Sister, Hold Me.
Qin Yu was determined to return to the capital as soon as possible. Unless it was absolutely necessary to replenish food and water, the group rarely stopped along the way. At most, they took brief breaks to let the horses catch their breath when convenient.
However, apart from riding for a few hours on the first day, Shen Su spent the rest of the time curled up in the carriage, nibbling on pastries.
Whoever wanted to ride the horse could go ahead whoever rode it would end up with a sore backside.
Especially since changing undergarments or using cloth pads on horseback was inconvenient, far less comfortable than in the carriage.
Learning from past experience, Qin Yu had grown wiser this time. When they stopped to restock, she handed Yunzhi a tael of silver and asked her to buy candied fruits and dried meat for Shen Su.
Yunzhi happily took the silver and had barely left when Qin Yu lifted the hem of her robe and decisively bent down to slip into the carriage.
Shen Su, who witnessed the entire scene, “…”
Oh-ho~
What did she just see?
Shen Su blinked, pretending to be indignant as she scolded Qin Yu, “Yunzhi is such an innocent girl, and you actually used a ‘lure the tiger away from the mountain’ trick on her!”
Just the other day, the girl had praised Qin Yu for being kind, saying that when she noticed Shen Su wasn’t feeling well, Qin Yu had even taken a detour to the market to buy her plenty of snacks.
Considerate of a woman’s discomfort and never treating her as a burden, Yunzhi thought Qin Yu was a good person.
Now, this “good person” sat in the carriage with no intention of leaving.
In truth, Qin Yu didn’t need to go to such lengths. A single word from her would have been enough for Yunzhi to willingly sit outside, no scheming necessary.
Yunzhi already knew about Shen Su and Qin Yu’s relationship. The only thing Shen Su hadn’t told her was that Qin Yu was a woman.
Sometimes, knowing less was better than knowing more.
Especially for someone as simple-minded as Yunzhi. If she found out Qin Yu’s true gender, Qin Yu would probably see right through her.
Qin Yu settled in, smoothing the hem of her robe. Hearing Shen Su’s words, she lifted her gaze and suddenly asked, “Did you miss me?”
Shen Su had been on her period for five days, and the two hadn’t been intimate during that time which was also why Qin Yu had focused on traveling.
Seeing Qin Yu take the initiative, Shen Su immediately dropped the act. She scooted over eagerly, wrapping her arms around Qin Yu’s, resting her chin on Qin Yu’s shoulder.
Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, and her cherry lips softly murmured a single word, “Yes!”
Huh?
How did Qin Yu know her period was over?
Shen Su paused, then lightly bit Qin Yu’s shoulder. “Sister, you used a ‘seduction tactic’ on me.”
A faint smile flickered in Qin Yu’s eyes.
She poked Shen Su’s forehead, pushing her away from her shoulder. “Aren’t you worried my clothes are dirty?”
Born into a merchant family, it was only natural for Qin Yu to employ tactics after all, no merchant was ever completely honest.
When Yunzhi returned cheerfully, she noticed everyone looking at her with a hint of pity, some even shaking their heads slowly while sucking in breaths.
Poor girl, kicked out just like that.
Yunzhi was utterly confused, “?”
Why were they acting so strange?
Then she lifted the carriage curtain and saw Qin Yu sitting inside, “…”
Oh. Understood.
Qin Yu remained unruffled, her expression calm. “The candied fruits are for Qingqing. The dried meat is for you.”
Shen Su also laughed a little guiltily, crouching by the carriage door to pat Yunzhi’s head. “Be good!”
Counting the days, they were nearly in the capital.
Shen Su had already planned that if Qin Yu didn’t come to her today, she would have invited her into the carriage herself to “do it.”
After all, these moments of happiness were numbered.
Yunzhi pursed her lips, not daring to compete with Qin Yu for the carriage after all, it belonged to the young master Qin in the first place.
But still…
“There’s some money left.” Yunzhi handed the change back to Qin Yu.
She had no intention of keeping even a fraction of it for herself, her honesty and simplicity evoking a sense of pity.
Shen Su, while feeling sorry for her, unhesitatingly took the money on Qin Yu’s behalf even going so far as to tuck it into her own purse right in front of Qin Yu.
Qin Yu, “?”
Yunzhi whispered, “I’ll keep watch for you, but please try to keep it down.”
Shen Su’s ears burned as she nodded repeatedly.
It wasn’t her fault if she sometimes got loud, Qin Yu was just too intense.
Yunzhi bought a bag of candied fruit, sweet and sour, perfect for summer when one’s appetite waned.
As the carriage curtain fell and the journey resumed, Shen Su sat beside Qin Yu, plucking a piece of candied fruit and slipping it between her lips. Her rosy mouth closed over the sugar-dusted tip of her pale finger, the movement deliberately slow.
She glanced sideways at Qin Yu, the upturned corners of her eyes like hooks, softly tugging at one’s hunger.
She didn’t seem to be eating the candied fruit rather, she seemed to be waiting for someone to eat her.
Compared to the unremarkable treat, Shen Su was clearly the main course.
Qin Yu’s breath tightened. Unable to resist, she wrapped one arm around Shen Su’s waist and grasped her slender wrist with the other, tilting her head to kiss Shen Su’s lips, sharing the candied fruit between them.
But Qin Yu was fastidious. Glancing at Shen Su’s fingertips, she murmured, “Wipe them clean.”
“Otherwise, you can’t put them in.”
Shen Su huffed. Why was a sugar-dusted finger unacceptable, but a tongue that had just held ice perfectly fine?
Miss Qin had double standards.
Qin Yu never forgot there was someone outside. Every time Shen Su was about to moan, she covered her mouth with her palm.
After half an incense stick’s worth of teasing, it was only enough to barely sate their hunger, far from satisfying.
Patting her thigh, Qin Yu noticed Shen Su was drowsy and let her rest her head there.
“You’ve been so good to me lately,” Shen Su mumbled, wondering if this was the “last meal” before execution.
After all, they weren’t far from the capital now. Qin Yu must be considering how to deal with her, hence the kindness before killing her.
Resting on Qin Yu’s lap, facing the carriage door, Shen Su quietly plotted her escape.
Truthfully, regardless of how Qin Yu treated her or whether she intended to kill her, Shen Su had always planned to leave.
The joy and pleasure of these past days had been stolen under the guise of “Su Qingqing.”
Like a spirit entwined with a scholar in a rain-soaked temple, no matter how inseparable they were at night, dawn always demanded disappearance.
For Shen Su, the capital was that dawn.
The Shen Su who lived in the light was the neglected eldest daughter of the Shen family, a tool to be sold for profit or marriage.
She had to be dignified and proper first, for her deceased birth mother, and second, for the nursemaid who had raised her.
Her hand, resting limply against Qin Yu’s calf, unconsciously traced slow circles, carrying a reluctant reluctance.
According to the bearded man, they would rest for a few days at the next market before heading straight to the capital.
They were almost there.
How had it gone so quickly?
Shen Su had always been optimistic and unburdened, never yearning for what couldn’t be kept or possessed.
This was the second time she had indulged in the fantasy, how wonderful it would be if they could stay on the road forever.
Deep down, she knew it was impossible. Just like when her mother was dying, she had wished for her recovery.
“What are you thinking about?” Qin Yu lowered her gaze to Shen Su, her hand resting on the other’s waist.
Without even blinking, Shen Su instinctively murmured in a soft voice, “Thinking about you, sister.”
Qin Yu thought she hadn’t satisfied Shen Su enough, hence her listlessness. “It’ll be better in a couple of days. It’s not convenient in the carriage.”
Shen Su turned over, lying flat on her back to face Qin Yu, stretching her arms out in a coquettish manner, her voice light and tender, “Hold me.”
Qin Yu frowned slightly. Though unsure of Shen Su’s intentions, she bent down anyway.
Shen Su wrapped her arms around Qin Yu’s shoulders contentedly, planting delicate kisses along her ear, neck, and shoulders.
These weren’t passionate kisses but tender, affectionate ones, pure and simple.
Qin Yu stroked Shen Su’s raven-black hair, speaking gently, “There’s a jewelry shop in the capital with the finest women’s accessories. Be good, and I’ll buy some for you.”
Ever since deciding to give Shen Su a proper status upon reaching the capital, Qin Yu’s most frequent words had been, “Be good.”
It wasn’t that Qin Yu didn’t recognize “Su Qingqing’s” intelligence or suspect that “Su Qingqing” hadn’t been entirely truthful with her.
Regarding her family background and reasons for going to the capital, “Su Qingqing” had only mentioned visiting relatives something Qin Yu found hard to believe.
Qin Yu had asked before, during moments when “Su Qingqing” was most “eager,” but all she’d revealed was her name, Qingqing.
Seeing her reluctance, Qin Yu didn’t press further.
Not out of arrogance, but because, given the Qin family’s influence, Qingqing was like cooked food on her plate even with wings, she couldn’t fly out of the capital.
Thus, Qin Yu was exceedingly patient, entirely unhurried.
Her hand slipped beneath Shen Su’s collar, palm rubbing against her back as she matter-of-factly laid out plans, “Once we reach the capital, I’ll first take you to visit your relatives, then find you another place to stay.”
Judging by the copper hairpin Qingqing had worn before, her relatives in the capital probably didn’t treat her well. Otherwise, at such a beauty-loving age and with such delicate features, why would she settle for a mere copper hairpin?
And that undergarment of hers, the duck embroidery had faded to near invisibility, barely recognizable as a mandarin duck.
Qin Yu thought it better to pamper “Su Qingqing” with luxury than to let her endure hardship elsewhere, bowing her head in submission.
As they spoke, Shen Su’s hand rested on Qin Yu’s chest, giving it a playful squeeze as she mimicked Qin Yu’s tone, “Alright, whatever you say, sister.”
Another place to stay?