Ride for me, sister.
By the time Qin Yu and her party set off, it was already mid-afternoon.
The sunlight after the midday nap, though not as pleasant as the evening, was far more bearable than the scorching noon.
Qin Yu was speaking with Shopkeeper Zhou at the gate while the bearded men loaded water and provisions.
As for Shen Su and Yunzhi, the two women, their only task was to take care of themselves.
Yunzhi didn’t even need Shen Su to lift a finger she effortlessly carried both their luggage into the carriage with one bundle in each hand.
When the two of them had arrived just two days prior, they had only the clothes on their backs. Yet in such a short time, they had already accumulated two bundles of belongings.
Yunzhi stole a glance at the red marks on Shen Su’s neck and collarbone, blushing before lowering her head.
She had initially thought Shen Su had been bitten by mosquitoes, but it turned out the “mosquito” was none other than Qin Yu.
Though Young Master Qin was a bit demanding, he treated her mistress well in other ways. Just the embroidered handkerchiefs for wiping hands alone, he had bought several for her.
Shen Su, however, stared at the pile of high-quality handkerchiefs and fell silent for a long moment before finally saying, “Fine.”
At least it was better than using her undergarments to wipe his hands every time.
Yunzhi supported Shen Su’s arm, helping her into the carriage first, then instinctively lifted her skirt to follow her inside.
Hearing the movement, Shen Su looked up with a smile. “Finished talking already?”
Yunzhi froze, confused. “Huh? What’s finished?”
“Never mind.” Seeing Yunzhi enter, Shen Su lifted the curtain to glance outside, just in time to meet Qin Yu’s furrowed gaze. The moment their eyes locked, Shen Su’s smile brightened instantly.
Seems like someone was a step too late.
Yunzhi looked at Shen Su, then at Qin Yu outside the carriage window, belatedly realizing that when she had entered earlier, her mistress had mistaken her for Young Master Qin.
Suddenly, the cushion beneath her felt prickly, and Yunzhi shifted uncomfortably, stammering, “Maybe I should go sit outside instead.”
She had forgotten.
She had assumed Young Master Qin would ride a horse.
Would he come in and kick her out?
Yunzhi’s heart leaped into her throat.
Shen Su chuckled. “No need, no need. The afternoon sun is harsh just sit here comfortably.”
The carriage was equipped with an ice basin, making it pleasantly cool, far more comfortable than outside.
Just as she said this, Qin Yu happened to walk over.
Qin Yu had only exchanged a few words with Zhou Ming, but when she turned back, she saw Yunzhi had already climbed into the carriage ahead of her.
Hadn’t she bought all those handkerchiefs precisely so she could sit inside the carriage with Qingqing alone?
With three people in the carriage, the handkerchiefs would be utterly useless.
But now that Yunzhi was already inside, Qin Yu couldn’t very well ask her to come out, that would wound the girl’s pride and dignity.
Qin Yu looked at Shen Su, lips pressed thinly together, fingers clenching faintly behind her back.
She thought to herself, given how much “Su Qingqing” enjoyed their intimacy, perhaps she would take the initiative to invite her in.
But instead—
Shen Su grinned at Qin Yu, eyes curved like crescents. “When ‘Young Master’ rides a horse, your heroic bearing is so dashing and carefree, it truly makes this humble woman admire and long for you~”
Qin Yu, “Hmph.”
So she wasn’t planning to let her into the carriage.
Seeing Qin Yu’s stony expression, Shen Su worried the young mistress might be angry and ducked slightly behind the curtain. Then, playfully, she puckered her red lips at Qin Yu in a teasing kiss.
“Mwah!”
Qin Yu, “…”
After the kiss, Shen Su leaned against the window to gaze at her, her eyes brimming with undisguised amusement as she silently mouthed:
“Ride for me, sister.”
Qin Yu paused, then reluctantly loosened the fingers she had been clenching behind her back. With an inward sigh, she turned to Lao Wu and said, “Untie my horse.”
“You rode a horse?” Lao Wu was puzzled, glancing toward the carriage. He had assumed Qin Yu would travel by carriage.
Qin Yu said nothing, nor did she feel the need to explain.
If she had a choice, she certainly wouldn’t have chosen to ride a horse.
She wanted to ride “Su Qingqing.”
The group watched as Qin Yu saddled her horse while Yunzhi climbed into the carriage, prompting hushed murmurs among them.
“Miss Su kicked ‘the young master’ out.”
“That can’t be right. Maybe ‘the young master’ didn’t want to ride in the carriage. A proper young man wouldn’t want to huddle inside like a woman.”
“Clearly, you’ve never had a wife. Those who have know how cozy it is for two people to snuggle in a carriage together.”
Since the incident with Chen San, no one dared to mock Qin Yu for being effeminate anymore. When referring to her, they respectfully called her “young master.”
“Wait, didn’t you see ‘the young master’ walk toward the carriage earlier but not get in?”
“Who would’ve thought the young master would be so indulgent toward Miss Su? She wouldn’t let him in the carriage, and he actually obeyed.”
The bearded man, listening to their lively discussion, chuckled. “You don’t know this, but everyone from the Qin family is a romantic at heart.”
He watched as Qin Yu swung her long leg over the horse, took the reins, and obediently mounted. With a meaningful look, he added, “Who knows what status Miss Su might hold in the future? I suggest you all treat her with respect.”
The group pondered his words, he had a point!
They had assumed that, given Qin Yu’s status and family background, she would surely marry a noblewoman. Thus, her relationship with “Su Qingqing” was likely just a fleeting romance, a passing amusement on the road certainly not something that would lead to marriage.
Even if Qin Yu wanted it, the family matriarch Qin Yu’s maternal grandmother would never allow it.
But they had forgotten: the Qin family was known for producing hopeless romantics!
If not for their romantic tendencies, the Qin family wouldn’t have such a sparse lineage. The Qin matriarch wouldn’t have only one daughter, Qin Zhu, and half the family’s wealth wouldn’t have ended up in the hands of her son-in-law, Li Xuanliu.
If Qin Yu was serious, it wouldn’t matter what background “Su Qingqing” had she’d still be carried into the family in a grand bridal sedan.
Their gazes swiveled toward Qin Yu in unison.
This was entirely possible.
Qin Yu, “?”
Feeling the weight of their stares, Qin Yu furrowed her brow slightly.
What were they all looking at?
The bearded man scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and laughed. “We were just waiting for ‘the young master’ to give the order to depart.”
Qin Yu, “…”
That had never been the custom before.
Qin Yu, “Let’s go.”
The group, “Yes, sir.”
Gripping the reins, Qin Yu glanced back at the carriage.
Sure enough, Shen Su lifted the curtain, poking out her round little head to look at her.
She hadn’t been making excuses she really did want to watch.
Qin Yu understood. The world imposed too many constraints on women. For a sheltered young lady like “Su Qingqing,” there were few opportunities to gallop freely across open fields like a man.
Like a caged bird yearning for freedom, “Su Qingqing” yearned to see her ride.
Over the past few days spent together, Qin Yu had sometimes envied the effortless grace and delicate femininity “Su Qingqing” exuded in every gesture.
So natural, so tender, flowing through her heart like spring water.
It made her seem like the very picture of a soft, delicate maiden.
Qin Yu saw a life in “Su Qingqing” that was completely different from her own.
Perhaps because it was so different, she couldn’t help but observe a little more closely.
Like a drop of vibrant, leaping peach color blending into a rigid black-and-white world, making it impossible to look away.
Qin Yu had originally intended to say, “Let me show you how to ride.”
But after a moment’s hesitation, she dismounted and walked to the carriage, extending her hand toward Shen Su, who was crouched on it.
“Come down. I’ll take you for a ride.”
Shen Su, “?”