Chapter 104 -
The light drizzle quickly turned into a fierce downpour. Sheet after sheet of heavy rain slammed against the carriage, the wind howling through the trees lining the mountain road. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, and the once-firm dirt path rapidly transformed into a thick, slippery slide of mud.
Inside the carriage, Yueqing’s teasing smile completely vanished.
She pushed open the wooden window shutter just a crack, only to be hit with a spray of freezing rain. Up ahead, Wenzhe’s dark robes were completely drenched, his stallion struggling slightly as its hooves slipped on the slick, muddy track.
[Wait, this isn’t funny anymore,] Yueqing’s inner voice gasped, her playful mood instantly evaporating as panic flashed through her brain broadcasting loudly into Wenzhe’s ears over the roaring storm. [The visibility is terrible, and the road is turning into a total mudslide! If his horse slips, he’s going to break his neck!]
Forgetting all about her game of stubbornness, Yueqing stuck her head out the window, ignoring the freezing rain splashing against her face.
"HALT THE CARRIAGE!" Yueqing shouted at the top of her lungs, her sharp voice piercing through the heavy wall of rain. "STOP THE HORSES RIGHT NOW!"
The driver, already struggling to see through the torrential downpour, immediately yanked on the leather reins. "WHOA! WHOA THERE!"
The heavy wooden carriage skidded to a sudden, creaking halt in the thick mud, the horses snorting loudly as steam rose from their damp hides. Behind them, Zi Han quickly ordered the second carriage to stop as well.
Up ahead, Wenzhe reined in his warhorse, turning the stallion around. Through the blinding rain, he looked back at his wife, his dark eyes wide with sudden concern, her panicked inner thoughts still echoing wildly inside his head.
Wenzhe turned his horse back toward the main carriage, water streaming down his face and soaking his dark robes completely. He opened his mouth to ask if something was wrong, but before he could speak a single word, Yueqing threw open the carriage door.
Ignoring the freezing downpour soaking her silk sleeves, she leaned out and glared at him, her light green eyes blazing with absolute fury.
"Xi Wenzhe! Stop acting like a stubborn child and get your ass in this carriage right now!" Yueqing shouted over the roaring thunder, her voice cutting through the storm like a thunderclap.
Wenzhe froze on his horse, his dark eyes widening slightly in shock.
"I am completely fine—" Wenzhe started coldly.
"Shut up!" Yueqing cut him off instantly, pointing a dripping finger right at his nose. "It is pouring buckets, the road is turning into a swamp, and your horse is slipping! If you don’t get inside this carriage in the next three seconds, I swear to God I will step out into this rain, drag you off that horse myself, and teach you a lesson you will never forget!"
[I swear if this giant block of wood makes me ruin my shoes in this mud, I am going to throw a temper tantrum that will shake the entire empire!] her inner voice roared violently, echoing straight into Wenzhe’s head like a war drum. [* Get inside before you catch pneumonia, you absolute idiot!*]
The sheer force of her rage both spoken and thought hung heavy in the rainy air.
Behind them in the second carriage, Zi Han watched in complete, stunned silence, while Lanyin pressed her handkerchief to her mouth to smother a quiet laugh.
Wenzhe stood his ground for two long seconds, looking at his wife’s soaked hair, her flushed, angry cheeks, and the fierce worry hidden beneath her loud threats.
Slowly, the Grand General of the Empire sighed. He swung his leg over his stallion, handed the reins over to a nearby attendant, and stepped toward the carriage door.
Wenzhe stepped up into the carriage, hauling his heavy body inside and closing the wooden door behind him, locking out the roaring storm. The smell of rain and damp wood instantly filled the quiet space.
He was completely soaked. Water dripped steadily from the bottom of his heavy dark coat, making a wet puddle on the wooden floor.
Without saying a word, Wenzhe reached up and unfastened the heavy silver clasp at his neck. Slowly, he pulled off his heavy, wet outer coat, leaving himself in only a thin, white undershirt that stuck damply to his broad chest and wide shoulders.
Yueqing’s eyes went huge. She instantly whipped her head away, staring hard at the wooden wall.
[Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look!] her inner voice chanted frantically, ringing loud and clear inside Wenzhe’s head. [He is just taking off wet clothes. It’s totally normal. A completely sensible choice! Absolutely no reason to look at his—]
She took a peek. Just a tiny, tiny little glance.
[OH GOODNESS ME,] her brain shrieked instantly, totally betraying her self-control.
Through the damp, thin shirt, the sharp lines of his chest and stomach muscles were clearly visible. His arms were thick, strong, and covered in faint, light scars from past battles. Water drops slid slowly down his collarbone, tracing his sharp jaw and dripping from his dark hair, which hung loosely around his face instead of its usual tight hair bun.
Wenzhe paused mid-motion, catching her very obvious glance. A faint heat flickered in his dark eyes as he listened to her inner thoughts running completely wild.
Yueqing panicked, her cheeks turning a bright, burning red. Trying desperately to act normal, she began digging frantically through the small storage box on the bench beside her.
"Ugh, you’re dripping water all over the seat!" Yueqing grumbled out loud, her voice squeaking just a bit as she searched through the wooden box. "Here... let me find something before you turn this whole carriage into a pond!"
Her fingers finally grabbed a small, soft cloth at the bottom of the box.
"Aha!" Victory in hand, she turned around, holding out the dry cloth for his arm. "Take this and dry yourself off before you—"
CLACK-JOLT!
The heavy carriage wheel hit a deep, mud-filled hole in the road.
The entire carriage shook violently to one side. Yueqing completely lost her footing. With a loud gasp, she flew forward, the cloth flying right out of her hand as her body crashed straight into Wenzhe’s broad chest.
Wenzhe moved like lighting. His strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist and back, catching her fall and pulling her close against him so she wouldn’t slam onto the hard wooden floor.
Silence fell over the carriage, except for the loud tapping of rain against the roof.
Yueqing was pressed completely against him. Her face was buried right near his neck, smelling the fresh scent of rain and warm wood. She could feel how solid his chest was beneath her hands, his hot skin radiating through the thin shirt, and the steady, strong thud of his heart against her cheek.
[ABORT MISSION! DANGER! DANGER!] Yueqing’s inner voice screamed in total meltdown, ringing like a loud alarm bell straight inside his mind. [MY FACE IS ON HIS NECK! HE IS BARELY WEARING ANYTHING! WHY IS HE SO WARM?! NINE, HELP ME, HE HAS TOO MANY MUSCLES!]
Wenzhe’s breath hitched. Holding her soft body so tightly in his arms, while her hilariously panicked inner voice screamed in his ears, was pushing his self-control to the absolute limit.
His hand tightened just a little around her waist, his deep voice whispering right beside her ear.
"Are you done falling into my arms today, Wife?" Wenzhe asked softly, his wet hair brushing against her burning cheek. "Or was this part of your lesson?"