mtl008 Chapter 413 Reencounter with Cui Yu'an
Chapter 413 Reencounter with Cui Yu'an
She bowed slightly and thanked him again solemnly: "I am deeply grateful."
"Once this matter is resolved and I return to the capital to report, I will certainly speak highly of you two before His Majesty, praising your achievements and benevolence."
Upon hearing her words, Cui Yu'an smiled sheepishly and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Miss Shi, you flatter me."
"Sharing the nation's burdens and relieving the people's difficulties is our duty, and there is no merit to speak of."
"Besides, I'd be happy to do something for Chuzhou."
He looked at Shi Wanxia with sincere eyes, which held an indescribable radiance.
He was indeed happy.
On the one hand, being able to contribute to the people of Chuzhou made him feel that his trip was meaningful;
On the other hand, the joy of seeing Shi Wanxia again and seeing her safe and sound was indescribable.
Since their last parting, he has often thought of this righteous, kind, and resilient girl.
He admired her intelligence and courage, and respected her patriotism. Unconsciously, that admiration quietly changed, and he developed some inexplicable feelings.
However, he was already engaged to the Wang family and had no choice in the matter, so his feelings could only be kept deep in his heart and could not be expressed.
All he could do was lend a helping hand when she needed it.
Wang Jinqian, standing to the side, listened quietly to their conversation, maintaining a polite smile throughout, gentle and graceful, leaving no room for criticism.
But only she knew that when she heard Cui Yu'an's caring words to Shi Wanxia and saw the exceptionally bright look in his eyes when he looked at Shi Wanxia, her heart felt as if it had been gently stung by something, leaving her feeling dull and somewhat uncomfortable.
She knew Cui Yu'an's character and understood that he didn't mean it; perhaps it was just out of concern for his friend.
Their marriage was arranged by their families, and she always behaved very well, maintaining the dignity and poise of a lady from a prominent family.
But at this moment, looking at the scene before her, a subtle, bittersweet feeling, which didn't belong to her, still quietly crept into her heart.
But she quickly suppressed her discomfort, her face still bearing a peaceful smile, and said softly to Shi Wanxia, "Miss Shi, there's no need to be so polite. Young Master Cui is right, this is what we should do."
"Miss, you've just woken up. Your health is important. You should rest well first. I'll have the maid bring you some more hot porridge."
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Wang. I'll have to trouble you then," Shi Wanxia replied gratefully.
The atmosphere in the carriage became somewhat subtle. Cui Yu'an wanted to say something more, but didn't know where to begin. He simply looked at Shi Wanxia's pale face and told her to take good care of herself.
Wang Jinqian instructed the maid to prepare porridge, while she picked up a book from the side, seemingly flipping through it, but her eyes inadvertently glanced at Cui Yu'an and Shi Wanxia.
The carriage continued to move smoothly, the sound of its wheels rolling over the road monotonously and regularly.
Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the gaps in the carriage curtains, casting dappled light and shadows inside the carriage. The three people's thoughts were enveloped in this hazy halo, each harboring their own untold feelings.
Meanwhile, in the distant city of Chuzhou, they await the hope and support they bring. A battle for survival is about to change quietly because of their arrival.
The midsummer breeze, carrying a hint of warmth, swept through the courtyard of the temporarily resting post station.
Cui Jiu had just retrieved some warm water from the kitchen and was walking along when a maidservant responsible for looking after the inner room hurriedly came out to greet him, her face beaming with undisguised joy.
"Guard Cui, he's awake! Lord Shi is awake!"
Cui Jiu's hand paused abruptly on the copper kettle, warm steam rising from his fingertips. Almost instinctively, he was about to step into the inner room.
Behind that half-open door lay the man they had been searching for for days, the man who had nearly broken the young master's heart.
Since rescuing her from unconsciousness by the river two days ago, Cui Jiu's heart had been in suspense. Now, upon hearing that she had awakened, a huge weight was lifted from his heart, and he could not contain his anxiety.
However, he stopped abruptly after taking only half a foot.
The moonlight was just right in the courtyard, casting dappled shadows through the sparse branches and leaves, and the air still carried the fresh scent of morning dew.
He was a man, while Lady Shi, though holding an official position, was ultimately a woman.
At this moment, in broad daylight, she had just escaped danger and woken up, exhausted both physically and mentally. If he were to rashly barge into the inner room to visit her, it would be improper, and he would also be afraid that rumors would spread, damaging her reputation for integrity.
Cui Jiu clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white, and the urgency in his eyes was gradually replaced by restraint.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart, and said to the maid in a deep voice, "Take good care of him. If Master Shi has any instructions or if he is unwell, report back immediately. I'll be right back."
The maidservant quickly agreed and turned to go back into the inner room.
Cui Jiu stared at the tightly closed door for a long time without moving until he was sure there was nothing unusual inside before turning around and walking quickly towards the backyard of the post station.
The carrier pigeons they brought were tied there, the fastest way to send messages to the outside world.
He fetched a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and hastily began writing at the stone table under the eaves.
The pen tip glided across the paper with such force that it almost pierced through the paper, yet the handwriting remained neat and clear: "To the young master, Lord Shi has been found and rescued in the river. He awoke this morning and is currently out of danger. We are escorting him back and will arrive in Chuzhou soon. Respectfully yours, Jiu Kou."
His few words, however brief, extinguished all his composure at that moment.
After carefully rolling up the letter and tying it to the pigeon's leg band, Cui Jiu walked to the courtyard wall and watched as the gray-feathered pigeon took flight, circled twice, and then sped off towards Chuzhou.
"Young master, please don't worry, Lord Shi is alright..."
He gazed in the direction where the pigeons had disappeared, muttering to himself, a hint of relief finally appearing in his eyes.
Judging from the way his young master has been these past two days, he's practically pushing himself to the brink of despair. This letter is the best medicine to save his life.
The turbid river water rushed on and on, carrying the chill of early spring, slapping against the blue stones on the bank with a dull sound.
Cui Zhihao's blue robe was already disheveled by the wind, his hair stuck to his sweaty forehead, and his eyes were covered with dark circles. His once gentle and refined face now only showed a haggard and dejected look.
He has been guarding this place for two days and two nights.
He was struck dumb as soon as he learned that Shi Wanxia had disappeared in Chuzhou.
Ignoring everyone's advice, he personally led a search along both banks of the canal. From the first light of dawn to the deepest twilight, and then until the stars and moon were out, he walked countless miles, calling out names that were scattered on the river by the wind, but he never received any response.
"Brother Cui! Calm down!"
Lin Yiyu gripped his arm tightly, her voice filled with anxiety.
Just now, Cui Zhihao looked at the rushing river, a resolute glint in his eyes, and suddenly broke free from their obstruction, about to jump into the river.
"let me go!"
Choi Ji-ho's voice was hoarse and broken, his eyes bloodshot, "Wanwan must have fallen into the water... I'm going to find her, I'm going to be with her..."
"What nonsense!"
Zhao Hu's eyes widened, and he hugged Shi tightly around the waist from the other side, gruffly urging, "Lord Shi is a lucky man, he'll surely be alright! We haven't even searched every place yet, how can we give up like this?"
"If you jump down, who will you confront when Master Shi comes back?"
Lin Yiyu quickly chimed in, "Yes, Brother Cui, think about it, how could Sister Shi, who is so intelligent and resilient, be so easily harmed?"
"Perhaps she's just trapped somewhere, waiting for us to rescue her. If you collapse, who will take charge?"