Chapter 12 Effeminate

Qi Yue was doing slightly better.

Shen Yu could hardly sit still, getting up every minute to pace around; his neck almost stretched like a giraffe's as he continually asked questions.

Zhao Shuanghua and Zhao Shuangyue weren't faring much better.

They paced intermittently, daring not to cry, almost biting through their lips with their pearly white teeth—making them look even more strikingly beautiful.

Zhao Yonglian only had two daughters, Zhao Shuangyun and Zhao Shuangxue.

They were a bit younger, one twelve and the other thirteen.

Perhaps because they grew up without a mother, they were especially sensible, both well-behaved and strong.

They too were curled up, their faces filled with fear, yet they bravely held back their tears.

Seeing that they had no appetite for the black wheat buns, Qi Yue quietly took out a small package of peach blossom crisp from her space.

These had been collected previously from the Zhao Family's kitchen.

"Here, eat this, but quietly," she said.

Exile was harsh, and the peach blossom crisp, once a common treat in the Marquis Residence, had now become a rare delicacy.

The four girls each took a piece and finished it in a few bites.

"Big sister, did the Commander give you this peach blossom crisp?" Zhao Shuangyun asked, blinking her eyes.

"Hmm."

Instantly, Qi Yue unlocked a new tactic—she could blame all future treats on Guan Yidao.

"Oh, it's strange, it tastes just like the ones from our home," she remarked.

Qi Yue twitched the corner of her mouth.

"Peach blossom crisp is supposed to taste the same everywhere," she replied.

"Oh."

The little girl did not pursue further, allowing Qi Yue to breathe a sigh of relief.

Why was giving them something to eat so difficult?

Had she known, she wouldn't have offered it to them; she would have eaten it herself!

Half a shichen later, seeing Shen Yu's growing anxiety, Qi Yue suggested going to check on the situation.

As she stood up, she saw Zhao Yonglian pulling the cart out of the station.

Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Xiyan were both seated in the cart, all three wearing grave expressions.

Qi Yue held back her questions, helped push the cart back to the camp, and then heard Zhao Yongzhe confirm that nothing had happened.

On the contrary, Qian Faliang was very enthusiastic.

He not only invited them to stay at the station but also found someone to treat their injuries, which they both declined.

It took a great deal of effort to leave the station.

Shen Yu, somewhat incredulous, pressed further, "Husband, since that Mr. Qian did not trouble you, doesn't it mean he will not do anything to Yanyan?"

Zhao Yongzhe shook his head.

"No, Mr. Qian's actions only suggest that his plans are very grand; we must be more cautious," he explained.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yu's already haggard face grew even more worried.

"Then what should we do?"

With a usually stern face, Zhao Xiyan suddenly spoke up, "Dad, there will be no issues, don't scare mom."

Qi Yue abruptly stood up, unable to endure that voice any longer.

His voice was like the sound of a flowing spring mixed with the rhythm of a string instrument, with a touch of modulation that seeped incessantly into her heart.

Especially now that he was injured, his voice carried a frail and breathy quality, which tugged at Qi Yue's heartstrings.

And his face kept flashing through her mind!

Oh heavens, why was she so captivated by voices? Or was it her penchant for handsome men?

"I'll go find Commander Guan!"

Her hefty frame whooshed out like the wind.

In the eyes of the Zhao family, everyone had different thoughts.

Shen Yu wiped a tear and said reassuringly, "Yanyan, you see how worried Yueyue is about you? She really cares about you, so you should be nicer to her, try to talk to her more."

Zhao Yongzhe also nodded.

"A tiger father does not bear a dog son, after all, she is General Qi's daughter. I should have proposed to her sooner, and you two could have enjoyed some good days together."

Zhao Shuanghua and others nodded in agreement.

"My sister-in-law is so kind. Even the peach pastries given by the commander were shared with us."

Zhao Xiyan, however, looked dubious.

Why did he feel that Qi Yue not only didn't want to see him but also didn't want to hear him speak?

When Qi Yue arrived at the post station, she met Guan Yidao and got two very important pieces of information.

One was about Qian Faliang's background.

According to Guan Yidao, this guy was a big deal and even looked down on him, taking over the commander's residence as soon as he arrived.

Second, Qian Faliang's pursuit here seemed to be related to the missing treasure of the Ducal Mansion.

Knowing this, Qi Yue was also taken aback.

If she had known earlier that taking the Ducal Mansion's money would bring trouble for Zhao Xiyan, she would have definitely left some behind.

After returning to camp and discussing Qian Faliang's situation with the Zhao Family, Zhao Yonglian and others were also shocked.

Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Xiyan had been taken away by the soldiers early on and had been unconscious all this time, completely unaware of the Ducal Mansion treasure being removed.

Having heard this, they were also utterly confused.

Everyone agreed that this big misunderstanding should be clarified with Qian Faliang.

Qi Yue, as the mastermind behind the emptying of the treasury, felt it necessary to take responsibility.

So, the next day, when the deportation team stopped again for the night, Qi Yue decided to go and find Qian Faliang.

She naturally wouldn't go empty-handed in such a situation.

Considering they were penniless deportees, Qi Yue still chose to bring food.

Don't be fooled by people like Guan Yidao, those generals and vice generals, who ride tall horses during the day and crack their whips at anyone they please; their food in the wilderness is nothing special.

Qi Yue made her plans and then went to the nearby woods.

First, she entered the space, filled herself up with food and drink, and then brought out three chickens and a half-grown pig.

She handed the chickens to Zhao Yonglian to roast and dragged the pig to the post station.

This act led to another round of deportees entering the woods to catch chickens and pigs, but of course, they came out empty-handed.

Because of this pig, she met Qian Faliang in the upper room of the post station.

This man had a sharp, monkey-like face, clearly no good person.

Moreover, he didn't look much like a man.

His withered hand clutched a brocade handkerchief, constantly covering his nose, and there was a faint disgusting scent of rouge.

If Guan Yidao hadn't specifically warned her that Qian Faliang wasn't a eunuch, she might have thought he was.

"You are General Qi's daughter, married to Zhao Xiyan?"

Qian Faliang flicked the handkerchief in his hand, his face forming a creepy smile, his voice bearing a nauseating tone.

"Yes, Vice Commander, sir."

"No, no need to be so formal. I quite admire Zhao Xiyan," Qian Faliang's beady eyes glittered coldly, "I specifically came to protect him. You can call me Brother Qian."

Damn it. Qi Yue's man under the 'protection' of this sissy?

Qi Yue suppressed the discomfort in her heart and bowed slightly as a courtesy.

"To reply to the Vice Commander, sir, how dare I? When I left, my father specifically instructed me to treat the Vice Commander with the utmost respect."

"Oh?" Qian Faliang, covering his nose, chuckled a few times, seeming very pleased with the response.

But Qi Yue clearly saw, those eyes hidden behind the handkerchief chilled one to the bone like a venomous snake.

In an instant, she was almost certain that this person was extremely malicious.

She even had a premonition that Qian Faliang's interest in Zhao Xiyan wasn't just about retrieving the Ducal Mansion's treasure.

With that thought, Qi Yue furrowed her brows and concealed the emotions in her eyes.

"Vice Commander, sir, I heard that you came from the Capital City with a significant task at hand. There is something I would like to report to you."

"Oh," Qian Faliang's small eyes flickered, "If it is interesting, let's hear it."

"Absolutely interesting. I've been puzzled by this and wanted to discuss it with Lord Qian."

"Oh, do tell quickly."