Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Yu Chiyi played dumb and asked with a smile, "Isn't this the guard of the Liu family? Are you accompanying the Liu family's young master out of the capital? Where are you off to for trade this time?"

Guo Laidong looked at him suspiciously. Yu Chiyi wasn't wearing his official robe, just a plain green robe, and in broad daylight, he didn't seem like someone who would rob.

He glanced behind Yu Chiyi and saw two people sitting on a tall black horse. The figure in front of Yu Chiyou was clad in plain white, wearing a veil hat that obscured their face, but their figure looked somewhat familiar.

Guo Laidong was momentarily taken aback. Yu Chiyou and Su Yu were practically inseparable, so he immediately guessed that the person riding with Yu Chiyou was Su Yu. But that only deepened his confusion. Wasn't this Xie Yiguan's cousin? Why was she leaving the capital with Yu Chiyi now?

He pressed his lips together tightly. This 'Su Da' character, whether she was Xie Yiguan's cousin or not, always dressed in men's attire and rubbed shoulders with young high-ranking officials like Cui Xuan and Yu Chiyi. Recalling Liu Wushi's attitude towards Su Yu, he figured Su Yu was no ordinary person. It would be best if their young master didn't have any more contact with her.

So when faced with Yu Chiyi's question, Guo Laidong played dumb and shook his head, "I’ve got some business in Tongzhou. Our young master..."

"Guo San, what are you doing over there?" Just as Guo Laidong was about to say that Liu Wushi wasn't with him, Liu Wushi called out to him from nearby.

Liu Wushi looked over and instantly spotted Su Yu. Even though Su Yu was wearing a veil hat, he recognized her instantly. His face lit up with surprise, "Why are you here?"

Yu Chiyi greeted him, "Young Master Liu."

It was only then that Liu Wushi noticed Yu Chiyi was there too. He paused for a moment before returning the greeting, clenching his fist and asking, "General Yu, why are you here?"

Yu Chiyi shook his head at him, "Young Master Liu, you can call me by my courtesy name Zhongyun, or just call me Yu Chier."

Hinting that Liu Wushi should keep their identities under wraps.

He then looked at Su Yu, waiting for her to help him answer Liu Wushi's question.

Su Yu countered with a question, "Isn't this a long journey for you?"

Liu Wushi had left the capital two days prior, so he didn't know that the emperor had also left the capital and had no clue that Su Yu’s travels were tied to the emperor.

Recently, the ghost market incident, whether because of Yu Chiyi or Xie Yiguan, had not affected the Liu family at all. Seeing that the storm had passed, Liu Wushi left the capital with his merchant group. This time, he was heading north to Shuozhou. He had previously made an agreement with horse merchants from the northern desert to bring in a herd of horses during the winter. The horses bought at this time were the cheapest.

If Yu Chiyi hadn't been there, he wouldn’t have hesitated to share his plans with Su Yu, but with Yu Chiyi present...

Liu Wushi eyed Yu Chiyi warily.

Yu Chiyi: "..." Why are you looking at me like that? The culprit is standing right here!

Su Yu said softly, "If it's inconvenient to say, just pretend I didn't ask. Yu Chier is escorting me to Taiyuan. I didn't expect to meet Young Master Liu on the way. Ayou, help me down."

Yu Chiyou jumped off the horse, but Yu Chiyi beat him to it.

Taking advantage of his height, Yu Chiyi effortlessly lifted Su Yu down from the horse. Both uncle and nephew thought nothing of it. After all, the emperor couldn't even get on and off a horse by herself. If Su Yu weren’t the emperor, Yu Chiyi would have laughed at her to death.

But in Liu Wushi's eyes, such behavior was overly intimate.

He pressed his lips together tightly and asked with a hint of jealousy, "Doesn't Yu Chier have duties to attend to?"

Yu Chiyi said nonchalantly, "That? It's nothing important."

Su Yu was quite familiar with the overall map of Great Qi. She pointed ahead, "Isn't that Tongzhou city up ahead? Let's go in and rest for a bit."

She then smiled at Liu Wushi, "Well, we'll be on our way now. We'll see each other again in the capital."

Seeing that Su Yu didn't linger with Liu Wushi, Guo Laidong was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard Liu Wushi call out to her, "Wait! We're also heading into Tongzhou city. Why don't we go together?"

Guo Laidong looked at Liu Wushi, wanting to say something but holding back. He figured he’d need to find a chance to warn their young master.

Tongzhou City was a mandatory stop on the way from the capital to Taiyuan. As a crucial city in the Guanzhong region, its prosperity was second only to the capital, thanks to its proximity.

However, as soon as Su Yu entered the city, she noticed that the gap between rich and poor in Tongzhou was pretty glaring. Wealthy households were everywhere, yet the ordinary citizens appeared malnourished and hungry.

As they entered the city, beggars sitting by the gate swarmed them, asking for coins and food.

Guo Laidong, accustomed to such scenes, waved them off directly. With his fierce appearance and strong build, he looked like a formidable warrior, and the beggars didn’t dare to push their luck.

Liu Wushi was also used to this, but suddenly remembering Su Yu was with them, he quickly turned to look at her. However, the veil of her hat obscured her face, making it impossible for him to see her expression.

He said, a bit on edge, "These beggars are part of gangs. If you give to one, a whole group will follow and pester you, so it's best not to give them money."

Though they looked ragged, these beggars were actually part of the local 'Beggar Gang.' They divided the city into territories, begging from outsiders and extorting locals, sometimes even resorting to theft.

Su Yu nodded with a smile, "Liu Wushi is familiar with these things, so we’ll follow his lead."

Her tone was soft, with no hint of annoyance, which relieved Liu Wushi. He seized the chance to step past Yu Chiyi and stand next to Su Yu, "Is this your first time in Tongzhou? I often come here, and the Liu family has a business here. If you're not in a hurry, I can show you around the city."

"Would that hold up your work?" Su Yu asked.

Liu Wushi waved his hand quickly, "Not at all. Are you in a hurry to get to Taiyuan?"

Su Yu replied, "We are in a bit of a hurry, but we can stay in Tongzhou for half a day. Traveling by horse was faster than with a large group, so I have time to spare and planned to stop in several important towns along the way."

Though wary of Yu Chiyi, Liu Wushi couldn’t help but tell Su Yu his plans, "I'm heading to Shuozhou, which is on the way to Taiyuan. Would you like to travel together?"

Su Yu stopped abruptly and fell silent, looking troubled.

Liu Wushi immediately understood that she must be concerned about being the only girl among a group of men. However, with the burly Yu Chiyi by her side, he was sure he could be more considerate.

He quickly said, "There are Liu family businesses along the way where we can stay, and each night we'll have separate rooms. You don't need to worry." He was determined to protect her and ensure she wasn't disturbed by the other men.

Yu Chiyi thought Liu Wushi was acting a bit too eager around Su Yu. He frowned, then his face lit up, placing a hand on Liu Wushi's shoulder while holding the reins of his horse, "Are you going to Shuozhou to buy horses?"

Liu Wushi: "..." He had been worried Yu Chiyi would find out.

He forced a smile and said, "No, but if you’re looking for horses, I can help."

"That’d be a hassle, but if you could snag me some Baicha iron-hoofed horses from the north, I’d be grateful," Yu Chiyi grinned.

Liu Wushi: "..." You seem quite comfortable asking!

Using his arm strength, Yu Chiyi swapped places with Liu Wushi, positioning himself next to Su Yu and whispering in her ear, "The Baicha iron-hoofed horses aren’t as tall as Dayuan horses, but they’re tough and have sturdy hooves, perfect for rough terrain. They’d be good for learning to ride."

After all, Su Yu was the emperor of Great Qi and couldn't remain unable to ride a horse.

"Want to learn to ride?" Liu Wushi cut in, squeezing between Su Yu and Yu Chiyi, and asked with a smile, "When the time comes, I'll help you pick a small, gentle horse. Once you've learned, I have several tall Dayuan horses you can choose from."

Yu Chiyi: "..." This Liu Wushi is really strange, always trying to stand between him and the emperor...

"General Wei is entering the city! Clear the way for him!"

Out of nowhere, hoofbeats echoed behind them. Before Liu Wushi could get to Su Yu, Yu Chiyi yanked her back a few steps, dodging the charging horses.

After dozens of horses entered the city, although they slowed down, their speed was still quite fast. The citizens in the city seemed to have already gotten used to it. Upon hearing the repeated shouts, they skillfully made way, allowing the speeding horses to pass.

The wind raised by the galloping horses blew open the veil of the hat, revealing Su Yu's face.

The young general leading the way should be the "General Yu" they mentioned. Although he had already ridden a considerable distance away, he suddenly turned back, looking at Su Yu from afar through the crowd. Despite it being just a glance, Su Yu keenly noticed that the horse under the young general had slowed down.

She quickly turned to Liu Wushi and said, "Your looks are too noticeable. It's better not to provoke these military men. Let's leave quickly."

Liu Wushi said with a hint of grievance, "Don't worry, Su Yu. The Liu family has already arranged everything here. I've met General Yu privately a few times. My looks won't cause you any trouble. Once we're on the road, I'll hide my face. I won't delay your trip to Taiyuan."

Su Yu, pushing through the crowd towards the city gate, said to him, "I've thought about it. If we don't tour Tongzhou City, I can reach Puzhou before dark. So, I won't be going with you."

Su Yu led Wei Chi Yi and Wei Chi You away in a hurry.

Leaving Liu Wushi standing there, dumbfounded.

After a while, Liu Wushi finally reacted and turned to ask Guo Laidong, "If we take care of things in Tongzhou now, can we also reach Puzhou before dark?"

Guo Laidong hesitated, "...Young master, with Inspector Xie's cousin already accompanied by General Wei, it might not be right for us to join them..."

Liu Wushi understood Guo Laidong's look and his face turned cold.

"So it’s you, Young Master Liu."

Before Liu Wushi could get angry with Guo Laidong, he looked up and saw General Yu, who had already ridden past, turn back.

The tall and handsome general not only turned back but also jumped off his horse, scanning the area, and then asked, "Where’s the veiled girl who was standing next to you?"

Liu Wushi was secretly startled but pretended to be confused, "It was just me and Guo San standing here just now. I don't know who General Yu is referring to."

He quickly turned to ask Guo Laidong, "Did you see someone with a veil standing here?"

Guo Laidong immediately said, "I believe I saw someone, but that person was wearing a long robe, appeared to be a man. I don't see him now. Maybe he entered the city."

General Yu frowned, "But she was wearing a veil..."

In Great Qi, veils are usually worn by girls.

Liu Wushi said, "General Yu may not know, but young men have started wearing veils."

Actually, veils were originally worn by men outside the pass to protect against wind and sand. Later, when it spread inside the pass, girls found it beautiful and started wearing veils, while men wore them less. Especially in the early days of Great Qi, which valued martial prowess, young men felt that wearing veils diminished their masculinity, so they stopped wearing them. But no matter the era, fashion is cyclical. In recent years, Great Qi has increasingly valued literature, and the aesthetic for young men has returned to the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties, valuing fairness. Young men in the capital have started wearing veils again to protect their fair skin from the sun.

"With that look, it’s impossible..." General Yu wanted to say, even if dressed as a man, with that appearance, how could it be a man...

But he glanced at Liu Wushi, and they fell into a long silence.

General Yu’s face turned as dark as a storm cloud. He couldn’t have the bad luck to fall for a man twice, could he? No, he must find that person and confirm their identity!

After General Yu rode away, Liu Wushi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Su Yu left in time, otherwise, General Yu wouldn’t have backed down easily.

The first time General Yu met him, he mistook him for a girl. He said he was a man, but General Yu didn't believe it until he stripped to prove it.

But Su Yu is a real girl, how could she let General Yu confirm her identity!

Guo Laidong glanced at Liu Wushi and whispered, "Young master, she’s with General Yu."

Whether male or female, Wei Chi Yi could leave the capital to follow and protect her, so she was definitely not an ordinary person.

He paused, then added under Liu Wushi's dark expression, "She was supposed to tour Tongzhou City but suddenly left the city. This kind of alertness isn’t typical for an ordinary person, young master..."

Su Yu had just left when General Wei returned. What are the odds of that happening?

Liu Wushi paused for a moment, defending Su Yu: "This is just a coincidence. She was already planning to go to Taiyuan. If she were truly scheming, she wouldn’t have told me where she was going..."

To prove his point, Liu Wushi quickly wrapped up his business in Tongzhou and, together with Guo Laidong, arrived in Puzhou before the city gates closed.

But Puzhou was a big city, and tracking someone down wasn’t easy. With curfew nearing, Liu Wushi had to head to the Liu family’s business in Puzhou first. He planned to wait at Puzhou’s city gate early the next morning, hoping to meet Su Yu.

The layout of Puzhou City was modeled after the capital, with both an east and west market. The Liu family’s business was located in the west market of Puzhou City, and next to it was an inn.

Perhaps restless, Liu Wushi, who had already stepped into the business, suddenly stepped back and looked up at the neighboring inn. This time, he actually spotted the person he was searching for.

The setting sun’s last rays lit up the inn’s second-floor windowsill and the face resting on it. As if sensing something, she slowly turned her head and looked down, her eyes meeting Liu Wushi’s directly.

Her beautiful peach blossom eyes crinkled into a smile at him.

A glance that felt like an eternity.

Liu Wushi's heart pounded, beating rapidly. His feet turned in that direction, and before Guo Laidong could stop him, he had already rushed into the adjacent inn and went straight upstairs.

Su Yu happened to open the door, standing at the other end of the corridor, smiling at him: "What a coincidence."

It wasn’t a coincidence—he’d come here just for her!