Chapter 1305 - 2: Nonsense
Whether it’s for the money or the horse, even if it’s just because of that brocade robe, Shen Junshan must catch that thief.
Yun Chu stole the brocade robe, but she didn’t know there was money inside it.
By evening, while resting at an inn and taking off the robe for a bath, she discovered something inside the lining of the robe.
She reached in and took a look.
A silver note worth ten thousand taels.
Upon seeing the silver note, Yun Chu was completely shocked.
She just intended to steal the brocade robe, never to steal anyone’s money.
The silver note was not heavy, yet in Yun Chu’s hands, it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, pressing on her so heavily that she couldn’t breathe.
Not only because she mistakenly took someone else’s money, but also because she once had only a hundred taels on her, which made her a target twice. If people knew she carried ten thousand taels now, who knows what kind of danger would ensue.
Yun Chu’s mind flashed back to the image of that man, causing her heart to race even faster.
She had stolen the man’s brocade robe and left five taels of silver in return. Now, returning the silver note was undoubtedly walking into danger.
Not to mention she feared being pursued. She had galloped the entire day under the driving reins; the night was dark and the road invisible, and she didn’t have the courage to travel at night.
She was in a hurry to reach the Capital City, to clear up the injustice her father suffered, who was wrongfully accused and forced to commit suicide to prove his innocence.
She could only repay this money in the future.
Finding a servant used oiled paper, Yun Chu carefully wrapped it up and hid it in the purse her mother had embroidered with a double-sided sparrow perched on a branch.
That night, Yun Chu slept very lightly, dreaming constantly.
She dreamed of her father telling her to escape.
Dreamed of her mother making pastries for her.
Dreamed of her second brother teasing her.
Almost at dawn, she dreamt of the man from whom she stole the brocade robe, silver note, and horse.
The man placed a sword at her neck, bringing it down on her head, scaring her awake.
Sweating profusely, her back soaked, she couldn’t shake off the nightmare for a long time.
Not well-rested, her face pale, but eager to move forward, she bought dry food and continued her journey despite her fatigue.
A thousand-mile horse could travel a thousand miles a day, eight hundred miles at night.
Yun Chu had only just learned to ride, unable to exert the full potential of a thousand-mile horse.
The inn where she rested was four days away from the Capital City, but Yun Chu took six days to arrive.
Majestic city walls, bustling crowds, the cries of street vendors mingling in the air, presenting a scene of prosperity.
There were many people, but Yun Chu recognized no one.
On the road here, she was eager to travel, wishing for wings to fly here. Now that she had arrived, she didn’t know what to do.
Confused, helpless.
She sat on the horse, letting it carry her forward.
Her father died by suicide by running into a wall; an old lady helped find out who arranged his burial and where he was buried.
Before leaving, she wept at her father’s grave for three whole hours.
Madam Wen Yuan and Uncle Wen Yuan had deep affection for each other; now that Uncle Wen Yuan was gone, Yun Chu dared not imagine how her mother was enduring the days.
A gust of wind blew across her face, cold and piercing.
Unknowingly, her face was already streaked with tears.
While wiping her tears, the horse suddenly ran wildly forward; the event happened so fast that Yun Chu nearly fell off.
She clung tightly to the reins, hugging the horse’s neck.
The street became chaotic, people and horses in disarray.
Just when Yun Chu thought she might not escape this calamity, the horse suddenly stopped.
Yun Chu carefully released her grip from around the horse’s neck and saw a man sitting on the horse in front of her.
That man was none other than Marquis Jibei.
Marquis Jibei looked at Yun Chu and recognized her as a girl at a glance, his brows furrowed tightly.
Liehuo was his horse.
The horse lived up to its name, fiery in temperament, and no ordinary person could ride it.
Even his second son was disliked by it, frequently not allowed to ride.
It was out of defiance that the son left the Capital, and that rascal even stole Liehuo. Considering the time, it should be about the time for him to return to the Capital.
The horse returned, but to his surprise, it was ridden back by a young girl.
Marquis Jibei’s gaze toward Yun Chu unintentionally grew fondly, like looking at a future daughter-in-law.
If she wasn’t his beloved, his son would never have lent Liehuo to her.
Yun Chu felt a bit embarrassed being gazed upon; she wanted to ride away.
But the usually obedient horse acted as if it hadn’t heard her, refusing to move despite being coaxed multiple times.
Unable to command it, she dismounted, intending to lead it aside.
Yun Chu, with her limited strength, couldn’t budge the horse if it refused to move.
Blushing, she patted the horse’s head gently and whispered, "We’re blocking the way for others."
The guard couldn’t help but laugh, "You won’t be able to lead Liehuo away."
Liehuo?
He was referring to this horse?
Yun Chu looked at the guard, her eyes laced with confusion.
The guard pointed at Liehuo and said, "This is my lord Marquis’s horse."