NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Arrival
Having instructed the innkeeper to deliver some food and chicken porridge, Jiang Huaiyu calculated her expenses. After deducting the amount she had spent since her arrival, she realized she still had a little left over. Two taels of silver for such service was quite reasonable.
On her way upstairs, she noticed three men in sturdy travel attire, weapons strapped to their waists, entering the inn. To avoid drawing attention, she turned her gaze away and quickly ascended the stairs.
Upon reaching her room, Jiang Huaiyu pushed open the door, but before she could step inside, she noticed the three men following her up the stairs.
The unsettling feeling she had been carrying these past few days resurfaced. Instinctively, she slipped inside her room and shut the door behind her.
Inside, Qin Ziqin lounged carefreely, exuding the demeanor of a young master surrounded by luxury. His nonchalant attitude, paired with an easy smile, gave the impression he belonged in a brothel rather than a simple inn.
"You—" Jiang Huaiyu started, intending to remind him to return to his own room.
Before she could finish, Qin Ziqin's expression shifted. He stood swiftly and pulled her further inside, lowering his voice.
"This time, it's my trouble. I'll have to impose on you."
Jiang Huaiyu's brows furrowed in confusion. Before she could make sense of his words, the sound of heavy knocking interrupted them. The thuds on the wooden door were sharp and urgent, like punches demanding entry.
Jiang Huaiyu glanced at Qin Ziqin, who gave her a wry smile. She realized now more than ever that she had indeed brought trouble back with her.
Still, she owed him a debt of gratitude. Steeling herself, she picked up Tangbao and walked briskly to the door. Pulling it open with force, she met the three men with a glare of annoyance.
"What's all this racket about? I've already said my husband's been resting all afternoon—don't you people have any manners?"
The three men froze at her sharp tone.
Jiang Huaiyu's gaze swept over them, her voice laced with disdain as she continued. "And who are you supposed to be?"
The men exchanged uneasy glances. Though they were assassins, they weren't brutes. They had followed a trail of blood-stained clothing to this inn, but their target was supposed to be alone.
Finally, the leader of the group spoke, his voice low. "Apologies, madam. We seem to have the wrong room."
"Wrong room?" Jiang Huaiyu's eyes narrowed as she scoffed. "Next time, get your facts straight before barging in!"
Before the men could respond, she slammed the door shut in their faces, punctuating her dismissal with a theatrical eye-roll.
Qin Ziqin, leaning casually by the window, observed the scene with amusement. As the three men retreated in orderly steps, he gave a quiet chuckle.
When Jiang Huaiyu turned around, she saw his smug smile and arched a brow. "Found a fortune on the ground?"
"No," he said, his lips quirking into a grin. "I've simply never met anyone like you before. Just when I thought I'd repaid my debt, you went ahead and saved me again. It seems I can only—"
He glanced briefly at Tangbao, deciding against saying something inappropriate.
"Become my servant?" Jiang Huaiyu interrupted with a smile. "No need for dramatic proposals of undying gratitude."
For a moment, Qin Ziqin's poised demeanor faltered. Losing his balance, he stumbled slightly before catching himself, awkwardly clearing his throat.
"Why's the food taking so long?" he muttered. "This inn's service is intolerable. I'll have to come back someday and tear the place down."
"Please do, but settle my two taels of silver first." Jiang Huaiyu calmly replied while feeding Tangbao warm sips of water.
Qin Ziqin stiffened. "Do I look like someone who would owe a paltry two taels of silver?"
"You don't just look like one," Jiang Huaiyu said with a perfectly innocent expression. "You are one."
The words were so earnestly delivered that Qin Ziqin felt a pang of indignation, the kind that made him question his life choices.
"Enough," Jiang Huaiyu said as she set the cup down. "When the food arrives, have it outside your own door, please. Let's not disrupt my child's rest any further."
She nodded toward the still-open window. "And kindly stop with the dramatic entrances. Use the door like everyone else during the day."
Qin Ziqin, thoroughly chastised, sheepishly closed the window before bidding her goodnight.
Despite himself, Qin Ziqin couldn't help but linger in thought. Originally, he had intended to return to the capital alone, but with assassins lurking, it made sense to stay and offer his protection. Still, the woman's sharp wit and unflappable demeanor intrigued him.
Meanwhile, Jiang Huaiyu spent the evening humming a soft lullaby to Tangbao, who finally called out, "Mama!"
Jiang Huaiyu's eyes widened in surprise, her heart swelling with an indescribable warmth. She had never experienced this kind of connection before—pure, unconditional love.
Her fatigue melted away as she cuddled the little boy.
"Good job, my clever little Tangbao," she murmured, her voice brimming with affection.
She gently rocked him to sleep, her own heart finally at peace.
The next morning, after breakfast, Qin Ziqin knocked on her door, his timing impeccable.
"This place isn't safe for you," he said. "We should leave immediately."
Jiang Huaiyu nodded in agreement. Together, they rented a simple, unadorned carriage to complete the last leg of their journey to the capital.
Upon reaching the gates of the grand city, they were required to dismount and present their identification. The strict inspections delayed their entry, but as Qin Ziqin stepped forward, his demeanor shifted.
With an arrogant smile and commanding presence, he suddenly exuded the air of a privileged noble. Jiang Huaiyu observed the change with mild curiosity but refrained from commenting.
Before parting ways at the gate, Qin Ziqin stopped her.
"If you encounter trouble in the capital, come find me at the Champion Marquis Residence in East City's Wuyi Lane."
Jiang Huaiyu blinked, unsure how to respond. Before she could refuse, he tossed a finely crafted token into her bag.
"Consider this my repayment," he said. "Besides, I don't like owing debts."
Then, with a carefree wave, he strode toward a separate entrance, leaving Jiang Huaiyu to ponder the significance of the token and the man who had given it to her.
As she stepped through the city gates, the bustling streets of the Daliang Empire's grandest city stretched before her, brimming with opportunities—and dangers. Finally, she had arrived.