Seeing the Wangye and Bai Zhuzi come downstairs, Jiang Shun said, “Wangye, everything is ready. You may go in and rest directly.”
A kezhan had been booked in advance, so they could check in as soon as they arrived. They had booked the entire establishment.
The rest of their route was arranged in the same manner; a dedicated person would ride ahead on a fast horse to book their accommodations.
Jin Wang grunted in acknowledgment and led Bai Fei Wan into the kezhan. The two of them settled into the Tian Zi Number One Room on the second floor.
Jiang Shun and Ying Yi each took a room next to Jin Wang’s, so they could be on call and protect him at all times. Zi Zhu stayed in the room next to Ying Yi’s. The other guards shared rooms, two to a room, and the kezhan had just enough space to house them all.
After briefly tidying up in their room, the two went downstairs to eat.
They had been on the road for a full day, subsisting on dry rations. Bai Fei Wan had spent the entire journey catching up on sleep and hadn’t eaten a thing.
After dinner, the two returned to their room. Jin Wang went to bathe first, while Bai Fei Wan took the time to organize her belongings.
Soon, Jin Wang returned from his bath, and only then did Bai Fei Wan slowly go to take hers.
Bai Fei Wan lay comfortably in the bathtub. Although she had been sleeping in the carriage, the ride had been bumpy and her sleep fitful. Now, she felt a little sore and weak all over.
Moreover, the weather was hot, and after a day of travel, her whole body felt sticky.
Now, lying in the tub with the hot water enveloping her skin, she felt incredibly comfortable, the fatigue melting away.
Bai Fei Wan closed her eyes, slowly savoring the moment, and drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
Meanwhile, Jin Wang was leaning against the bed, reading a book while waiting for Bai Fei Wan. A long time passed, but she still hadn’t come out. A little worried, he put down his book and walked behind the screen.
He found Bai Fei Wan asleep, slumped over the edge of the wooden tub. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Hadn’t she slept the entire way here? How could she still be so sleepy that she could fall asleep while bathing? Truly delicate.
Then, his gaze drifted downwards, and his eyes instantly darkened.
Bai Fei Wan’s head was tilted back, revealing her snow-white neck, her chest pushed slightly forward. The posture was utterly alluring.
Her figure beneath the water was completely exposed, the rise and fall of her chest distinct. Jin Wang couldn’t help but swallow.
Jin Wang scooped Bai Fei Wan out of the tub. Feeling her body being lifted into the air, Bai Fei Wan was startled awake.
Her hands instinctively wrapped around Jin Wang’s neck. Their eyes met. Realizing her situation, Bai Fei Wan buried her face in Jin Wang’s chest, flushed with shame.
Seeing her like this, Jin Wang burst out laughing and carried her toward the bed.
He placed Bai Fei Wan on the bed. “I was originally going to let you off tonight, but you tempted me yourself. You can’t blame me for this.” With that, he leaned over her.
The next day, at Mao Shi.
Jin Wang’s internal clock woke him. He opened his eyes to see the person nestled in his arms and lowered his head to kiss her.
Feeling breathless, Bai Fei Wan slowly opened her eyes. Still heavy with sleep, her watery eyes looked at Jin Wang as she said in a slightly aggrieved tone, “Wangye.”
Hearing that soft, sweet “Wangye,” Jin Wang felt as if he’d been struck by lightning, a tingle shooting straight down his spine.
He gave Bai Fei Wan a hard bite. “Delicate little thing, time to get up. We still have to travel.” After speaking, he rolled out of bed, got dressed, and walked out.
He was afraid that if he didn’t leave, they would end up staying here for another night.
Seeing Jin Wang emerge, Zi Zhu called out, “Wangye.”
“Your master is awake. You may go in.”
“Yes,” she replied, then entered the room.
Zi Zhu went to the bedside. “Miss, hurry and get up. We have to set out after breakfast.”
Bai Fei Wan hummed in agreement, letting Zi Zhu pull her up and help her wash and dress.
Today, Bai Fei Wan wore an ice-blue, narrow-sleeved robe with a center opening. The lapels and cuffs were embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in sapphire-blue silk thread. Her hair was tied up with an emerald jade hairpin, and her face was, as usual, devoid of makeup.
After getting ready, the two of them went down to the main hall. Seeing Bai Fei Wan descend, Jin Wang beckoned to her.
“Quick, sit down and eat.”
“Alright.”
After the meal, the group set off again. They traveled for another four or five consecutive days and finally reached the Jiangnan region.
Fortunately, the journey had been completely uneventful. Jin Wang was traveling under the pretext of inspecting local officials, and Jiangnan was not his official destination.
Inside the carriage, Bai Fei Wan was nestled in Jin Wang’s arms, eating dessert. After several days together, the two had become very familiar with each other.
To pass the time, they sometimes played chess or Bai Fei Wan would read to Jin Wang. Even so, it was still uncomfortable.
After days of constant travel, Bai Fei Wan felt stiff all over from being cooped up in the carriage.
Seeing her discomfort, Jin Wang suggested taking her horseback riding. At first, Bai Fei Wan found it novel, but after riding for a while, she couldn’t stand it anymore. The insides of her thighs were rubbed raw.
In the end, she went back to the carriage. To alleviate her discomfort, Jin Wang became her human pillow. For the rest of the journey, Bai Fei Wan was always nestled in his arms.
The carriage came to a halt. Jiang Shun’s voice came from outside, “Wangye, we have reached the Jiangnan region.”
Hearing this, Bai Fei Wan immediately sat up straight, a hint of joy appearing in her eyes. They had finally arrived. She felt like she was about to fall apart.
Jin Wang felt his arms suddenly empty and was struck by a sense of loss. He glanced at the excited Bai Fei Wan, a smile unconsciously gracing his lips.
“First, find a kezhan to rest and freshen up. We will head to Hang City tomorrow morning.”
And so, the group took over a kezhan and rested well for a day.
The next day at Chen time, once everyone was ready, the group set off again towards Hang City.
Perhaps because they were about to reach their destination, or perhaps because she had rested well the day before, Bai Fei Wan was full of energy today.
She leaned against Jin Wang’s chest and lifted the window curtain to look outside. The mist was thick and heavy, as if she were immersed in a hazy, dreamlike fairyland, without a single flaw in sight.
As they waited for the sun to rise, the dense fog began to dissipate, and the scenery along the road was slowly revealed.
When they were traveling through a forest, the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Unprepared, Bai Fei Wan nearly fell to the floor due to inertia. Fortunately, Jin Wang caught her by the waist in time.
Jin Wang’s voice was deep and stern. “What’s going on?”
Hearing Jin Wang’s displeased tone, Jiang Shun hurriedly said, “Forgive me, Wangye. There are two groups of people fighting on the road ahead.”
The two groups up ahead were fighting, and as they fought, they were moving closer to Jin Wang’s party.
Seeing the approaching people, Jiang Shun quickly ordered, “On your guard! Protect the Wangye!”
A moment later, the sound of clashing swords came from outside. Jin Wang held Bai Fei Wan in his arms, gently patting her back, and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Seeing how calm Jin Wang was, she figured the problem wasn’t serious. She just wondered how Zi Zhu was doing.
After another moment, the sounds outside stopped.
Then, Ying Yi’s voice was heard. “Wangye, it’s all been taken care of.”
Hearing this, Jin Wang patted Bai Fei Wan’s bottom, signaling for her to get up, and the two of them disembarked from the carriage.
Zi Zhu also got down from the rear carriage and came to Bai Fei Wan’s side, anxiously looking her over.
Bai Fei Wan whispered, “I’m fine.”
As Zi Zhu dismounted, Ying Yi glanced in her direction.
Jin Wang got down and looked at the people being held by his guards. “What happened? Have you found out?”
Ying Yi relayed the information he had just gathered from interrogation. “Reporting to Wangye, a Jiangnan cloth merchant was transporting fabrics and was being robbed by a group of mountain bandits while passing through here.”
Hearing “Jiangnan cloth merchant,” Jin Wang’s eyes flickered. He walked toward the restrained men.
Bai Fei Wan immediately followed.
Jin Wang looked at them and noticed there were quite a few people transporting the cloth.
He then ordered someone to bring over a batch of the fabric.