When people were in Qin, they captured Zhao and questioned Qin.

Chapter 20 Wait a minute

As Ying Zheng quickly turned the corner, he saw Zhao Ji kneeling on the ground, supporting herself with one hand while the other hand hung blankly in mid-air, as if trying to grab something but failing.

She tilted her head back, her beautiful eyes wide open, staring straight at Zhao Heng. Her lips were slightly parted, but no sound came out. Her hair was a little loose, and a few strands of black hair fell around her neck, trembling gently with her rapid breathing.

Two steps away from her, Zhao Heng had already stood up and was brushing the mud off his robes. His brows furrowed slightly as he brushed, indicating that he had fallen quite hard, but he still managed to quickly glance at Zhao Ji between brushings, shaking his head slightly to signal her to calm down.

Both of them were covered in mud—Zhao Ji's skirt and elbows, Zhao Heng's shoulders and cuffs, and the dust kicked up when they fell, all finely settling between the fabrics.

There were drag marks on the ground, stretching from the edge of the stone steps to between the two people. A small patch of moss on the stone steps had been rubbed off, revealing the damp, dark brown underneath.

"Mother, what's wrong...?"

Ying Zheng hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to help Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji used the momentum to stand up, her movements somewhat hurried. Even after she was standing still, she did not dare to raise her head completely, but instead lowered her eyes and patted the mud off her skirt.

"N-nothing, I just slipped and fell..."

As she said this, she suddenly looked up at Zhao Heng, her beautiful eyes quickly sweeping over his chest.

Then she noticed a small bulge on the front of Zhao Heng's robe, almost imperceptible unless one looked closely. But Zhao Ji knew what it was, and quickly moved away as if burned, adding awkwardly, "It was Young Master Zhao who pulled me up, but he fell down with me..."

Ying Zheng followed her gaze and looked at Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng had finished dusting off the dirt and was straightening his clothes. His robe was wide and loose, and as he straightened it, he lightly pressed his fingers against his chest, causing the fabric to fall neatly, concealing all the outlines that shouldn't be visible.

"The ground is slippery with moss, so it's easy to be careless. I'm glad you're alright, Madam." He raised his head, frowned, and gave Ying Zheng a smile.

"Mother, please be careful." Ying Zheng released his hand from hers and nodded to Zhao Heng as a sign of gratitude.

Just then, Yan Dan's clear laughter came from outside the courtyard gate, mixed with Ji Cheng and Luan Ding's hushed responses. It was clear that the two men, who had just finished distributing the grain and cloth, had met Yan Dan, who had just arrived, in the alley.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's lingering embarrassment deepened. Only then did she notice the mud on Zhao Heng's robes. Her heart tightened, and guilt welled up within her. Almost instinctively, she took a step forward.

"Young master, your back is covered in dirt, I..."

Halfway through her sentence, she caught sight of Ying Zheng standing silently to the side out of the corner of her eye, and a sudden, inexplicable unease gripped her heart. The rest of her words caught in her throat. She bit her lower lip and changed her words, saying, "Zheng'er, go and brush the dirt off Young Master Zhao's back."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng stepped forward.

Zhao Heng was at his wit's end.

He's just a little kid, why is Zhao Ji feeling guilty?

He had hoped that Zhao Ji would take the opportunity to send Ying Zheng away to fetch Yan Dan so that he could return her clothes, but he did not expect that Zhao Ji would feel guilty and instead push Ying Zheng towards her.

If Ying Zheng gets close, even just to brush off some dirt, he might discover what's hidden in his robes...

That scene...

In a flash, Zhao Heng had already taken half a step back, waving his hand with a smile: "It's nothing, it's just a little bit of dirt, I'll just change it when I get back."

As he spoke, he turned to look outside the courtyard, listened intently to the sounds outside, and then smiled at Ying Zheng, asking, "Is that Prince Dan outside?"

Only then did Zhao Ji belatedly realize what was going on.

Should Zheng'er go and brush the dirt off Zhao Heng? If Zheng'er really goes forward, what if he notices the clothes hidden in his arms...?

Her cheeks flushed instantly, both embarrassed and flustered. She quickly followed Zhao Heng's words, saying, "Yes, I heard the commotion just now. Zheng'er, since it's Prince Dan, go and greet him. Mother will come as soon as she's ready."

Upon hearing Yan Dan's voice outside, Ying Zheng stopped thinking about it, nodded, and followed Zhao Heng to the front courtyard.

The two walked out of the narrow inner courtyard one after the other. Zhao Heng could feel the soft, warm fabric against his chest, carrying the faint scent of soap and a subtle, warm, melancholic aura of a mature woman.

He smiled slightly, his wide robe swaying naturally with his steps, concealing everything perfectly.

Only Zhao Ji remained in the inner courtyard.

She turned her head and looked at the two bamboo poles in the corner of the wall.

The pole was empty.

Several light brown undergarments, which had been hanging there just moments before, swaying gently in the breeze, are now gone. Not a single one remains.

Zhao Ji could feel her ears burning incredibly hot.

She remembered the way the clothes flew off when she fell, the moment Zhao Heng's face was covered, and the series of actions the boy quickly took off, rolled up, and stuffed into his arms.

Those few pieces of clothing belonging to her most private parts disappeared beneath his indigo collar.

She looked down at her empty hands, then looked up in the direction Zhao Heng had left, unconsciously biting her lower lip, leaving deep teeth marks.

……

In the courtyard, Yan Dan stood with her hands behind her back, not daring to go into the house.

When he saw Zhao Heng and Ying Zheng come out together, a clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes, which then turned into a smile. He first bowed to Zhao Heng.

After Zhao Heng returned the greeting, Yan Dan turned to Ying Zheng and said with a smile, "Just now at the alley entrance, I saw someone distributing millet and cloth from house to house. I thought it was some kind person giving alms. But when I asked, I found out it was someone from Prince Heng's men... Zheng, you have guests today, so I've come at an inopportune time."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted between Zhao Heng and Ying Zheng. Although the probing look on his face was hidden beneath a smile, Zhao Heng could still sense it.

Zhao Heng smiled slightly: "Young Master Dan is joking. I came here today to pay my respects to Brother Zheng, and it just so happens that Brother Yan Dan is also here to visit. How can it be considered unlucky? On the contrary, I am sorry that I have come so abruptly and may have disturbed your conversation."

Seeing Zhao Heng emerge unharmed, Ji Cheng and Luan Ding, who were guarding the courtyard gate, relaxed their tense expressions and bowed in unison. Zhao Heng nodded slightly to them, and the two returned to their original positions, their hands still resting on their sword hilts as they scanned the alleyway.

Yan Dan then looked Zhao Heng up and down again and said with a smile, "I heard what you said a few days ago, and although I admire your spirit, I never thought you would come back to seek political advice so soon. You are indeed a man of your word."

Zhao Heng laughed frankly, "Young Master Dan flatters me. Since I said I would come, I should certainly see you off. If I didn't come, wouldn't I be looked down upon by you?"

Yan Dan was taken aback upon hearing this. He opened his mouth to reply, but then saw Zhao Ji walk out from the inner courtyard, so he swallowed his words.

Zhao Ji had tidied herself up a bit. Her hair was styled in a new bun, with stray strands tucked behind her ears, and the blush on her face had faded slightly. However, the mud stains on her skirt were still there, impossible to remove, a grayish-yellow stain that stood out starkly against her plain dress.

Yan Dan didn't ask any further questions, but first bowed to Zhao Ji, saying, "Aunt."

Zhao Ji returned the greeting, her voice now gentle and warm: "Young Master Dan is so kind as to visit Zheng'er so often."

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Knowing that the strange object in his robes should not be kept for long, and that Yan Dan's visit would make his presence inconvenient, Zhao Heng took the opportunity to bow to Zhao Ji, Ying Zheng, and Yan Dan, saying:

"Since Young Master Dan has come to visit my brother Zheng, I will not trouble you any further. I have seen that my brother Zheng is well today, and my wish has been fulfilled. I will take my leave now. We will meet again another day."

His words were reasonable, so Ying Zheng glanced at his mother upon hearing them. Seeing that Zhao Ji's lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated, he prepared to see her off according to protocol.

Yan Dan also felt that it made sense, smiled and nodded, and was about to say some polite words.

Zhao Ji suddenly exclaimed urgently, "Young master, please wait!"