Chapter 9 009 Unexpected Harmony

Chapter 9 009 Unexpected Harmony

The cell was noisy and stank to high heaven. It was unbearable. They only wanted to leave this place and go home, so they tried every trick they could, but the jailers ignored them and didn't believe a word they said.

Sighing helplessly, the two of them crouched back in the corner, huddling close. Looking up at the various men around them, Qiao Wanyue touched her face in worry, afraid of being recognized.

"Su Su, do I look like a man?"

"No."

Right, even dressed as a man, she didn't look like one. She reached up and smeared some ash on her face, then did the same for Lin Susu. Now it looked even more obvious that they were trying to hide something.

Lin Susu tilted her head in confusion and looked at her. Qiao Wanyue whispered, "So no one sees through us."

Lin Susu nodded. That made sense. They still hadn't seen the magistrate, and had no idea when they'd get out. Shoulders touching, supporting each other, completely exhausted, they yawned and fell asleep without realizing it.

After an unknown amount of time, Qiao Wanyue, half-asleep, felt something tickling her face. She squinted, scratched, and her hand touched something warm, startling her awake.

"What is it?"

It wasn't a thing—it was a man. A man crouched in front of them, shifty-eyed, yellow-toothed, and leering. Qiao Wanyue knew at a glance he was no good; he'd clearly taken an interest in them.

She pulled Lin Susu close and said sharply, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Had that thing crawling on her face been his hand? The thought of those disgusting fingers on her skin made her skin crawl, and she wanted to vomit. She scrubbed her face hard, trying to get rid of the disgusting feeling, but it only wiped off the ash, revealing a fair-skinned face.

The man grinned, showing yellow teeth. "Two young ladies, why are you dressed up as men?"

"None of your business. Move along, move along."

Qiao Wanyue looked calm on the surface, but inside she was panicking. Hardly any decent people went to Flying Cloud Manor. Now that they were locked in the same cell, these men had nothing better to do than check out the people around them.

If he was already getting handsy, and with no jailers around, what else might he do?

By then, Lin Susu had woken up as well. She took one look at the man and grew alert. Seeing Qiao Wanyue's expression, she guessed most of it and immediately yelled, "All of you stay back! If you touch us, my father won't forgive you!"

The man stood up, spread his hands, and turned to the others with an innocent look. "I didn't do anything. But they're up to no good—dressed as men, trying to set us up, right?"

At that, the previously quiet crowd all turned to look at them—some scrutinizing, some curious, others just waiting to see what happened.

"So they're girls! I knew they looked delicate, different from us."

"Yeah, different, right?"

Snickers and mocking laughs came from the crowd. Qiao Wanyue's face crumpled, slipped out of the corner, and slowly edged toward the door.

"They were generous at the gambling den. Hey, girl, got any silver? We'd like to borrow some."

"Yeah, lend us some. We'll pay you back another day."

They said "borrow," but it was clearly extortion. Both girls saw through it.

Watching them jabber, Lin Susu wanted to argue, but Qiao Wanyue tugged her sleeve to stop her. Arguing with a bunch of thugs was useless. They had to get out of here.

Qiao Wanyue's heart pounded with anxiety, and she spoke to the jailer again: "We want to see the magistrate. My father is Vice Director of the Chancellery, Qiao Zhuofan."

At this point, they had no choice but to tell the truth. Two defenseless girls—if they stayed any longer, they'd be eaten alive.

Seeing this, Lin Susu chimed in, "My father is Lin Hai. Let us out now!"

The jailer finally looked at them properly. He glanced at Qiao Wanyue, then at Lin Susu, and replied coldly, "Lord Lin has no sons."

Lin Susu's face went pale with anger. She opened her mouth, then pointed at him. "Are you blind? I'm a girl, can't you tell?"

The jailer shrugged helplessly. "Stop shouting. Just wait patiently."

Even telling the truth got them nowhere. Now they were truly out of options. Lin Susu sighed heavily, while Qiao Wanyue's eyes darted around. She said quietly to the jailer, "To be honest, we're relatives of Qin Yan. Please send him a message, and you'll be well rewarded. If you don't believe me, go ask the Ministry of Justice."

Qin Yan—the Minister of Justice. The jailer dared not offend him. He hesitated. What if they were lying?

Just as he was wavering, a man entered from outside and whispered a few words in the jailer's ear. The jailer's face changed dramatically, and he looked at them in astonishment. So they really were relatives of Qin Yan.

The jailer opened the cell door and let them out. "Sorry, sorry."

The group behind them watched, worried. "They're getting out? They've got connections. We didn't go too far just now, did we?"

"What's there to fear? If they had connections, they'd have been let out long ago. Why wait till now?"

"Exactly. Don't panic."

Qiao Wanyue didn't hear what the group said next. What she wanted to know now was: who had them released? Was it Lord Lin who came, or Qiao Zhuofan?

The two girls exchanged a look, silently asking each other with their eyes: Do you know whose family came?

At the same time, they both shook their heads. Neither knew.

Before they could think further, the newcomer separated them.

Lin Susu shouted, "What do you mean? We're not separating!"

"Right, we won't separate. What are you trying to do?"

The man frowned. "Lord Lin is here. You're to go with me."

Instantly, Lin Susu's bravado crumbled. She asked weakly, "My father really came?"

"Yes, miss, please come with me."

Lin Susu sighed. So she couldn't hide what happened today anymore. How did her father find out?

"Yueyue, I'm going now."

"Mm."

Since Lord Lin had arrived, she was safe too. Probably she'd be home soon. Lin Susu kept looking back as she left, her figure vanishing into the night.

-

The night was thick, the area was quiet except for the lanterns swaying under the eaves.

Qiao Wanyue stood under the eaves. They wouldn't let her leave, but they didn't interrogate her either. What did this mean? Hadn't everything been cleared up? Strange.

She wanted to ask someone, but there was no one around. Where were the Shuntian Prefecture officials?

The young girl lifted her skirt and craned her neck to look around. As she glanced around casually, she saw a man walk out of the darkness—imposing, standing straight as a pine, with sharp, authoritative eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise at his appearance, and she instantly blushed, but quickly composed herself.

She said respectfully, "Marquis."

It was Qin Yan. So had they lied about Lord Lin coming? How did Qin Yan know they were locked up in Shuntian Prefecture?

With many questions, Qiao Wanyue didn't ask. Instead, Qin Yan spoke first: "I was at Flying Cloud Manor when it happened."

Oh, so he saw them being locked up, let them stay there all afternoon, and only then ordered their release. He did it on purpose.

She complained inwardly but spoke obediently, "Oh, Wanyue thanks the Marquis."

He stood before her, so tall that she had to lift her head to look up at him. His shoulders and chest were broad, enough to completely conceal her figure. His clothes clung to his body, muscles shifting with each movement—strong, full of power and explosive energy.

He was a man who gave off both a sense of security and danger. For the first time, Qiao Wanyue felt how dangerous Qin Yan was, right here, right now, when he was in front of her.

The way he looked at her was different from before—no longer aloof and distant, but an expression she had never seen. She didn’t understand it, couldn’t fathom it, so she simply stopped looking, dropping her gaze to the ground.

Their shadows merged together, one petite and one tall, oddly harmonious.

Was she really that short? Or was he just too tall, making her seem tiny? Either way, Qin Yan was undeniably a man through and through.

"Marquis, may I go back now?" she asked.

Qin Yan stared at the top of her head for a moment, then followed her gaze downward. He caught sight of their shadows on the ground and narrowed his eyes, immediately taking a step back.

"Neither fish nor fowl," he said.

He was referring to her clothes—wearing men's attire couldn't hide her feminine figure and charm, and her face was too delicate, nothing like a man's.

Qiao Wanyue disliked the expression he wore when he spoke. She pouted and rolled her eyes but dared not say anything, so she remained silent.

Qin Yan lifted his chin and said, "Go inside, change clothes, then go back."

She was shocked, secretly marveling at how thoughtful Qin Yan was—he had even prepared women's clothes. She had misjudged him earlier.

The girl gave him a pleasant expression, smiling brightly, "Mm, thank you, Marquis. The Marquis is indeed considerate; my brain's not as sharp as yours."

A load of flattery, clearly meant to curry favor. Qin Yan got impatient and waved his hand, signaling her to hurry inside.

Qiao Wanyue clamped her mouth shut awkwardly, turned, went in, and closed the door—swift and decisive. In a short while, she came out from inside. The outfit Qin Yan had prepared for her was, as before, a pink skirt that fit her well. She awkwardly thanked him.

Qin Yan glanced at her, his expression unchanged, and said, "Let's go."

The girl followed his steps, but after a few paces, she ran back. A moment later, she came back out, holding the men's clothes she'd just taken off. They were used clothes, and she didn't want to leave them there; she wanted to take them back and deal with them herself.

Qin Yan watched coolly, thinking that now she would finally be ready to leave.

Unexpectedly, the girl stood there swaying in front of him, saying with shame and annoyance, "Just now in the cell, someone tried to get handsy with me."

The implication was clear—she wanted him to get back at the guy for her.

"Hmm, I'll tell Lord Qiao later."

This man...

A breath caught in her throat, hard to swallow.

"Don't tell, please don't tell. If I can't account for myself when I get home today, and if my parents find out someone tried to do something to me, it'll be even worse."

She shot him a sideways glance, lowering her voice, "Forget it, it's my own bad luck. I shouldn't have gone out to Flying Cloud Manor myself. I looked easy to bully—if not me, then who? If only I had an older brother, he could stand up for me. Wuwu, it's my own fault."

"Enough."

Qin Yan waved his hand, annoyed. "Lead the way."

The girl hadn't shed a single tear, but she acted the part well. Hearing this, her eyes immediately lit up, and she raised her head to look at him, beaming.

"Alright, since the Marquis wants me to lead the way, then I will."

Her goal achieved, Qiao Wanyue happily went back to the cell she'd been in before. The guy who had laid a hand on her wasn't getting off easy.