Chapter 118: Entangled in a Romantic Debt

Is this a joke?

From the very beginning, he had stated that he wished to have a word with the Chu fellow. Was the Xie fellow incapable of understanding human language? Did he truly think Du Qi'an was someone to be trifled with? And the Chu fellow was even more insufferable; could he not have stepped in to say a word or two? He had to let this mad dog come to prick at him.

Sensing Du Qi'an’s resentful gaze, Shen Zhao finally decided to speak: "Yuheng, since Lord Du has matters to discuss with me, wait for me a moment. Once I finish my official business, we shall return to the Imperial Camp together."

She had deliberately allowed Xie Yuheng to needle Du Qi'an so that he might have some reservations in the future and not act so wildly in the capital city. After all, she still held a contract with the Du family.

"Since Brother Chu has said so, I shall go lead the horses and wait for you at the palace gate," Xie Yuheng said, casting a fierce glare at Du Qi'an, his eyes filled with warning.

Du Qi'an: "..." This Xie Yuheng must be mentally ill. Why warn him? As if he would eat the Chu fellow alive.

"General Chu, the silver was delivered yesterday. I ask that you give me a firm answer: when will you return the members of my Du family?"

Yesterday, upon returning to the Vice Minister’s residence, he had received a letter from his father asking if he had managed to retrieve Du Kang, as some people were already losing their patience. He had spent the night writing a reply, informing his father about the situation with the Chu family. The matter was now urgent; someone from the Du family’s business branch had to return. Others were already growing restless, and their main branch could not afford to wait any longer.

"Do not be impatient, Lord Du. I keep my word and will never go back on it. As for the people, I could send them to you right now, but it would be hard to say whether they will still follow the Du family's orders afterward. After all, Lord Du, you must give your family time to accept this situation, must you not?"

Du Qi'an thought of Du Renqing’s attitude toward Du Kang. If the Chu fellow were to hand them over now, he truly dared not receive them. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I ask that General Chu persuade Du Renqing as soon as possible."

He then remembered something else and continued, "In the future, if you need to find me, just send the secret guard you dispatched yesterday. My servants have all memorized his appearance, so there won't be another misunderstanding that might damage the friendship between our two houses."

Shen Zhao understood exactly what Du Qi'an meant by "servants."

"Then I thank you, Lord Du."

"No need!" If it weren't for his family, he wouldn't want to deal with the Chu fellow for even a second. Nothing good ever came from having any dealings with him. His father had told him to befriend the powerful families in the capital, yet he hadn't even made one friend and had already offended the Xie family. It was truly stifling. He flicked his robes and walked away quickly.

When Shen Zhao arrived at the palace gate, Xie Yuheng was craning his neck, peering down the main road.

The moment he saw "Brother Chu," he grinned, revealing a row of teeth. "Brother Chu, over here!" he shouted, waving his arms.

Looking at the simple, sunny-natured youth, Shen Zhao couldn't help but smile. "Yuheng, you’ve been waiting a long time, haven't you? Come, let me take you to get something to eat in the city before we head back to camp."

Shen Zhao took the reins from a guard and mounted her horse. Xie Yuheng looked at her with excitement. Brother Chu was going to treat him to a meal! Oh... oh... he was so excited!

"Not long! Brother Chu, do you know which shop in the city has the best breakfast?"

Shen Zhao truly did not know; after all, she hadn't been in the capital for many years. When her father first arrived in the capital, she rarely left the residence for fear of causing trouble and implicating him. After marrying into the Chu family, she had even fewer opportunities to step outside.

"I actually don't know, Yuheng. Do you? You choose the place, and I will treat."

Xie Yuheng had been waiting for just those words. He chuckled, "Follow me, Brother Chu! I’ll take you to taste everything in this capital. There isn't a single wonton shop with thin skin and thick meat, or a noodle shop with springy, smooth noodles, or a bun shop with juicy fillings that I don't know about."

The two rode into the city. Once they reached the bustling market, they dismounted and walked among the crowd, leading their horses. Shen Zhao looked at the vibrant, ordinary life of the city. She couldn't remember the last time she had been able to wander through a crowd so freely and without a care in the world.

Suddenly, a cry of alarm rang out from directly in front of them. "Move aside! A horse has bolted! Move aside!"

Following the cry, Shen Zhao saw a white colt galloping toward them, carrying a young woman in a red robe. The girl’s face was pale, and she was struggling desperately to control the horse to keep it from hitting the pedestrians.

"My... my father is Chen Dingtian! Anyone who has suffered losses may come to my Duke of Protecting the State’s residence to claim compensation!"

This girl was actually Chen Dingtian’s daughter.

Shen Zhao said to Xie Yuheng, "Yuheng, let us work together to subdue this horse. We must not let it harm any innocent people."

Xie Yuheng nodded. "Understood, Brother Chu."

The two charged toward the horse. Xie Yuheng leaped first, his movements swift and ruthless; with one kick, he sent the girl in red flying off the horse’s back.

Shen Zhao was stunned. Damn it! She had asked him to subdue the horse, not to kick Chen Dingtian’s daughter off of it!

"Ah... help..."

Shen Zhao gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, and leaped into the air to catch the girl. If Xie Yuheng hadn't been the one to kick her, she certainly wouldn't have gone out of her way to catch her. If anything happened to this Miss Chen today, the Chen and Xie families would surely become mortal enemies, and she herself would never know peace. Xie Wenyun had only just entrusted Xie Yuheng to her, and he had already caused such a disaster. It would be a miracle if the Xie family spared her.

Xie Yuheng subdued the horse in just two or three moves. Shen Zhao caught Miss Chen and landed steadily on the ground. However, even though they had landed, the girl was still clutching her neck tightly. What was the meaning of this? Was she still in shock?

Shen Zhao suppressed her annoyance and said in a low, gentle voice, "Miss... Miss, you are safe now. Could you please let go?"

She had already retracted her hands, but the girl was clinging to her like an octopus. Heaven is my witness, although she was a woman in soul, her body was Chu Mu’s, and she felt embarrassed, alright?

"I won't! Since you’ve already held me, you must take responsibility for me." As she spoke, Chen Baoyi tightened her grip around Shen Zhao’s neck even further.

Shen Zhao was stunned. She had saved the wrong person! "Miss, I only held you because... well, I only touched you to save you. Please, have some self-respect."

Chen Baoyi lifted her head, her clear, watery eyes meeting Shen Zhao’s. She pouted her crimson lips and said, "If you hold me, you have to marry me. You saved my life, so it’s only natural that I offer myself to you, isn't it?"

It was a problem—a massive, catastrophic problem. First, she was a woman; second, she could never marry Chen Dingtian’s daughter. If she had known this would happen, she would have let her fall to her death.

"Miss, please let go." Shen Zhao reached out to pry Chen Baoyi’s hands from her neck.

Chen Baoyi bit her lip, her watery eyes slowly turning red. She would not let go of these hands, no matter what. Her father wanted her to marry the Third Prince, but she refused. Besides, the person who saved her was so handsome, heroic, and martial—just like her father. Especially the moment he caught her; it had truly struck a chord in her heart. She rarely came to the capital and had never seen him before, but he was wearing official robes and appeared to be a general. She had always adored men who fought on the battlefield to protect the nation; this man was exactly how she imagined her future husband. She was determined to marry him.