Chapter 41: Suspicion Again?

Jingyuan glanced at Su Tang and continued grinding the ink.

“If you find it bothersome, I’ll step out,” Jingyuan said.

“It’s not bothersome,” Su Tang replied.

See? She’s not someone who gets on people’s nerves.

…

A faint aroma drifted from the kitchen—dinner would be ready soon. Su Tang didn’t truly rest; she leaned against the bed’s headboard, eyes half-shut in a light doze, while watching the young lord at the table practicing his calligraphy. The scene was warm and peaceful, like listening to the wind by a window, taking in the view.

Before long, her vision began to blur.

Was she too tired?

Just a short nap, she thought. I’ll wake up soon.

She still needed to eat…

Murmuring to herself, the world darkened further, until, suddenly, when clarity returned, she found herself once again in that familiar, roller-coaster-like jostling of a carriage. Peach Blossom and Xinran’s plaintive crying filled her ears.

Su Tang pinched her arm—no pain.

So this dream would never end, would it?

She looked around and spotted an iron paperweight lying in the carriage. Grabbing it, she slammed it down on Xinran’s forehead.

Xinran fell, dazed, inside the carriage.

Peach Blossom’s sobs faltered, her face just as blank as Xinran’s.

Su Tang ignored her, rummaged through Xinran’s arms, and found a dagger. Amidst the carriage’s jolts, she struggled toward the front.

Just as her hand reached the carriage curtain, Su Tang looked back and mouthed silently to Peach Blossom: “Cry.”

“Waaah…”

Peach Blossom instantly resumed crying.

Su Tang gave her a silent thumbs up, feeling a pang of sorrow.

Ah, little Peach Blossom who once accompanied her—

Now, she could only avenge her in dreams.

With a sudden motion, Su Tang lifted the curtain and stabbed the driver in the back.

The dagger pierced through; the driver collapsed. Su Tang seized the reins and pulled hard.

She had never ridden a horse—only a driver’s license for cars, utterly clueless about handling a carriage—but somehow she managed to bring it to a halt.

“My lady.”

Peach Blossom, laughing and crying, emerged from the carriage.

“Come on, get out,” Su Tang said, pulling Peach Blossom down with her.

But as soon as her foot touched the ground, someone appeared in front of her.

A greasy, leering face, filthy hands reaching for her, and that nauseating, all-too-familiar smell invaded her nose.

Fury surged in Su Tang. She drove the dagger into him.

“Aaaah—!”

He had disgusted her in life; now in her dream as well.

Was she supposed to fear him here?

This was her dream!

“Wake up, wake up.”

Suddenly, a voice sounded in her ear.

Su Tang jolted awake and opened her eyes.

The dim light flickered, shadows dancing as the candle burned. The young man’s handsome face was close, his luminous eyes shining like precious stones, his nose finely chiseled in the shifting light, lips pressed tight, brows faintly furrowed in worry.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

Su Tang felt disoriented.

A moment ago, that loathsome face from her dream; now, before her, a youth as beautiful as a painting.

She realized she had never looked this closely at her young husband.

He was even more handsome than she’d imagined.

“N-no, I mean, yes, I’m fine,” Su Tang stammered, only to realize she was stuttering.

How embarrassing.

But then, she noticed her young husband was holding her hand.

Almost at once, he let go.

Though there was no sound, it was as if she heard a faint “snap.”

…He let go so quickly.

Su Tang looked up and met his gaze again.

“You were dreaming,” he said.

“I was dreaming,” Su Tang echoed.

They spoke almost in unison.

Su Tang shut her mouth.

He, too, fell silent.

The room was so quiet that a pin’s drop would be heard.

“Pfft.” Su Tang burst out laughing.

Jingyuan watched her bright, radiant laughter, and the corners of his mouth quirked up slightly.

When her laughter had faded, she looked at him again. He was as calm and composed as ever.

“Did I talk in my sleep?” Su Tang asked.

“You called out a few times,” he replied.

“Called… out?” She started to stutter again.

He answered quietly, “Not very loud.”

Was that the issue?

“What did I say?” Su Tang pressed.

“You just called out,” he said.

“Huh?” Su Tang blinked.

He nodded.

She cleared her throat. “Nothing else?”

Jingyuan studied her. “What else do you think there should be?”

Uh—

Su Tang gave him a sidelong glance, then turned to look at the wall.

She didn’t want anything else.

She was still young, after all.

When Su Tang didn’t answer, Jingyuan frowned slightly.

What did that mean?

Su Tang sensed her young husband’s gaze but couldn’t bring herself to face him.

She was certain that if she looked up, he’d know exactly what inappropriate thoughts were running through her mind.

Just then, from outside the window, Li Qingtian’s voice drifted in.

“My lady, young master, it’s time to eat.”

“Coming—!” Su Tang called out, her voice suddenly loud.

Sister Li, a true lifesaver!

She leapt from the bed, slipped on her shoes, and dashed out.

Jingyuan watched as she nearly tripped in her haste but never looked back, the corners of his mouth twitching before curving upwards.

Outside, Li Qingtian exclaimed, “My lady, what are you—”

“I’m hungry.”

*******

The meal was plentiful, with both meat and vegetables.

There were even a few boiled eggs, more than usual.

Jingyuan and Su Tang each received a bowl of calming tea.

They drank the tea first, then ate.

Some time later, Lu Dashan returned.

“How did it go?” Li Qingtian asked.

“There’s a lead,” Lu Dashan replied.

“It really is my trouble to deal with, and I’ll settle it tonight,” he said.

“I…”

“Don’t worry. Just stay home,” Lu Dashan insisted when Li Qingtian still looked unconvinced. “The lad will go with me; that’s enough.”

“Alright,” Jingyuan said.

Li Qingtian glanced at Su Tang and could only agree.

…

After the meal, Lu Dashan and his son left, without taking Dahei along.

Dahei lay at the courtyard gate, wagging his tail, watching the entrance.

Inside, Li Qingtian sat at the bedside and spoke softly, “I think there’s something odd about Lu Dashan.”

Odd?

“In what way?” Su Tang asked.

Li Qingtian frowned, recalling, “Today in the alley, I was afraid something might happen to you, but Lu Dashan only cared about dealing with those men. If I hadn’t reminded him, he wouldn’t have even asked about you.”

“Earlier, when you mentioned ‘grass’ and ‘wind’ to him, he said he’d talk it over with his son. But judging by today, he didn’t mention it—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so surprised to hear the young master call out. You’d think he’d be more careful with his own son, but he didn’t seem to mind much.”

“And another thing—everyone said you saved his son, but he acted dazed. If someone saved you, I’d want to give them everything I had. But all he said was ‘the Lu family is blessed!’ Though that’s true, it’s still odd, really odd.”

Su Tang hadn’t realized Li Qingtian had noticed so much. First, she’d suspected the young master; now, she was suspicious of Lu Dashan as well?