, her delicate face as delicate as a fawn tearing up as she said, "...General?"
Seeing that the girl was sitting still, I wonder if her leg was injured or something. We can call a military doctor over.
Yu Qing jumped off his horse, came to the young lady and asked, "Are you injured?"
The young lady cried, "Thank you so much for saving me, General. If it weren't for you, I would have died."
Yu Qing thought that might not be the case, because she had just checked and this group of bandits did not look like the kind of people who would stay in the mountains and cause trouble. She asked the people at the foot of the mountain and they didn't say there were any bandits nearby.
In her opinion, this group of people might have been ordered to commit murder.
The young lady tried to stand up, but her feet were unsteady, so Yu Qing reached out and helped her up.
"you……"
She wanted to ask the girl if she knew if her family had any enemies, but the young lady just pounced on her.
Yu Qing: “?!”
"I will always remember the General's kindness and never forget it..."
Yu Qing never liked others getting close to her, so she tensed up for a moment. She only managed to hold back because she thought this person was a weak little girl, otherwise she would have been pushed away by her.
"Miss, you are too serious. Stand still for a moment."
She carefully pulled the girl down. The girl was still sobbing softly, looking up at her with tearful eyes.
She looks like an ignorant girl, and nothing can be learned from her. Let the authorities investigate and file a case.
Yu Qing led his men back to the city and ordered them to escort the bandits directly to the Ministry of Justice for trial. He also sent several guards to escort the convoy back to his residence.
In fact, they would be safe once they entered the city, but the young lady was still frightened and kept saying she was afraid. She wanted soldiers to accompany her and escort her. In order to get it over with quickly, Yu Qing sent someone to go with them.
She was a little anxious. If she delayed too long, it would be dark.
At this rate, I won’t be able to make it to Wenhuayuan to have dinner with Qingjia.
*
Xie Jing had already thought of what to say and planned to talk to Yu Qing after dinner tonight.
He also considered Yu Qing's various reactions and prepared corresponding countermeasures. In short, any consequences were acceptable and he could breathe a sigh of relief if it worked.
I'm weak and sickly, with a deficiency of Qi and blood. The imperial physician had long ago said I'd never be able to have children. I kept it a secret until now, and it's all my fault...
Yu Qing might be sad or disappointed, so Xie Jing would just say a few words of comfort. If Yu Qing was angry, Xie Jing could act pitiful and act pathetic, but no matter what, he would not resort to violence.
Even if Yu Qing still has some feelings for me, I can just wait until his enthusiasm wears off and then slowly turn cold towards me.
Being such a prudent person, he would never make a scene in front of the emperor to say anything, so Xie Jing just served as a decoration in the Marquis' Mansion.
It's fine if he wants to take a concubine. He can find one that suits his taste. Xie Jing can take the initiative to intercede for him with the emperor and empress, and the prince consort can take as many concubines as he wants.
As long as the person he is looking for is less troublesome and doesn't cause trouble for Xie Jing or play house fights with him, it will be fine.
When Qingjia dies in the future, Yu Qing will be able to live with her lover.
As it was almost evening, Xie Jing felt inexplicably uneasy. He made all kinds of deductions in his mind, and when he came to his senses, he found that the time had passed.
After waiting for a long time, there was no sign of Yu Qing. In the past, even if Yu Qing couldn't leave, he would send someone back home in advance to pass on the message. I don't know what happened today.
"Go out and take a look." Xie Jing frowned.
When he reached the courtyard gate, he heard a sound outside and saw the figure from afar, and Xie Jing breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Highness!"
Yu Qing rushed back home and met Qingjia at the gate of Wenhuayuan.
"You haven't come back yet," Qing Jia said, "I was just about to ask the servants outside."
Yu Qing said, "I was delayed for a long time and couldn't get away. I didn't have time to send anyone back. It's my fault."
Xie Jing said, "It's okay."
It was already dark, and he couldn't see clearly just now. When he and Yu Qing walked in, the servant shone a lamp, and he found that Yu Qing was still wearing tight soft armor and a long sword at his belt.
"Where did you come back from?" Xie Jing asked.
"It was originally a normal patrol, but we ran into a group of bandits—"
"Bandits?" Qingjia said.
"Not many, only about 20 or 30 in total, and they just robbed a caravan." Yu Qing said as he and Qingjia walked into the house. Just as they were about to take off their soft armor, Qingjia suddenly stopped.
"Why... is there blood?" Qing Jia asked, "Are you injured?"
"Hmm?" Yu Qing said, "No."
Following Qingjia's gaze, Yu Qing looked down and saw a patch of dried dark blood on his side. He immediately exclaimed "Ah" and took a breath of cold air.
Seeing his reaction, Xie Jing was suddenly terrified. How could this man not even realize he was injured? He only realized it now!
"you--"
However, Yu Qing carefully uncovered the piece of fabric, revealing a sachet tied around her waist.
Xie Jing was stunned.
Yu Qing picked up the sachet and carefully checked it. Only after confirming that it was not stained did he feel relieved.
She explained to the princess: "This is not my blood. It must have been splashed accidentally. I didn't even notice it."
Xie Jing: “…Yeah.”
"I was startled just now," Yu Qing said with a smile, "I thought I had stained it, luckily I didn't."
Looking at the other person, Xie Jing's eyes flashed, and finally he just sighed almost inaudibly and sat down.
"...It's just a sachet," he said. "It doesn't matter if it gets dirty."
Yu Qing said: "This is the one you gave me, don't get it dirty."
She untied her soft armor and removed her sword. She heard the servants outside asking if the princess and her husband had eaten yet. She was immediately taken aback: "Your Highness hasn't eaten yet?"
Xie Jing said: "Well, I'm not hungry."
"It's been too long," Yu Qing said, "Your Highness doesn't have to wait for me anymore."
She also instructed her servants to serve meals to His Highness on time next time.
"Okay," Qingjia interrupted her and said softly, "Eat quickly."
This unexpected interruption caused Xie Jing to lose focus on the topic he originally wanted to talk about. Now that he had calmed down, he moved his throat and finally swallowed his words.
Yu Qing, who had just held the sachet with such cherishment in his eyes, suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
Forget it, he is tired today, Xie Jing thought, let’s talk about it tomorrow.
He took a few bites of the food without tasting it, and suddenly noticed a strange smell. He looked up at Yu Qing hesitantly.
“…What’s that smell?”
Yu Qing was confused: "Huh?"
Xie Jing sniffed again and confirmed that there was a special fragrance on Yu Qing's body, which was different from his own body and the one in Wenhua Garden. He would not be mistaken, this was definitely the perfume commonly used by women.
“…”
He opened his eyes slightly, not knowing what expression to use to look at Yu Qing, and his thoughts were instantly in chaos.
Did Yu Qing really go to suppress bandits? What did he do before that? What did this smell mean?
Does he have someone outside?
Qingjia looked at himself in a daze. Yu Qing was also very surprised. He couldn't help but stretch out his hand to look at himself, but he really didn't find anything unusual on his body.
Xie Jing stared at Yu Qing, then reached out his hand and pinched a corner of the cloth exposed at the lapel of Yu Qing's clothes with his fingertips. When he pulled it out, he saw that it was a fragrant silk handkerchief embroidered with colorful butterflies.
Xie Jing: “…”
Xie Jing was struck by lightning and doubted his own eyes: "...What is this?"
Yu Qing was also dumbfounded: "...What is this?"
Xie Jing felt his breathing was trembling, and Yu Qing looked even more confused than he was.
Yu Qing and Qing Jia stared at each other, struggling to recall the whole story, and finally got a clue.
She told Qingjia about the bandit suppression and said that among the people rescued there was a young girl who could not stand steadily, so Yu Qing helped her up.
"Maybe it accidentally fell on me at that time? Strange..." Yu Qing took the handkerchief from Qingjia's hand, handed it to the servant behind him, and said, "Throw it away, it smells so strong."
Xie Jing: “…”
He held his forehead for a long time, feeling both angry and amused at the same time.
He could guess what was dropped accidentally. Someone must have deliberately stuffed it into his arms when he wasn't paying attention.
Yu Qing really scared me again and again that night.
He almost thought that Yu Qing had gone out to find a lover or visit a brothel.
...That's not right, Xie Jing thought, if he really had a woman he loved, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Why are you in such a hurry?
If Yu Qing really had someone else she loved, then Xie Jing wouldn't have to worry about it all the time.
Thinking of this, Xie Jing asked quietly, "Is she pretty? Whose family is she from?"
Yu Qing couldn't remember for a moment, so she replied, "I forgot what he looked like, and I didn't even ask for his name. I had someone send him back to the mansion."
"..." Xie Jing, "You saved someone, why didn't you ask a few more questions?"
Yu Qing blinked and said, "I'm in a hurry to get home."
Xie Jing sighed inwardly. He believed that it would be difficult for Yu Qing to find a lover on her own.
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