Chapter 89.
Today, the county governor's mansion continued the extravagant revelry of last night.
Fu Wei, being mortal, had his needs after excessive drinking.
With the assistance of the Huo official, he visited the privy, and upon returning, he chose not to rush back to the hall but to enjoy a moment of breeze in the corridor.
Fu Wei gazed at the darkening sky outside the corridor, unsure of when he could return.
Compared to the indulgences here, Fu Wei longed to return to the inn and dine with Ah Ying.
Thinking of Ah Ying.
Fu Wei's expression softened, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.
“Mr. Fu, it's time to go in,” the Huo official reminded.
The smile faded from Fu Wei's face, asking the Huo official to push him to the main hall.
Returning to the main hall, the music and dance had ceased, and for some reason, the atmosphere was subdued, vastly different from when Fu Wei had left.
Where the dancer Hu Ji had previously whirled, now stood only a scout in the center of the hall.
Something the scout said enraged the governor, who suddenly stood up and exclaimed angrily, “Such a buzzkill, disperse!”
Having said this, he swept out of the hall.
As soon as the governor left, everyone in the hall began to rise and depart.
Fu Wei also left with Zhou, the county official.
Once on the carriage, he asked his colleague Qian: "What happened in the hall just now?"
Qian, lowering his voice, replied: "A scout reported that bandits collaborated with the forced laborers at the Dongyu Mountain iron mine to steal a large amount of iron ore."
Fu Wei raised his eyebrows slightly: "Where did these bandits come from?"
Qian answered: "I heard from others that these bandits from Muchun Mountain have been a major scourge in Lingnan for about twenty years. They are tall, strong, and fierce, seizing control of the mountains upon their arrival and declaring themselves kings."
"At that time, Governor Shen, newly in charge of Cangwu County, led 5,000 soldiers to suppress them, but was defeated by the less than 500 bandits. This remains a lifelong humiliation for Governor Shen, and people only whisper about it, not daring to discuss it loudly."
"Over the years, the Muchun Mountain bandits have grown stronger, but fortunately, they do not kill indiscriminately. However, they have stolen a lot of government silver and grain. Governor Shen despises them, but given their strength, he dares not act rashly."
Fu Wei tapped his knee thoughtfully before saying: "These bandits are strong and tall, like northerners. They took advantage of the terrain as soon as they arrived in Lingnan, and their victory over a much larger force suggests a deep understanding of military strategy and formation. These people—"
He looked up at Qian.
Qian nodded in understanding: "Some say they were once soldiers, but for some reason, they turned into bandits."
Fu Wei wondered: "Is there really no way to find out their background?"
Qian replied: "They are incredibly secretive, striking quietly and unexpectedly, making them difficult to guard against."
Continuing, he sighed: "Now that the bandits have robbed the Cangwu County iron mine, Governor Shen might be held accountable. The coming days will be tough for the county officials."
"These bandits have existed for many years and have stolen government silver and grain numerous times. Even if Governor Shen is held accountable, it’s unlikely he will be dismissed."
"But being held accountable means he will surely take out his frustration on his subordinates."
Fu Wei returned to the inn at the fourth quarter of the hour of Xu.
Two constables, along with Su Yu, lifted him up the stairs before knocking on the door: "Madam Yu, Mr. Fu has returned."
A slightly anxious voice came from inside the room: "Wait a moment, please."
After a short while, the door opened.
Seeing Yu Ying covering her face with her sleeve, both Fu Wei and the knocking constable were taken aback, puzzled.
Yu Ying explained, "I just applied an ointment to my face and feared it might seem disrespectful, so I covered it with my sleeve."
Hearing this, the constables cautiously carried Fu Wei into the room and then hurried away.
Once they were gone, Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying and reminded her, "They've left, and there's no one outside."
Upon hearing this, Yu Ying quickly closed the door.
Fu Wei asked her, "Why suddenly apply ointment for no apparent reason?"
After closing the door, he stood up and went to pour tea.
Turning back, Yu Ying said, "I didn't apply any. I just washed off some spots from my face earlier."
Fu Wei paused in his pouring, silently raising his head for a moment before slowly turning to look at Yu Ying as she approached.
Seeing her clean, fair face and those rosy lips... had she applied lip rouge?
Fu Wei's breath caught, his gaze fixated on her lips.
Those rosy, captivating lips.
Memories of last night's bliss suddenly flooded his mind.
Fu Wei felt a dryness in his throat, swallowing involuntarily, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He asked hoarsely, "Why did you stop using the ointment, and why suddenly apply lip rouge?"
In that instant, Fu Wei thought he was overthinking, wondering if her change today was for him.
Enchanting thoughts began to dominate his mind, prompting him to quickly avert his gaze, put down the teapot, and finish the tea in one gulp.
Yu Ying noticed Fu Wei's slight panic, realizing that he might have misunderstood, and possibly even let his thoughts wander a bit too far...
Although her mindset was more liberal than his, their relationship was only a few days old. Even if she was open-minded, things wouldn’t progress this rapidly!
She promptly offered a proper explanation: "The juice of this fruit, if applied continuously, can penetrate the skin and become difficult to remove. I didn’t wash it off before because it was cumbersome, but today, as I wanted to try the lip rouge, I washed it away in the process."
Fu Wei: ...
Indeed, he had overthought.
He quietly exhaled, banishing those fanciful thoughts from his mind.
Fu Wei turned to look at her, examining her closely before complimenting, "The color of the lip rouge suits you well."
It wasn't an overly bright red, but a light shade of red that made her skin appear even more luminous and her complexion much improved.
Yu Ying also took a seat at the table and said, "I plan to make some trial lip rouges as gifts and also sell some at the stall. With a variety of options, it should attract more customers."
Continuing, she added, "Today, when I went to the Ren Shan Medical Hall to buy materials for the lip rouge, I met Doctor Wu. He discussed the lip rouge business with me, offering to provide the containers and brand them with their hall's name, at a price of forty-five per jar for me."
Fu Wei opened a cup and placed it in front of her, pouring tea while looking at her: "Did you agree?"
Yu Ying nodded: "Of course, I agreed. It’s a profitable opportunity that came knocking; it would be foolish not to take it."
Fu Wei sat down after putting the teapot aside and said to her, "Although forty-five wen per jar is more profitable than selling at the stall, using their name to sell means you're earning less."
Yu Ying took a sip of her tea and explained, "My face cream isn't miraculous; it's just effective. Besides, currently, I'm just running a small workshop, not yet big enough to supply under my own brand. So, for now, this is the best approach. Once the business grows, I can consider other options."
Fu Wei nodded in agreement.
After drinking half a cup of tea, Yu Ying suddenly realized something, "I thought you'd come back heavily drunk from the governor's mansion today..." She sniffed the air; there was a smell of alcohol, but it wasn't strong.
"Did you have fewer social obligations today?"
Fu Wei replied, "The socializing was the same as yesterday, but the banquet ended early because a scout reported that bandits had stolen iron ore from the mine, and the governor lost his mood for the feast."
Hearing the word "bandits," Yu Ying's expression froze momentarily.
Seeing her change in expression, Fu Wei asked, "What's wrong?"
Yu Ying, regaining her composure, looked at him with a slightly complex expression.
Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Actually, there are some things I've been keeping from you. I feared they might affect your judgment, so I haven't spoken of them."
Fu Wei wasn't surprised by her confession.
He had already suspected that she was keeping many things from him. The recent revelations about his elder brother and the chaotic times were enough to overturn his understanding, let alone the unimaginable things she hadn't disclosed.
Although Fu Wei didn't know the specifics, he understood that delving deeper might bring truths even he couldn't bear, so he chose not to probe further.
Sometimes, ignorance might be problematic, but knowing too much isn't always a good thing either.
Fu Wei showed a mild smile, "I trust you. If you chose to keep something from me, it means I can handle it smoothly."
Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart from Fu Wei's understanding.
Soon, a servant from the inn brought hot water.
Pretending to tidy up the bed, Yu Ying faced away from the door, allowing the servant to enter directly.
After the servant left, Yu Ying suddenly realized something.
Fu Wei, with his mobility issues, had always washed himself inside the room while traveling.
At the inn, she had consciously left the room while he washed, but now, without the juice on her face, how could she leave?
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei, who was searching for clothes.
Hesitating, she said, "I can't go out like this either. When you wash, I'll lie on the bed and draw the bed curtains, and I absolutely won’t peek." Pausing, she blinked and asked, "Would you mind that?"
Fu Wei, picking up his change of clothes, paused, his feelings mixed.
After considering it, he honestly replied, "Actually, I don't mind. After all, I'm not the one at a disadvantage."
Yu Ying glanced at him sideways with a playful scold, "I wouldn’t peek at you."
She turned around, took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and then, looking very serious, said, "I promise I won't peek!"
Having said that, she drew the bed curtains down.
Fu Wei shook his head with a resigned smile and turned to wash behind the screen.
The sound of water in the quiet room was particularly clear, and Yu Ying could hear it even with her head covered.
Thinking of Fu Wei undressed in the room, Yu Ying couldn't help but blush.
Initially, when she first met Fu Wei, she could calmly apply medicine to him without any embarrassment, but now, why was she feeling so shy so easily?
Lost in her thoughts, the sound of water stopped.
A moment later, Fu Wei walked over to the bed and lifted the curtain, seeing her wrapped up tightly, not even showing her head, he couldn't help but laugh silently.
After lying down on the bed, Fu Wei said, "I'm dressed."
Yu Ying pulled back the quilt, revealing her flushed face, and glanced at him lightly, "It's not that I'm afraid of you being undressed."
It was just the sound of water that made her feel embarrassed and led to her wandering thoughts.
Fu Wei simply smiled, pulled the quilt over, and for the first time in full consciousness, cuddled close to her.
He asked, "May I hold you as we sleep?"
Yu Ying, holding the quilt, hesitated for a moment before nodding. As she slightly lifted her upper body, Fu Wei’s arm slid underneath, pulling her into his embrace.
In that instant, Fu Wei was also nervous.
The two lay in each other's arms in silence, enjoying the peaceful moment.
Without overly intimate actions, their embrace transmitted warmth to each other, bringing a sense of joy and comfort to both body and mind.
Chapter 89.
Today, the county governor's mansion continued the extravagant revelry of last night.
Fu Wei, being mortal, had his needs after excessive drinking.
With the assistance of the Huo official, he visited the privy, and upon returning, he chose not to rush back to the hall but to enjoy a moment of breeze in the corridor.
Fu Wei gazed at the darkening sky outside the corridor, unsure of when he could return.
Compared to the indulgences here, Fu Wei longed to return to the inn and dine with Ah Ying.
Thinking of Ah Ying.
Fu Wei's expression softened, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.
“Mr. Fu, it's time to go in,” the Huo official reminded.
The smile faded from Fu Wei's face, asking the Huo official to push him to the main hall.
Returning to the main hall, the music and dance had ceased, and for some reason, the atmosphere was subdued, vastly different from when Fu Wei had left.
Where the dancer Hu Ji had previously whirled, now stood only a scout in the center of the hall.
Something the scout said enraged the governor, who suddenly stood up and exclaimed angrily, “Such a buzzkill, disperse!”
Having said this, he swept out of the hall.
As soon as the governor left, everyone in the hall began to rise and depart.
Fu Wei also left with Zhou, the county official.
Once on the carriage, he asked his colleague Qian: "What happened in the hall just now?"
Qian, lowering his voice, replied: "A scout reported that bandits collaborated with the forced laborers at the Dongyu Mountain iron mine to steal a large amount of iron ore."
Fu Wei raised his eyebrows slightly: "Where did these bandits come from?"
Qian answered: "I heard from others that these bandits from Muchun Mountain have been a major scourge in Lingnan for about twenty years. They are tall, strong, and fierce, seizing control of the mountains upon their arrival and declaring themselves kings."
"At that time, Governor Shen, newly in charge of Cangwu County, led 5,000 soldiers to suppress them, but was defeated by the less than 500 bandits. This remains a lifelong humiliation for Governor Shen, and people only whisper about it, not daring to discuss it loudly."
"Over the years, the Muchun Mountain bandits have grown stronger, but fortunately, they do not kill indiscriminately. However, they have stolen a lot of government silver and grain. Governor Shen despises them, but given their strength, he dares not act rashly."
Fu Wei tapped his knee thoughtfully before saying: "These bandits are strong and tall, like northerners. They took advantage of the terrain as soon as they arrived in Lingnan, and their victory over a much larger force suggests a deep understanding of military strategy and formation. These people—"
He looked up at Qian.
Qian nodded in understanding: "Some say they were once soldiers, but for some reason, they turned into bandits."
Fu Wei wondered: "Is there really no way to find out their background?"
Qian replied: "They are incredibly secretive, striking quietly and unexpectedly, making them difficult to guard against."
Continuing, he sighed: "Now that the bandits have robbed the Cangwu County iron mine, Governor Shen might be held accountable. The coming days will be tough for the county officials."
"These bandits have existed for many years and have stolen government silver and grain numerous times. Even if Governor Shen is held accountable, it’s unlikely he will be dismissed."
"But being held accountable means he will surely take out his frustration on his subordinates."
Fu Wei returned to the inn at the fourth quarter of the hour of Xu.
Two constables, along with Su Yu, lifted him up the stairs before knocking on the door: "Madam Yu, Mr. Fu has returned."
A slightly anxious voice came from inside the room: "Wait a moment, please."
After a short while, the door opened.
Seeing Yu Ying covering her face with her sleeve, both Fu Wei and the knocking constable were taken aback, puzzled.
Yu Ying explained, "I just applied an ointment to my face and feared it might seem disrespectful, so I covered it with my sleeve."
Hearing this, the constables cautiously carried Fu Wei into the room and then hurried away.
Once they were gone, Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying and reminded her, "They've left, and there's no one outside."
Upon hearing this, Yu Ying quickly closed the door.
Fu Wei asked her, "Why suddenly apply ointment for no apparent reason?"
After closing the door, he stood up and went to pour tea.
Turning back, Yu Ying said, "I didn't apply any. I just washed off some spots from my face earlier."
Fu Wei paused in his pouring, silently raising his head for a moment before slowly turning to look at Yu Ying as she approached.
Seeing her clean, fair face and those rosy lips... had she applied lip rouge?
Fu Wei's breath caught, his gaze fixated on her lips.
Those rosy, captivating lips.
Memories of last night's bliss suddenly flooded his mind.
Fu Wei felt a dryness in his throat, swallowing involuntarily, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He asked hoarsely, "Why did you stop using the ointment, and why suddenly apply lip rouge?"
In that instant, Fu Wei thought he was overthinking, wondering if her change today was for him.
Enchanting thoughts began to dominate his mind, prompting him to quickly avert his gaze, put down the teapot, and finish the tea in one gulp.
Yu Ying noticed Fu Wei's slight panic, realizing that he might have misunderstood, and possibly even let his thoughts wander a bit too far...
Although her mindset was more liberal than his, their relationship was only a few days old. Even if she was open-minded, things wouldn’t progress this rapidly!
She promptly offered a proper explanation: "The juice of this fruit, if applied continuously, can penetrate the skin and become difficult to remove. I didn’t wash it off before because it was cumbersome, but today, as I wanted to try the lip rouge, I washed it away in the process."
Fu Wei: ...
Indeed, he had overthought.
He quietly exhaled, banishing those fanciful thoughts from his mind.
Fu Wei turned to look at her, examining her closely before complimenting, "The color of the lip rouge suits you well."
It wasn't an overly bright red, but a light shade of red that made her skin appear even more luminous and her complexion much improved.
Yu Ying also took a seat at the table and said, "I plan to make some trial lip rouges as gifts and also sell some at the stall. With a variety of options, it should attract more customers."
Continuing, she added, "Today, when I went to the Ren Shan Medical Hall to buy materials for the lip rouge, I met Doctor Wu. He discussed the lip rouge business with me, offering to provide the containers and brand them with their hall's name, at a price of forty-five per jar for me."
Fu Wei opened a cup and placed it in front of her, pouring tea while looking at her: "Did you agree?"
Yu Ying nodded: "Of course, I agreed. It’s a profitable opportunity that came knocking; it would be foolish not to take it."
Fu Wei sat down after putting the teapot aside and said to her, "Although forty-five wen per jar is more profitable than selling at the stall, using their name to sell means you're earning less."
Yu Ying took a sip of her tea and explained, "My face cream isn't miraculous; it's just effective. Besides, currently, I'm just running a small workshop, not yet big enough to supply under my own brand. So, for now, this is the best approach. Once the business grows, I can consider other options."
Fu Wei nodded in agreement.
After drinking half a cup of tea, Yu Ying suddenly realized something, "I thought you'd come back heavily drunk from the governor's mansion today..." She sniffed the air; there was a smell of alcohol, but it wasn't strong.
"Did you have fewer social obligations today?"
Fu Wei replied, "The socializing was the same as yesterday, but the banquet ended early because a scout reported that bandits had stolen iron ore from the mine, and the governor lost his mood for the feast."
Hearing the word "bandits," Yu Ying's expression froze momentarily.
Seeing her change in expression, Fu Wei asked, "What's wrong?"
Yu Ying, regaining her composure, looked at him with a slightly complex expression.
Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Actually, there are some things I've been keeping from you. I feared they might affect your judgment, so I haven't spoken of them."
Fu Wei wasn't surprised by her confession.
He had already suspected that she was keeping many things from him. The recent revelations about his elder brother and the chaotic times were enough to overturn his understanding, let alone the unimaginable things she hadn't disclosed.
Although Fu Wei didn't know the specifics, he understood that delving deeper might bring truths even he couldn't bear, so he chose not to probe further.
Sometimes, ignorance might be problematic, but knowing too much isn't always a good thing either.
Fu Wei showed a mild smile, "I trust you. If you chose to keep something from me, it means I can handle it smoothly."
Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart from Fu Wei's understanding.
Soon, a servant from the inn brought hot water.
Pretending to tidy up the bed, Yu Ying faced away from the door, allowing the servant to enter directly.
After the servant left, Yu Ying suddenly realized something.
Fu Wei, with his mobility issues, had always washed himself inside the room while traveling.
At the inn, she had consciously left the room while he washed, but now, without the juice on her face, how could she leave?
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei, who was searching for clothes.
Hesitating, she said, "I can't go out like this either. When you wash, I'll lie on the bed and draw the bed curtains, and I absolutely won’t peek." Pausing, she blinked and asked, "Would you mind that?"
Fu Wei, picking up his change of clothes, paused, his feelings mixed.
After considering it, he honestly replied, "Actually, I don't mind. After all, I'm not the one at a disadvantage."
Yu Ying glanced at him sideways with a playful scold, "I wouldn’t peek at you."
She turned around, took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and then, looking very serious, said, "I promise I won't peek!"
Having said that, she drew the bed curtains down.
Fu Wei shook his head with a resigned smile and turned to wash behind the screen.
The sound of water in the quiet room was particularly clear, and Yu Ying could hear it even with her head covered.
Thinking of Fu Wei undressed in the room, Yu Ying couldn't help but blush.
Initially, when she first met Fu Wei, she could calmly apply medicine to him without any embarrassment, but now, why was she feeling so shy so easily?
Lost in her thoughts, the sound of water stopped.
A moment later, Fu Wei walked over to the bed and lifted the curtain, seeing her wrapped up tightly, not even showing her head, he couldn't help but laugh silently.
After lying down on the bed, Fu Wei said, "I'm dressed."
Yu Ying pulled back the quilt, revealing her flushed face, and glanced at him lightly, "It's not that I'm afraid of you being undressed."
It was just the sound of water that made her feel embarrassed and led to her wandering thoughts.
Fu Wei simply smiled, pulled the quilt over, and for the first time in full consciousness, cuddled close to her.
He asked, "May I hold you as we sleep?"
Yu Ying, holding the quilt, hesitated for a moment before nodding. As she slightly lifted her upper body, Fu Wei’s arm slid underneath, pulling her into his embrace.
In that instant, Fu Wei was also nervous.
The two lay in each other's arms in silence, enjoying the peaceful moment.
Without overly intimate actions, their embrace transmitted warmth to each other, bringing a sense of joy and comfort to both body and mind.
