Chapter 25: Jealousy

Chapter 25: Jealousy

Jing Lan learned of Qiao Wan's whereabouts in Shunchang City.

While inspecting at the city gate, the guards found an envelope on a head escort from Zhiyuan Escort Agency, which contained Princess Changle's token.

In that letter, Qiao Wan only mentioned she was at the south gate of Chuzhou, with no further details.

At that time, Jing Lan was on the main road outside Shunchang. Upon receiving the news, he headed straight for Chuzhou City.

Along the way, he kept recalling the scene at the cliff of Yanming Mountain, where Qiao Wan had calmly jumped into the icy river.

He couldn't understand how she, who at Yuxiu Pavilion had acted as if she were in excruciating pain and ready to fight him to the death just because he had scraped the skin off her palm while taking her whip, dared to leap into such a sinister and pitch-black river.

Was Mu Chi... really that good?

The Emperor flew into a rage upon hearing the news. Coughing for a long while with his hand over his chest, his face turned particularly grim as he issued a wanted order for Mu Chi's arrest and a confidential decree to ensure Princess Changle was brought back safely.

None of this was his concern.

After all... even the notion he once believed—that "she adored him"—was nothing but an illusion.

That night outside the Emperor's tent, he had heard everything Qiao Wan said.

She said the sachet was something she had lost by accident, not intentionally left for him, and certainly not any kind of clandestine token of affection.

She said: She did not adore him, and he, in turn, was disgusted by her.

She also said that marrying him would only happen if she were blind.

Logically, she was right. He detested this arranged marriage and disliked Qiao Wan even more. He had been accumulating military merits precisely to avoid this marriage.

Yet, when he saw her jump off the cliff right in front of him, and when the Emperor ordered a search for her, he unexpectedly volunteered.

That night, a heavy snow fell, making the mountain search extremely difficult. By the time they found the cave with the abandoned fire pit, it was already empty.

But there was a puddle of blood on the ground.

Jing Lan thought about Qiao Wan—a woman who always loved to dress up, adored gold and jade, cherished luxurious clothes, and would never wear anything inferior to others.

Fleeing and running for her life with Mu Chi, she must have been in a wretched state.

And if he found her, he would mock her mercilessly, to repay the humiliation of his "wishful thinking."

But there was no sign of her along the way.

A spoiled princess, a severely injured person with an arrow wound in the chest—there were too many ways they could have met with disaster.

Yet Jing Lan felt that woman must be fine.

After all... the bad ones always stick around.

But when he learned she was at the south gate of Chuzhou, he breathed a huge sigh of relief, leaving the other imperial guards behind and rushing ahead alone.

He arrived at the south gate the next morning. From noon until dusk, just as he thought she wouldn't show up, the sound of hoofbeats came from afar, accompanied by a familiar shout: "Giddyup!"

Jing Lan looked up and for a moment barely recognized the woman before him as the spoiled, willful Princess Changle, so lavishly pampered in the imperial court.

A worn indigo coarse linen dress, haphazardly tied messy hair, pale and gaunt cheeks...

She was indeed as wretched as he had imagined.

But the mocking words he had prepared stuck in his throat. His lips moved slightly, and all he managed to squeeze out through gritted teeth was: "Qiao Wan, you’ve got some nerve!"

Willfully jumping off the cliff.

Then appearing in Chuzhou, hundreds of miles away.

Her nerve was truly astounding!

Qiao Wan hadn't expected Jing Lan to reach Chuzhou so quickly. She had thought she would have to wait there for another day or two.

But facing Jing Lan's expression and remembering how she had recklessly jumped into the river, likely causing significant trouble for him and the surrounding guards, she was too guilty to argue and simply looked at him, asking, "Did you receive my letter and come find me?"

Jing Lan continued to glare at her darkly. "No."

Qiao Wan didn’t take his words to heart and glanced behind him. "Why are you alone? Where are the others?"

"Qiao Wan." Jing Lan growled her name hoarsely.

Qiao Wan was taken aback. Seeing his exhaustion, she softly said after a moment, "Sorry."

She assumed her disappearance had caused Qiao Heng to trouble many people.

Jing Lan looked at Qiao Wan, who had always held her chin high and radiated pride, now actually apologizing. Instead of feeling any satisfaction, he grew increasingly irritable.

He tightened his reins and rode to her side, deliberately sneering, "I wouldn’t dare accept Your Highness's apology."

Qiao Wan paused, turned to look at him, and frowned. She had never been one for patience, and seeing him push his luck, she immediately snorted coldly. "If you dare not, then don’t."

Hearing her familiar tone, Jing Lan felt somewhat relieved, but then he noticed her hands gripping the reins and froze.

Back at the entrance of Princess Changle's residence, when she had handed him the white jade ointment with this hand, her fingers were soft and fair, without even a trace of callus.

Now, each finger was marked with fine cuts, some already scabbed over, others still red and raw.

"You still haven’t answered me. Where are the others? Why are you alone?" Seeing Jing Lan silent, Qiao Wan asked again.

Jing Lan’s pupils constricted, and he snorted lightly. "This young master is an excellent rider."

Qiao Wan frowned at him.

Suddenly, Jing Lan flushed with anger and shot her a glance. "Tch, these clothes are truly ugly."

Qiao Wan looked down at her coarse linen dress and replied indifferently, "Oh, then why don’t you gouge your eyes out?"

Jing Lan fell silent. After watching her for a moment, he suddenly laughed casually. "Hey, Qiao Wan."

Qiao Wan looked at him, puzzled, but then paused when she saw what he was holding out to her.

In his palm lay a sachet—a crimson sachet embroidered with silver thread depicting a plum blossom, and in the lower right corner, the clumsily stitched characters "Wan Wan."

The sachet she had been searching for so long.

The very one Mu Chi had lost to push her toward Jing Lan.

"This young master doesn’t accept items from unclear sources," Jing Lan said dismissively.

Qiao Wan glanced at him, took the sachet, and clutched it silently in her hand, saying nothing.

Perhaps the silence lasted too long, for Jing Lan coughed uncomfortably and raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you touched?"

Qiao Wan silently looked up, her fingers tracing the faint, almost invisible seam on the sachet. "Did you rip my sachet?"

Jing Lan stiffened, glaring at her fiercely. "How should I know you weren't—" His words were cut off by the distant sound of approaching horses.

He pressed his lips together and fell silent.

Qiao Wan looked up. Outside the southern city gate, a troop of imperial guards in silver armor rode toward them, followed by an ornate carriage drawn by two magnificent horses.

She tightened her grip on the reins. She knew these people had come for her.

Looks like it was time to return after all.

"Hey," Jing Lan called her name softly from beside her.

Qiao Wan shot him a sidelong glance.

Jing Lan wasn't looking at her but toward the imperial guards, his voice sounded more serious. "Next time you send a letter, at least leave a more precise date."

That way, no one's stuck waiting all day, fearing she wouldn't show yet unable to leave.

Qiao Wan stared at him, stunned.

The guards had already approached, dismounting and kneeling in salute. "We pay respects to Princess Changle and the Major General."

Jing Lan acknowledged them with a grunt. One guard rose and looked at him, offering a reassuring smile. "The Major General rushed here alone upon hearing news of the princess. We are relieved to see you safe, sir."

Qiao Wan froze.

Jing Lan coughed twice and said irritably, "I just didn't want the Emperor chewing me out." He glared at the guard, kicked his horse's flank, and moved forward a couple of steps before turning to Qiao Wan. "Get in."

Qiao Wan didn't argue. She got off her horse and walked toward the carriage ahead.

Just as she was about to step onto the carriage step, Jing Lan suddenly spoke from behind her. "Qiao Wan, where's Mu Chi?"

Her foot, poised on the step, faltered. She lost her balance and stumbled forward, her hand hastily reaching for the carriage door.

A large hand shot out to steady her. Jing Lan leaned against the carriage, frowning. "What's the matter? Forget how to get in a carriage after one trip?"

Qiao Wan steadied herself by holding onto her arm, but her palm had been scraped hard against the doorframe, and it was red.

She stared at her red palm for a long moment before finally entering the carriage, her voice calm. "He's dead."

*

By the time Mu Chi finished handling matters at the military camp, it was already the next day.

He walked slowly toward his carriage, his black-and-gold cloak flowing behind him.

Mu Chi raised a hand, and Si Li hurriedly presented a clean white silk handkerchief.

Mu Chi carefully wiped the blood from his fingertips before casually tossing the handkerchief aside.

Those generals, famed for securing cities for Great Qi, had naturally looked down on him—a "monster" who emerged from the dungeons.

So, he had simply... taught them a lesson.

But they were as stupid as pigs. A few died, some blood was shed, and they all fell in line.

Leaning wearily inside the carriage, Mu Chi heard Si Li ask quietly, "Where to, young master?"

Mu Chi was silent for a few breaths. Usually, he would stay at his residence near the military camp, rarely returning to his estate in Chuzhou. But for some reason, he found himself hesitating this time.

"Back to the Mu residence," he said slowly after a long pause.

Si Li was surprised but remained silent as he drove the carriage onward.

Mu Chi rested one hand on the low table inside the carriage, his fingers tapping the surface absently.

He couldn't help but wonder what Qiao Wan was doing at that moment.

She always loved extravagant, gaudy things.

Was she trying on lavish dresses? Eating the expensive delicacies she had missed during her journey? Or perhaps fiddling with those ornate but impractical jade hairpins and kingfisher feather ornaments?

Or maybe... waiting for him to return?

Mu Chi's tapping fingers stilled. A warmth, entirely unlike his usual coldness, spread through his chest.

The thought that someone was waiting for him in that lifeless estate felt strangely novel.

He found himself feeling unexpectedly anticipatory.

After some time, the carriage came to a slow halt. Mu Chi looked at the vast estate before him, got out, and walked inside.

But then he noticed something—the blood splattered on his cloak and the lingering smell of blood that clung to him. He frowned slightly.

"Young master?" Si Li stood puzzled nearby. Noticing a small cut on Mu Chi's hand, he hesitated before pulling a jar of white jade ointment from his sleeve. "Would you like some ointment, young master?"

Mu Chi glanced at the ointment in Si Li's hand and suddenly remarked, "You've got a lot of this white jade ointment."

Si Li was taken aback, feeling a little hurt. This ointment had been given to him by the young master himself.

Mu Chi said no more. He turned and went to his courtyard. When he emerged again, he had changed into a white brocade fur coat and walked slowly toward the rear courtyard.

The rear courtyard was empty, dead silent, with only a cold wind stirring desolately.

Mu Chi's frown deepened, a frustration he couldn't name suddenly welling up in his heart.

Especially when he stood at the doorway of the room and saw no signs of anyone having been there. Only a rouge-colored gold-threaded cloud-patterned dress and a fiery red fox fur cloak lay untouched on the central table.

Behind him, Si Li observed the eerily quiet room, equally puzzled. He turned and saw the steward passing by outside the courtyard and quickly called out to him. "Steward Zhang."

Steward Zhang hurried over apprehensively. "Young master, Guard Si."

He was inwardly astonished. The young master disliked seeing people. Even in such a large estate, aside from ordering cleaners every three days, he was the only one managing the place.

It used to be rare to see the young master even once a month. Who would have thought he’d return today after having just left yesterday?

Seeing that Mu Chi remained silent, Si Li asked, "Where is the young lady who was staying here?"

Steward Zhang exclaimed, "Ah! That young lady left yesterday."

Mu Chi stiffened. After a long moment, he turned slowly, tilting his head as if puzzled. "Left?"

His tone was gentle, but Steward Zhang felt a chill down his spine. He bowed hurriedly and said, "Yesterday, young master, you said that the young lady could stay or leave as she wished, so I didn’t stop her..."

Mu Chi’s expression darkened as he recalled what he had said the day before.

"If she wants to stay, she can. If she wants to leave, why hold her back?"

So, her choice was not to stay, but to leave?

"When did she leave?" Mu Chi asked calmly.

Steward Zhang replied, "After Si Li left yesterday, the young lady left."

After Si Li left, she left.

Meaning, she left without a moment's delay.

"Mm." Mu Chi responded calmly, his face blank as he slowly walked into the room and looked at the elegant outfit on the table—it was the style she often wore, even the fabric was exactly the same.

Yet she hadn't taken it, hadn't even touched it.

Mu Chi picked up the fox fur coat and looked it over calmly.

His peripheral gaze fell on his right hand holding the coat, and his eyes tightened.

On the back of his hand was the character "Wan" that Qiao Wan had once carved, now with a fresh scar over it.

At first, he thought it was just a scratch from a branch and didn't think much of it, but now, looking at the scar that sliced right through the character "Wan"...

Was it really from a branch?

Or...

Was it intentional?

Mu Chi's eyes suddenly turned cold, his fingers shook slightly.

"Young Master?" Si Li called out cautiously.

Mu Chi suddenly laughed and threw the fur coat back onto the table. "If she left, then she left."

As he spoke, he let out a sudden cough and turned to leave.

A guard rushed in from outside the door. Si Li glanced at Mu Chi's expressionless face and quietly stepped out. When he returned, his expression was complicated. "Young Master, it's about Princess Changle..."

Mu Chi paused in his steps.

Si Li quickly added, "The guards said that yesterday at the southern city gate, someone saw Princess Changle, and also..."

"And also Jing Lan, the Jing family’s son."

Mu Chi's pupils constricted sharply.

Jing Lan.

That rake he had once thought of pushing Qiao Wan toward, the one who, like Qiao Wan, also favored red.

"Have they all come here?" Mu Chi murmured softly.

So she left with him after all...

Mu Chi couldn't hold back a fit of muffled coughing.

In his chest, it felt as though a block of ice wrapped around a festering wound was slowly melting, the pus and blood oozing out bit by bit, bringing with it a weird, prickling feeling.

It felt like pain.

And also like an itch.

Like rage and murderous intent, mixed with a hint of elusive jealousy.

All sorts of emotions tangled chaotically in his chest, making Mu Chi instinctively hunch over slightly, trying to alleviate the intensely uncomfortable and unfamiliar feeling. His eyes grew clouded and chaotic.

"Young Master," Si Li looked worriedly at Mu Chi's pale expression. The thought that had surfaced in his mind yesterday seemed to be confirmed once again. He pressed his lips together and voiced his thoughts, "Princess Changle might have been hurt by your words, which is why she left in anger..."

Mu Chi paused slightly, a trace of confusion flickering in his dark eyes. "Hurt?"

Si Li braced himself and continued, "Princess Changle is so devoted to you, kept risking her life to save you. Naturally, she would have wanted to hear you ask her to stay. But you spoke so casually. Given her proud nature, I'm afraid..."

So, Qiao Wan left because she was angry?

The confusion in Mu Chi's eyes gradually faded.

Yes, she had risked her life to help him time and again. Even when she realized he was using her, she never abandoned him.

He shouldn't have worried.

Qiao Wan had never had any interest in Jing Lan.

That night on the cliff of Yanming Mountain, he could actually guess what Qiao Wan had left unsaid.

She had rejected Qiao Heng's arranged marriage between her and Jing Lan.

What she wanted to say was: she had originally wanted Qiao Heng to arrange a marriage between her and him.

Even though, at that time, his status was nothing more than a lowly entertainer.

Now, she had simply returned to Lingjing.

But Lingjing would ultimately become his Lingjing.

Still, two months remained.

Too long.

Mu Chi quietly stared at the scar on his hand, his gaze dark and unreadable. After a long while, he said, "Issue the command."

"We leave today."

Author's Note:

Wan Wan: He's dead to me.

Doggy: She'll come back.

A certain Major General: Preparing a hoe...