This chapter was translated by Sian for only and edited by Din2.
By Qian Lu
Chapter 32
The Capital (Part 1)
It could be regarded as a weak sound, but it attracted all of the people"s attentions. Yan Yu and Cang Su heard Murong Shu Qing"s words, and looked one glance at each other, then they withdrew their weapons. But their hands were still guarding the side of the carriage, so that they could take precautions and attentively watch at those bright clothes guards.
Even though Yan Yu and Cang Su already put their weapons away, but the powers of these two people were still very intimidating, those bright clothes guards were still grasping their swords on their hands, and did not dare to lower their guards.
They were gathering to surround the carriage, but n.o.body dared to go up to check it up. The leader of the group was about a 40 years old strong man, he was wearing a black cotton gown. He had a square face and tiger eyes, his temples were slightly sticking out to show this person"s martial arts" cultivations. He slowly walked in front of the carriage, directly facing Yan Yu and Cang Su. He already saw that these two people"s martial arts were excellent a moment ago, he was actually very curious about the person whom they were protecting. His appearance made Yan Yu and Cang Su to take precautions even more. After the two parties" confrontation for a good while, the leader of the group stretched his hand to lift up the carriage"s curtain.
The clothing curtain was lifted up for a moment.
Everyone"s sights were concentrated on the inside of the carriage.
They could only see a woman with a white dress who was lying in the middle of the s.p.a.cious carriage, her body was covered by a dark green silk quilt. Her neck was wrapped by a thick white muslin, the light inside the carriage was dark, so they could only rely on the moonlight that pa.s.sed through the bamboo curtain to inspect for things. But they could still see the woman"s pale face, and her indolent but calm smiling expression.
The leader of the group looked around inside of the carriage to inspect, besides this white dress woman, there was no other person. But there was too much rich sandalwood smell from inside the carriage, the leader of the group slightly wrinkled his eyebrows. Examining that woman carefully, she was weak but free, facing his close inspection, she did not show any fl.u.s.tered and fear"s expressions. She always had that light smile all along, it made people to feel comfortable, how could this type of woman like this rich sandalwood"s smell like this?
Murong Shu Qing"s face showed a calm smile, but her heart was actually in a mess, not only that she was more afraid that this person could see any strange thing, but also could discover the black dress man. The important thing was to make sure that she appeared to be lying down on a soft couch, her whole body was actually lying on the top of the black dress man now, his hand was tightly encircling her waist under the silk. Her back tightly touched against his chest, she could feel his calm heartbeats, but it made her feel somewhat nervous, in her 30 years of life, she had never been closed to any man before.
The leader of the group had also seen the world, Huo Zi Qi"s proud att.i.tude, Yan Yu and Cang Su"s coldness and talents, Murong Shu Qing"s elegant and calmness, all those showed that the ident.i.ties of these group of people were sure to be out of the ordinary. After he checked it up once, he put the cloth curtain down, the leader of the group cupped his hands towards Huo Zi Qi and said: "I have disturbed all of you, go."
Finished talking, the group of the bright clothes guards quickly got on their horses, raised the sand that was blown by the wind, since they staggered with the time, they hurriedly went to the opposite direction.
Hearing the horses" hooves that gradually got further apart, Murong Shu Qing turned herself over with difficulty, and tumbled down from the top of the black dress man. The injury that was on her neck, made her unable to breathe for a period of time. After a burst of violent coughing, the white muslin that was on her neck, turned into red. The black dress man"s cold eyes were staring to look at Murong Shu Qing for a long time, he did not understand her at all. He almost had her life, but she still unexpectedly put herself to save him!?
Slowly getting her strength back with great difficulty, she knew that the people outside were anxious for her, Murong Shu Qing deeply breathed, used a tranquil voice, and she faintly said: "I am alright, continue to go!"
The outside was quiet for a while, then the carriage slowly began to run again.
Not paying attention to the black dress man"s cold gaze, Murong Shu Qing used a handkerchief to simply treat her wound on her neck. She would save him a moment ago, because she was not sure if the fight started, she would not lose her life, and she could not let Yan Yu, Cang Su, and the Huo"s family to take this risk. But now, if she did not treat her wound, she would die from the loss of blood before they arrived in Jiahe town. But this person was really smart, he should come from the direction of Jiahe town, and he was going back again now. The most dangerous place was actually the safest place, n.o.body would think that since he already escaped out, but he still came back.
The two people did not say anything, Murong Shu Qing stopped burning the sandalwood, slightly lifted the bamboo curtain so that the wind could blow in. In order to conceal the smell of the blood, the strong fragrance of the sandalwood almost made her faint.
Half a shichen later, Yan Yu"s cold and firm voice came through from the outside of the curtain: "Master, we have already arrived in Jiahe town."
Looking one glance at the black dress man who was closing his eyes and leaning at the corner, Murong Shu Qing asked: "Do you want to enter the town?"
The black dress man opened his eyes, supported his body to get up with difficulty, and tightly held the red sword on his hand, then he pressed on his wound with his hand that already smelled fishy and was red. The black dress man came to the side of door of the carriage, just about to turn and dismount from the carriage, Murong Shu Qing"s m.u.f.fled and elegant voice echoed: "You all retreat to the area about 3 zhang from the chariot ." (1 zhang is about 3.3 meter).
The black dress man turned his head around, deeply looked one glance at Murong Shu Qing, with one jump, he was out of the carriage.
"Alright, do not chase after him." Looking at his departure, Murong Shu Qing prevented Yan Yu who wanted to chase after him. She also did not understand it too much, why she wanted to let him go in the end. Based on the degree of his injury, he was absolutely not Yan Yu and Cang Su"s opponent. Maybe, because of those cold pair of eyes that did not have any emotional feelings, or maybe because of that proudness, and intense sadness from his back view that moved her to feel pity.
Lu Yi looked that the black dress man departed, so she immediately got off of the carriage and ran to Murong Shu Qing’s side. Looking at her neck that had a white muslin covered by blood, her distressed tears dropped down again, she asked with choking emotions and nervousness: "Miss, you are ok, right!"
Slightly leaning on the carriage"s wall, Murong Shu Qing was still faintly smiling, in order to make Lu Yi feel at ease, she said with a low voice: "I am ok."
Looking at Murong Shu Qing"s complexion, Huo Zi Qi knew that her injury was more serious by looking at her pale and weak appearances. In order to make Lu Yi get on the carriage, he rode his horse to go to the front and said: "Once we arrive in town, we will look for a physician to take a look. Let"s go!"
A delegation of people rapidly galloped to go to towards the town, under the careful examination from a physician, Murong Shu Qing and Lu Yi"s injuries were not too serious, but the speed was slow by a lot. The distance between Huadu district and the Capital could not be regarded as far, they finally arrived by the eight days at around noon.
"The capital is really lively oh!" Being in the stuffy carriage for several days, Huo Zhi Qing was already impatience earlier, lifting up the bamboo curtain, she excitedly looked all around, and pulled Lu Yi with her continuous and incessant chattering. Murong Shu Qing put down the book that was on her hand, she laughed and shook her head, this Huo Zhi Qing really could not stop chatting for even a moment.
Murong Shu Qing looked up at the decorations of the store fronts that were really uniques, the products that they sold, were also very complete in varieties. The street sold the flowery brocade dresses for the influential official merchants, the coa.r.s.e cloth garments for the common people, and even the usual things that one would put in the wealthy lady’s chambers. The Capital was really lively, with many cultural diversities, graceful and luxurious, it was worthy to be Dong Yu"s political and cultural centers.
A delegation of people entered the Capital, this should also be the time to part with the Huo"s, Murong Shu Qing got down from the carriage, she slightly greeted Huo Zi Qi and Yan Hao Yu: "Thank you for taking care of me during the journey."
Huo Zi Qi cupped his hands and smilingly said: "Miss Murong is too polite." These past few days, he actually got to be familiar with the other side of Murong Shu Qing, besides having a talent in business, she was quick-witted, sharp, and so modest to people. She also made him to leave a deep impression that having a friend like this person, should be very pleasant.
Huo Zhi Qing who was busy moving around her muscles and bones, also stopped and came to the front of Murong Shu Qing, she urgently asked: "Murong jiejie, do you really want to go?"