Chapter 68 -

Chapter 68: Chapter

The guards didn’t come inside. Once they pulled up in front of the familiar regional inn, they dropped off the wooden chests, turned the carriage around, and drove off into the snowy road, leaving Yimei and Zhengyu behind.

Yimei wrapped her arm around Zhengyu’s waist, letting him lean his weight on her as he balanced carefully on his wooden crutches. Together, they slowly pushed through the heavy wooden front doors of the warm, bustling inn.

Inside, the lobby was filled with travelers eating warm food and drinking hot tea around low tables.

Suddenly, a loud screech of wooden chairs echoed across the room.

Qinqin and Liu Feng, who had been sitting anxiously at a table near the back corner, bolted upright. Their eyes went wide as saucers the second they spotted the couple at the doorway.

"Young Master! Madam!" Qinqin cried out, tears instantly filling her eyes. She knocked over her own tea cup in her hurry, sprinting across the wooden floor as fast as her legs could carry her.

Liu Feng wasn’t far behind. His usual stern face broke into sheer relief as he rushed forward to take Zhengyu’s weight from Yimei’s shoulders.

"You’re alive!" Qinqin sobbed, threw her arms around Yimei in a tight hug before pulling back to check her for injuries. "We thought... we thought something terrible happened to you both in those mountains!"

Zhengyu let out a weak chuckle as Liu Feng carefully supported him. "Calm down, Qinqin. We’re fine."

Yimei patted Qinqin’s shoulder with a calm smile, though her sharp eyes quickly scanned the crowded room to make sure no unwanted eyes were watching them.

"Let’s get upstairs to our room first," Yimei said softly, her voice cool and commanding. "We have a lot to talk about."

Liu Feng carefully helped Zhengyu up the wooden stairs toward the private bathhouse to get him cleaned up and into fresh clothes. Yimei walked into her own room, feeling the heavy dust of the road slide away as she changed into a clean, simple silk robe.

Qinqin stood behind her, her small hands trembling slightly as she gently fixed Yimei’s hair, pinning it up with a simple wooden hairpin.

Before Qinqin could step back, Yimei reached up and gently grabbed the young maid’s hand. She turned around on the wooden stool, looking up at Qinqin with soft, caring eyes.

"How have you been, Qinqin?" Yimei asked quietly.

That single, gentle question broke Qinqin’s strength. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over her hot cheeks as she bit her lower lip to keep from sobbing out loud.

"I saw the letter you left behind, Young Miss," Qinqin whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. "That was how I knew you left on your own and weren’t taken away by enemies! I managed to convince Liu Feng not to go after you guys or raise an alarm at the manor, but..."

Qinqin squeezed Yimei’s hands tightly, looking down at her mistress with deep worry and hurt.

"Madam... why did you not tell me about your plan?" Qinqin asked, tears dripping onto their joined hands. "I was so scared every single day. Why did you leave me behind?"

Yimei smiled softly and reached up, gently patting Qinqin’s head.

"I had to get his legs treated," Yimei explained in a calm, comforting voice. "That was why I had to go about it like that. It was too dangerous to bring a crowd, but don’t worry from now on, I will always tell you where I am going."

Qinqin wiped her wet cheeks with her sleeve and nodded eagerly, a small relief washing over her face.

"I’ll go downstairs and order food for you right now and get you some hot food, Madam," Qinqin said, smoothing down her apron. "You must be starving after being on the road for so long!"

Before rushing out, Qinqin quickly filled her in on what had been happening while they were gone. They had been waiting at this inn for a whole week. To avoid drawing any suspicious attention, the extra guards and the other maids had already been sent ahead to the quiet, private house prepared for them initially . Only Qinqin and Liu Feng had stayed behind at the inn to wait for their return.

"Take your time," Yimei told her with a warm nod. "Go fetch the food."

Once Qinqin hurried out the door, the room became quiet again. Yimei stood up, adjusting her silk robes as she thought about their next move.

As the day faded into evening, the busy inn gradually quieted down. The travelers downstairs finished their meals, and the main hall emptied out.

Yimei had sent Qinqin to ask the innkeeper for permission to use the kitchen for the night. Once the kitchen was clear, Yimei went down to prepare Zhengyu’s herbal medicine herself. She carefully measured out the roots and dried leaves Grandmaster Zhang had packed for them, letting the brew simmer slowly until the dark, rich liquid was ready.

Grandmaster Zhang had already performed Zhengyu’s acupuncture early this morning before they left the village. Following his strict instructions, Yimei knew she didn’t need to use the needles today, but starting tomorrow, that heavy responsibility would fall entirely on her hands.

She poured the hot medicine into a porcelain bowl and carried it back upstairs.

Pushing open the door to Zhengyu’s room, she found him sitting on the edge of the freshly made bed, dressed in clean, soft robes. His damp hair fell loosely around his shoulders, and he looked much more like the polished Young Master of the Bai Manor again, except for the tired slump in his shoulders and the heavy crutches leaning against the nightstand.

Yimei walked in quietly, setting the steaming tray on the small wooden table beside him.

"Time for your medicine," she said smoothly, taking a seat right next to him.

Zhengyu looked at the dark liquid, then up at Yimei’s calm, steady face. "Did you cook this yourself?"

"Of course," Yimei replied, tilting her head with a small smirk. "I wouldn’t trust anyone else to get the dosage right. Drink up, husband. Tomorrow, I start the needle treatments on your legs myself, so you’ll need all your strength."

Zhengyu picked up the bowl, taking a cautious sip before glancing at her through his dark lashes.

Yimei also brought the small jar of warm oil with her to rub his legs. After Zhengyu finished drinking all his bitter medicine, she took the empty cup, set it on the small table, and sat down right next to him on the soft bed.

Without waiting, Yimei reached over and slowly began to pull down his trousers.

This time, Zhengyu didn’t get scared or try to stop her like he did in the carriage. He just leaned back on his elbows, watching her with quiet, dark eyes. He let her do whatever she wanted without saying a word.

Yimei took a big scoop of the warm oil onto her hands and rubbed her palms together quickly until they were hot. Then she pressed her warm hands against his knees, slowly rubbing the oil up into his legs with steady, strong strokes.

"You are so quiet tonight," Yimei whispered softly, her fingers moving up his cold skin. "No complaints? You’re not going to yell at me?"

Zhengyu took a quick, deep breath as her hands moved higher up his thigh, but he didn’t look away from her face.

"I learned my lesson earlier today," Zhengyu said, his voice low and soft. "If I complain, you just use it to make fun of me even more."

Yimei looked up at him, her eyes bright with a playful, dangerous smile.

"Smart boy," she teased, her hands slowing down right near his warm thighs, making the room feel hot and quiet around them.

Yimei’s smile widened, her dark eyes glinting with pure mischief in the dim light of the room. She leaned forward slightly, her breath warm against his skin as her hands remained rested high on his thighs.

"Tell me, Young Master..." she whispered, her voice slow and teasing. "Do you remember what I said in the carriage today? About what I would check for you tonight at the inn?"

Zhengyu’s throat went dry. A deep blush rushed straight up his neck, burning his cheeks all over again. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, trying desperately to hold back the reaction her closeness was causing in his body.

"Yimei..." he choked out, his voice thick and raspy as his hands gripped the bedsheets beneath him. "You said... you would check my blood flow."

"That’s right," Yimei purred softly. She didn’t pull her hands away. Instead, she let her thumbs trace slow, tiny circles against his warm skin, watching the way his chest heaved with heavy, uneven breaths. "And as a dutiful wife, I always keep my promises."

Zhengyu let out a low, breathless groan, his jaw clenching hard. "You are trying to tease me again."

"Am I?" Yimei chuckled softly, tilting her head up to meet his dark, heat-filled gaze. "Or are you just realizing that you like having me this close?"