Lou Xiyan, the very person she was desperate to evade, now sat composed and at ease, leisurely observing him. In stark contrast, she had run a long, exhausting circuit, leaving herself utterly disheveled—only to now walk right into a trap."What a coincidence, meeting again," came the clear, lightly amused male voice, tinged with an almost suppressed smile.
Coincidence... Zhuo Qing felt a surge of helplessness—this was no game to be played so cruelly! Frozen by the carriage door, she found herself trapped, lowering her head in frustration. Her gaze fell on the pale green hem tied around her waist, and a flicker of resolve brightened her eyes. She silently admonished herself to remain calm—he might not recognize her!
Raising her eyes to meet Lou Xiyan's subtly lifted gaze, Zhuo Qing's despair deepened—if he didn't recognize her, that would be a miracle! Knowing it was self-deception, she still cleared her throat lightly, gently tugged down her skirt, and retreated a step while speaking in what she believed to be her softest tone:"Excuse me, I seem to have taken the wrong carriage."
Lou Xiyan arched a delicate brow, his clear, smooth voice carrying a hint of amusement as he murmured,"I thought you might say you were just passing by~"
Zhuo Qing stiffened and shot him a fierce glare. As she looked up, the crimson bruise on her throat was unmistakable. Lou Xiyan's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression shifting, and he asked,"Are you hurt?"
Brushing her still tender throat, where the blood had mostly clotted, Zhuo Qing replied nonchalantly,"It's nothing, just a scrape."
What ached more now was her waist! Women clearly weren't suited for rough struggles—unless, of course, they were like Gu Yun, a woman with mutated genes! She cursed inwardly when suddenly her wrist was gripped. Snapping back to reality, she found herself drawn onto the soft bench of the carriage. Noticing the large stain of blood on the back of her neck, Lou Xiyan's heart tightened.
Feeling the slight pain in her wrist, Zhuo Qing glanced at him. His deep eyes were fixed intently on the blood at her neck. Remembering the bearded man had sprayed her with blood, she quickly said,"That's not my blood!"
Lou Xiyan gently lifted a corner of her collar—indeed, there was only bloodstain, no wound. This woman was no ordinary one; in just an hour outside, she had managed to attract a 'bloodbath'.
The itch on her neck was unfamiliar and irritating. Struggling to stand, she was pressed back down by Lou Xiyan's firm hand. His voice was calm yet deeper than usual,"Don't move."
Zhuo Qing looked up as Lou Xiyan fetched a plain white handkerchief from the carriage. One hand raised her chin, the other delicately wrapped the silk around her neck. His touch was cool. So close, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted from him—subtle and refined, far more pleasant than common men's cologne. His nearly flawless profile hovered before her eyes, causing her to struggle for breath. Yet she stubbornly refused to admit she was captivated, blaming instead the tightness of the silk.
Noticing her growing rigidity, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Lou Xiyan's lips. When necessary, even the allure of beauty was a tactic. He worked with increasing gentleness, taking his time to tie the knot. Zhuo Qing cursed silently—he was deliberately taking his time! Was such close proximity truly necessary for dressing a wound?
Finally finished, Lou Xiyan stepped back. Zhuo Qing awkwardly withdrew and stood, saying,"Thank you. I'll be going now."
Even if he knew she was the boy in the gray robe, he had no reason to detain her—unless—
"Qingfeng, if you leave like this and the Emperor finds out, your sisters may suffer for it. Even Haoyue Kingdom might not escape disaster."
His voice was gentle, light, tinged with a nonchalant smile that almost drove Zhuo Qing mad. Infuriated, she snapped,"Are you threatening me?"
She was not Qingfeng. He'd better not think to intimidate her! Impossible.
Lou Xiyan settled cross-legged against the carriage, his smile calm as he replied,"Miss Qing, you wrong me. I never resort to empty threats."
His casual posture, far from coarse, conveyed an elegance tinged with ease. Unfortunately, Zhuo Qing had no mood to appreciate it—he was too vindictive, throwing her own words back at her.
Calming herself with deep breaths, Zhuo Qing finally sat beside him, taunting,"So, Chancellor Lou, what is it you want?"
Seeing her effort to restrain her temper, Lou Xiyan smiled quietly and answered softly,"In truth, Miss Qing need not worry. Inviting you to the Chancellor's residence is not to trouble you. The Emperor's favor is vast, and I have no choice but to accept it. With your injury, the residence is a safer place to recuperate. I shall also endeavor to arrange a meeting with your sisters. How does that sound?"
Sisters? She had fainted alongside Gu Yun—could one of Qing's sisters be Gu Yun? Though unlikely, Zhuo Qing wanted to meet them all; she would seize every opportunity.
Looking Lou Xiyan squarely in the eyes, she asked gravely,"Can you truly let me see them?"
The bait was taken. With gentle brows and sincere tone, Lou Xiyan declared,"I shall do my utmost."
Zhuo Qing rolled her eyes—such a perfunctory answer, she was hardly convinced."I want a clear yes or no."
A spark of amusement flickered in Lou Xiyan's eyes as he nodded slowly and resolutely said,"Yes."
Only a matter of timing.
After pondering, Zhuo Qing asked again,"If I go to the Chancellor's residence, am I to be your concubine?"
Lou Xiyan's face was earnest as he smiled,"Certainly a distinguished guest."
The Emperor had already granted her to him—the status was decided, concubine or not was out of his hands.
"Am I free to come and go at the residence?"
He nodded indifferently, responding generously,"Yes."
Freedom, albeit under his supervision.
Zhuo Qing agreed readily,"Deal!"
She had no choice—penniless and wounded, with Lou Xiyan having cornered her after the long chase, escape was impossible. Even if released, where would she find the money? A wise person knew when to yield; for now, she would submit.
Whether Zhuo Qing would remain so carefree after hearing Lou Xiyan's full explanation was unknown—but at this moment, ignorance was bliss.
"Return to the residence."
The light command reflected the master's good mood.
"Yes."
Hearing the voice outside, Zhuo Qing stiffened once more. She drew aside the curtain to see Mo Bai standing proudly beside the carriage, his cold expression untouched. When his eyes met hers, a flash of mocking cunning flickered.
Could it be that everything today was orchestrated by Lou Xiyan? Had he masterminded it all? A chill ran down her spine—had she escaped the tiger's mouth only to fall into the wolf's den?
Inside the carriage, Lou Xiyan and Zhuo Qing occupied opposite sides. With the trip to the Chancellor's residence inevitable, Zhuo Qing ceased worrying. Ever adaptable, she considered any place a home.
After the turmoil, a dizzy haze settled over her. Fortunately, the carriage ride was steady. Propping her head up, she glanced sideways at Lou Xiyan. He lowered his head, engrossed in a book. Whether habitual or not, his lips seemed perpetually curved. Honestly, he was handsome—yet Zhuo Qing could not feel any warmth from that smile, only the polite distance of a practiced professional courtesy.