Wen Shiqing no longer felt that her third uncle’s offense was a minor matter. If this high-ranking official were indeed the Prince Regent, she could not guarantee that her uncle’s life would be spared. The Prince Regent was rumored to be cruel; though he didn’t seem like the person in those rumors when in the presence of the Eldest Princess, this was not a risk she could afford to take.
Thinking of this, Wen Shiqing burned with anxiety. Unable to brook any delay, she immediately wrote a letter and had a servant deliver it to Su Jingyi. She did not receive a reply until after the sun had set. The letter explained the situation briefly: Su Jingyi had ordered the carriage to turn back as soon as Wen Shiqing stepped down, so he was unaware of what transpired afterward. However, he had just inquired with his father and learned that while the Prince Regent had indeed thrown a few people into jail today, they were merely petty offenders. They hadn't even been moved to the Ministry of Justice prison; it was expected they would be released after being held for a few days.
After reading the letter, Wen Shiqing let out a long sigh of relief, her taut nerves finally relaxing a little.
Two days later, her foot had improved significantly, though she still could not walk for too long. She rose much earlier than everyone else in the residence, as her morning routine was far more complex. To this day, the secret of her cross-dressing was known only to her mother and her personal maid, Hanlu. Wen Shiqing had to bind her hair, carefully attach an artificial Adam's apple, and bind her chest. She put on her men's attire and added insoles to her shoes; instantly, her stature seemed to grow, adding to a sense of masculine uprightness.
Fully dressed, Wen Shiqing checked herself in the mirror repeatedly. Only after confirming there were no flaws did she open her bedroom door. Unexpectedly, the moment she opened it, she locked eyes directly with Wen Shuyu.
"Second Sister? Are you looking for me so early for something?" Wen Shiqing asked, slightly stunned.
Wen Shuyu’s eyes were filled with worry, her expression fraught with anxiety. "Q-Qing'er, is... is Third Uncle... alright?"
"Second Sister, please don't worry. I asked someone to look into it; Third Uncle is not in any mortal danger for the time being. He is just being held in jail and will be back in a few days. Rest assured."
Hearing this, Wen Shuyu’s eyes turned red instantly, tears welling up. "It’s... my fault."
"It is not your fault, Second Sister. It was Third Uncle’s own rash behavior that caused this disaster. How can you take the blame upon yourself?" Wen Shiqing said with a sincere expression, trying to comfort her.
But Wen Shuyu just shook her head incessantly. "I-it is my fault. I... I couldn't explain it clearly."
"Alright, Second Sister, you mustn't..."
Before she could finish, she saw Hanlu walking over from a distance. Hanlu bowed slightly and reported, "Master, the carriage sent to pick you up has arrived outside the residence."
Wen Shiqing nodded slightly, then turned back to Wen Shuyu. "Second Sister, please rest well at home and don't let your mind wander. When you have time, go out for a stroll with Mother. Truly, Third Uncle is fine."
After these instructions, she followed Hanlu out. Hanlu trailed along with short, quick steps, and after a moment of hesitation, she whispered, "Master, do you need me to accompany you?" She simply could not rest easy letting her master be alone with two grown men.
Wen Shiqing didn't slow her pace, shaking her head gently. "No, the household still relies on you to look after it. I can take care of myself. Oh, and keep an eye on Miss Lu as well. Take good care of her."
As they spoke, they arrived at the manor gate. Before boarding the carriage, Wen Shiqing didn't forget to emphasize, "Remember, if any urgent matter arises, wait for me to return. Do not act rashly on your own."
Hanlu nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with concern. "Master, please take care of yourself out there as well."
Upon boarding the carriage, Wen Shiqing noticed that only Su Jingyi was inside. She subconsciously backed out and glanced behind the carriage. Seeing no other vehicles, she stepped back into the cabin after two seconds of confusion, her brows furrowed slightly. "Where is Brother Lin? Was it not agreed that we would travel together?"
Su Jingyi put away his folding fan and tapped it gently against his palm. "He is not coming."
"He's not coming?" Wen Shiqing widened her eyes.
She was a Palace Censor. Although Lin Yuxuan ranked slightly higher as a Censor, Su Jingyi was the Assistant Censor-in-Chief—far higher than both of them. Logically, as this trip involved inspecting the sites for the prayer ceremony, the Censors should have been the first to go. Why was it that, instead, she—a low-ranking official—was going with... she glanced at Su Jingyi, who was sitting to the side with his eyes closed... such a high-ranking official? What was Lin Yuxuan doing? This guy was even better at slacking off than she was. Truly admirable.
"What? You aren't at ease with just me?" Noticing her gaze, Su Jingyi didn't open his eyes, merely letting out a yawn.
"That's not it."
Su Jingyi lifted his eyelids and looked over. "Then what is it?"
Wen Shiqing pursed her lips. "Is it really alright that he's not coming?"
Su Jingyi paused slightly at these words, then a half-smile curled the corners of his mouth. "So easily fooled. You believe whatever you're told."
"?" Wen Shiqing was left completely bewildered.
"He was delayed by something today. He will come to meet us tomorrow," Su Jingyi explained dismissively, closing his eyes again and leaning back against the cabin wall.
Hearing this, Wen Shiqing couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. *Haha, big brother, you're over twenty, yet you still have such a playful spirit, joking about things like this.* However, since Lin Yuxuan would be arriving tomorrow, she felt a little more at ease.
In a world of three, being left with just two people felt somewhat awkward. The carriage continued to sway and roll forward. Outside the window, the bustle of the Capital gradually receded, replaced by the lush scenery of the countryside.
The prayer ceremony was to be held on a massive altar on the outskirts of the Capital. This altar was a site of great importance to the Imperial family, bearing their fervent hopes for favorable weather and national peace. Built upon an open highland and constructed from massive blue stones, it possessed a grand and imposing presence. Their mission was not merely to inspect the altar itself, but to patrol the surrounding towns and villages to prevent any untoward incidents. After all, this ceremony concerned the honor of the Imperial family; one wrong move could have far-reaching consequences, and the slightest error would be a catastrophe.
Near the Capital, there were many towns and villages. The two of them had only patrolled one or two places by the time night fell. Because Wen Shiqing was unfamiliar with the situation, she mostly followed behind Su Jingyi to learn the ropes.
"Lord Su, I'm afraid we must stop here for today. Shall we inspect the remaining areas tomorrow?" Wen Shiqing turned to look at Su Jingyi, unable to hide the weariness in her expression. Even just following along, her stamina couldn't keep up with his. Her ankle was throbbing again; she had walked far too much today.
Su Jingyi nodded slightly. "Let's go. We will rest at a nearby post station."
They boarded the carriage. Su Jingyi’s gaze fell inadvertently on Wen Shiqing’s ankle, and he asked sharply, "What’s wrong? Does your foot hurt from walking too much today?"
Wen Shiqing was slightly surprised; she had tried her best to walk naturally, yet he had still noticed. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded gently and admitted, "A little."
"To be exhausted by so little, you really are like a gi..." Su Jingyi stopped halfway, seemingly realizing it wasn't the right thing to say, and swallowed the rest of his sentence. He then changed his tone: "Take off your shoe and let me see."