Time Is Slow - Chapter 7
Qiao Zhao realized her slip of the tongue. Under the surprised gazes of the others, she raised her eyes to look at Chi Can and calmly asked, “When are we returning to the capital?”
For a moment, the three men fell silent.
After all, she was just a young girl. Having experienced such a tragedy, all she could think about was going home as soon as possible. Zhu Yan thought.
Yang Houcheng, on the other hand, wondered.
Did the little girl’s careless words make Shi Xi even angrier?
Chi Can was indeed very angry.
This girl repeatedly claimed to admire Mr. Qiao, yet she remained indifferent to the annihilation of the Qiao family and only cared about going home as soon as possible. This shows how cold-hearted she is. Perhaps her so-called reverence for Mr. Qiao was just a facade to fool him.
Qiao Zhao withdrew her gaze.
Had she barely managed to cover up her lapse? As for others’ displeasure, she had no energy to deal with it.
“Ah, so the esteemed guests are from the capital! Pardon me, pardon me.” The village chief personally poured tea for the four, breaking the subtle and awkward atmosphere.
Qiao Zhao remained immersed in her own thoughts.
Judging by the timeline, news of her death had likely not yet reached here. Her husband’s family was in the capital, and so was her maternal family. If her elder brother had left here, the most likely place he would go was the capital.
But with such a disaster at home, why hadn’t her brother stayed in Apricot Grove to mourn? Why had he left in such a hurry?
Qiao Zhao felt a vague sense of strangeness, but the immense grief weighed on her heart, preventing deeper contemplation. Only one thought remained: Go back to the capital—she had to find her brother!
She didn’t hear any of the conversation around her until Chi Can stood up and said coolly, “We need to return to Jiafeng City. No need to stay for a meal.”
She numbly followed the three of them outside.
Chi Can led his horse, his gaze sharp and displeased. “What are you dawdling for? If you don’t hurry up, you might as well stay here.”
Stay?
Qiao Zhao’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
If she could, she wanted to stay more than anyone. This was her home!
“Do you really want to stay?” Chi Can raised an eyebrow, growing more impatient.
Qiao Zhao shook her head, took a step forward, and reached out her hand to Chi Can.
He grabbed her wrist without hesitation and lifted her directly onto the horse.
The wind howled fiercely, cutting across Qiao Zhao’s face like a knife, and simultaneously cutting into her heart.
So, spring wind could be this cold too.
With this thought, Qiao Zhao looked back for the last time, her gaze lingering on the village being left behind.
The sky was filled with evening clouds, blending seamlessly with the apricot forest that isolated all ugliness and beauty, leaving only the village’s tranquility and peace.
Wisps of smoke curled up from chimneys, and everything seemed just as it had been.
Only the girl riding away on horseback knew what she had lost.
When the dust stirred by the horse hooves finally settled, a shadow slipped out from a corner of Apricot Grove, quietly leaving as well.
Qiao Zhao and her companions managed to enter the city before the gates closed. They chose the best inn in town to settle down.
After the city gates slowly shut, someone hurriedly arrived.
“The gates are closed. If you want to enter, come back early tomorrow!” The guard said impatiently.
The person took out a token from his sleeve and flashed it before the guard.
The guard’s expression changed immediately, stuttering, “So… so you are—”
“What are you babbling about? Open the gate!”
“Yes!” The guard scrambled to open the gate. Only when the figure had walked far away did he dare to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
“Boss, who was that?” A subordinate leaned in curiously.
The guard looked around cautiously before whispering three fearsome words: “Jin Lin Guard!”
The ordinary-looking Jin Lin Guard moved through the city with practiced ease, taking winding paths before entering a courtyard.
Under a crabapple tree in the courtyard sat a man in black, alone at a stone table, drinking by himself. Not far away, several men stood silently.
As soon as the Jin Lin Guard entered, the others immediately became vigilant. Seeing who it was, they relaxed slightly.
The guard quickly approached the man in black, saluted, and said, “Master.”
The man in black set his cup down, glanced at him, and asked, “Any unusual activity in Apricot Grove?”
“Reporting to the master, today there were three men and one woman who went to Apricot Grove. The woman was dressed as a man, and then the four of them went to see the village chief of Baiyun Village.” The guard paused, then added, “They are from the capital and have already entered the city.”
The man in black nodded, then turned his gaze to sweep over the others.
A few men immediately straightened their expressions.
“Go and investigate who those people are.”
“Yes.”
The next day, before dawn, Qiao Zhao and her companions quietly left the city, abandoned their horses for a boat, and continued northward.
Their movements were quickly reported back to the man in black.
“Chi Can, son of Princess Changrong; Zhu Yan, heir of Marquis Taining; Yang Houcheng, heir of Marquis Liuxing…” the man in black recited the three names, pausing as his calm expression took on a hint of confusion, “the daughter of Li Xiuzhuan, Li San?”
He pondered for a moment, murmuring, “How did a young girl end up with those three?”
The subordinates stood silently, clearly not daring to interrupt their superior’s thoughts.
The man in black gave his orders: “In order to reach the capital from Jiafeng, they must pass through Baoling. Contact the Jin Lin Guard stationed there and see if they have any information.”
“What about Apricot Grove, master?” a plain-looking subordinate asked.
“Keep watching. There’s something unusual about the fire at the Qiao residence.”
Just then, another subordinate entered. “Master, there’s a letter from the capital.”
The man in black reached out, took the letter, and only needed a glance before he froze.
“Master?” The subordinates couldn’t help but speak up.
The man in black clenched the letter and said in a calm tone, “Pack my luggage. The Grand Commander has ordered me to return to the capital as soon as possible.”
The subordinates were shocked, but the man offered no explanation. With his hands behind his back, he strolled out of the room, gazing up at the crabapple tree that had just begun to bud, a slight smirk on his lips.
He had been in Jiafeng for quite some time—it was about time to return. He wondered what mistake Jiang Wu had made to make the Grand Commander decide to have him replaced.
The man quickly set aside this doubt. Thinking of traveling alongside that interesting group of four, he couldn’t help but smile.
On the boat heading back, the atmosphere among Qiao Zhao and her companions was far from pleasant.
Zhu Yan held a chess piece, his usually gentle demeanor on the verge of collapse. He said helplessly, “Shi Xi, if you’re in a bad mood, just vent. Isn’t sulking over chess torturing everyone?”
Chi Can lifted his eyelids slightly and said coolly, “This is me venting.”
Zhu Yan choked on his words.
So, he was the one being tortured!
He couldn’t help but cast a pleading glance at Yang Houcheng.
Yang Houcheng shrugged, indicating he couldn’t help, and gestured subtly toward Qiao Zhao.
Zhu Yan’s eyes lit up but then dimmed as he shook his head.
Forget it. He could bear the suffering himself—why drag the young girl into this?
Chi Can caught the exchange between the two, his gaze sweeping over the quietly sitting Qiao Zhao. He said blandly, “Li San, come play chess with me!”
Qiao Zhao’s brows twitched slightly. She stood up silently and moved to sit across from Chi Can.
Zhu Yan gave her an apologetic look and stood to make room.
Qiao Zhao sat down and continued the half-played game.
Leaning against the railing, Zhu Yan murmured to Yang Houcheng, “Shi Xi is in a foul mood—why involve others?”
Yang Houcheng glanced at Qiao Zhao’s back.
The girl sat gracefully, like a plum blossom quietly blooming.
He chuckled softly, teasing, “Zi Zhe, are you feeling soft-hearted?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. She’s still a young girl who hasn’t reached adulthood—”
“So, it’ll be fine once she does?”
“Yang Houcheng!” Zhu Yan’s face darkened.
Seeing his friend truly upset, Yang Houcheng stopped joking and whispered, “You know Shi Xi’s unpredictable temper. If he doesn’t vent, none of us will have a good time on this trip.”
“Haven’t I been playing chess with him this whole time?” Zhu Yan sighed.
Since this journey to Jiafeng was his idea, he could only bear whatever bad luck came their way.
“What good does that do? Can’t you see that Shi Xi is particularly annoyed by that young girl? Who told her to talk so big, insisting that going to the Qiao family would fulfill her wish, and in the end—”
Before they could finish, a crisp clattering sound interrupted them. Both looked over.
Chi Can had thrown his chess piece into the chess container, saying coldly, “I’m done.”
Qiao Zhao held a chess piece in her fingers, looking at him unhurriedly.
This person had such poor self-control. No wonder Grandfather never taught him—
Thinking of her grandfather and that devastating fire, a sharp pain pierced Qiao Zhao’s heart, leaving her expression as numb as a puppet’s.
Chi Can felt even more stifled and sneered, “Li San, didn’t you say I wouldn’t achieve my goal without taking you along? And what was the result of bringing you?”
His words were like a sharp blade, stabbing deep into Qiao Zhao’s heart.
She endured the pain and asked softly, “I wonder, Brother Chi, what exactly were you hoping to achieve by visiting the Qiao family?”