Chapter 2 The Morning After
Song Qingchao enjoyed a rare lie-in the next morning.
Last night’s events had resulted in a prolonged argument between the skinny monkey and the man named Liu San’er, yet no conclusion was reached.
The soldiers who had been busy all night had also failed to find the tall, suspicious individual Song Qingchao had described.
The planned handover was thus postponed due to this incident, and they were to remain for another day.
As she opened her eyes, she saw Bai You’an sitting by her bedside.
He wasn’t wearing his atrocious eye patch today.
His slightly lowered eyelids made him appear even more gentle and innocent.
He remained his usual composed self, as if he would always calmly acknowledge anything that happened with a simple “Understood.”
“Awake?”
His gentle voice, however, unexpectedly made Song Qingchao feel a sense of unease. She responded with a muffled hum.
“Drink your medicine.”
Song Qingchao opened her mouth, but ultimately took the offered bowl and drank.
A hint of sweetness accompanied the bitterness, and the warmth of the medicine was neither too hot nor too cold, much like Bai You’an himself.
As usual, a packet of preserved fruit appeared in her hand after she finished the medicine.
She already had plenty of these in her spatial dimension.
“You…”
“What is it?”
Bai You’an, who had been about to leave, turned around.
Song Qingchao looked up at his amber eyes and, in the end, swallowed the words she was about to speak.
Bai You’an gave a slight smile. “Lie back down and rest. Those two officials should be back this afternoon, and we’ll need to start heading back.”
Song Qingchao, surprisingly compliant this time, lay back down.
Her objective wasn't merely to get revenge on Gao Songmo; she wanted Gao Songmo to stay alive, to make it clear to Madam Xiao Hu that she had no chance of winning.
Furthermore, she couldn’t let the skinny monkey leave.
Song Qingchao felt an unexpected wave of drowsiness, despite having just woken up.
She turned her head, and through her blurred vision, saw Bai You’an still busy.
Not long after, she lost consciousness again.
Bai You’an’s gaze then fixed on Song Qingchao. He walked to the bedside and adjusted her quilt, tucking it in properly.
Yesterday, he had accompanied the skinny monkey and the others to inspect the scene of the crime.
Although the broken items had been removed and replaced with new ones, the traces of certain things had not escaped his keen observation.
He stood by the window, his fingers tracing the scuff marks beneath the windowsill, and his mind drifted to the traces of silk threads on the beams…
And the precisely placed wound.
To achieve their goals, would they resort to such lengths?
It was quite similar to himself in his previous life, a blend of obsession and a touch of self-destructive tendency.
Bai You’an finally took out the token from his怀.
After his rebirth, he had sent all his hidden guards back to headquarters.
It seemed it was time to recall them, though he wondered if these people had become rusty.
Song Qingchao slept until noon.
When she opened her eyes, Bai You’an was still sitting beside her.
She spoke with a hint of unease, “Have you been here all along?”
Bai You’an nodded. “I was afraid you might die.”
Song Qingchao, who had been starting to feel a flicker of emotion, immediately turned her back to him. “Yes, this frail body of mine might not last much longer.”
Bai You’an suddenly let out a laugh. “Don’t worry, with me here, you won’t die anytime soon. If you are to die, it will have to be after my eyes are healed.”
“You certainly do your calculations precisely.”
“After all, my compensation for healing my eyes is you. By then, perhaps the young lady will be reluctant to die.”
Song Qingchao’s eyebrows twitched in annoyance. She turned over and grabbed a pillow, flinging it at him, completely forgetting the injury to her shoulder.
“Be careful of your wound.”
Bai You’an caught the pillow from her hand and gently helped her sit up properly. “Finally, you don’t look like you’re half-dead?”
Song Qingchao huffed and turned her head away, refusing to engage with him.
“We should be departing. The escort needs to get out of the city before the curfew.”
“Leave the city?” Song Qingchao questioned with surprise, but still followed Bai You’an’s lead in getting out of bed. “Has the leader of the escort changed?”
“No.” Bai You’an lowered his gaze and fastened a light yellow cloak for her. “It’s getting cold. You are frail and need to wear more.”
Song Qingchao looked down at the hands by her collarbone. “It’s still the skinny monkey?”
“Mm.” Bai You’an withdrew his hands and turned to put on his medicine chest. “The higher-ups issued a sudden transfer order, and Lord Liu also said he wanted to stay to investigate the culprit. With such a significant incident occurring, it’s indeed difficult for the skinny monkey to account for himself, so he has no choice but to continue leading you to Mobei.”
“What about Gao Songmo?”
Bai You’an glanced at her. “The skinny monkey wanted him to stay, but he insisted on returning with us, to the point of threatening his life.”
He extended his hand, a smile playing on his lips. “Let’s go. I’ll take you back. The cart we came on is filled with provisions. Your injuries aren’t suited for walking.”
Song Qingchao lowered her gaze to his slender hand, pursed her lips, and said, “Thank you, sir.”
After speaking, she walked past him and left directly.
“Be careful you don’t fall,” Bai You’an called after her, but she paid no mind and walked straight ahead.
She didn’t know why, but after waking up and seeing that woman, she found Bai You’an utterly displeasing.
What had seemed unremarkable before now grated on her ears.
Perhaps it was due to her own thoughts,
Song Qingchao was so preoccupied that she didn’t watch her step. She knew it was a staircase, but still missed her footing.
Her body tumbled uncontrollably downwards. Normally, she could have steadied herself by leaning on the handrail, but with her left shoulder immobilized and her right arm feeling like dead wood, she only managed to grasp the railing on her right side.
Just as she managed to steady herself, leaning entirely against the railing, it suddenly loosened.
This time, she had no chance to grab anything else and could only watch as she fell.
It was over.
This was the only thought in her mind.
She quickly analyzed the potential consequences of this accident.
This was the second floor. As long as she didn’t land on her head, a fall would only result in broken bones or limbs.
As she fell, she instinctively sought out Bai You’an. Seeing him rushing towards her, she felt an inexplicable sense of happiness.
The corners of her mouth curved upwards, even though she knew Bai You’an wouldn’t reach her in time.
With this thought, she quickly curled herself up, using her hands to protect her head.
She could only save herself.
As she managed to shield the back of her head with her right hand, she saw Bai You’an leaping down recklessly.
He pulled her into his embrace with force, and then they tumbled through the air like scattered petals.
Bai You’an’s strong arms wrapped securely around her waist.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Song Qingchao looked up at him. This man had repeatedly told her “Don’t be afraid.”
But this time, she truly felt the tenderness in those words.
“Bai You’an.”
Bai You’an lowered his head, which had been lifted. “What is it?”
“Thank you.”
Thank you for still being concerned about my shoulder wound, even at this moment.
“Why be so polite with me?”