Chapter 210: Back to the Capital
The only sound that could be heard from miles away was the hoof of a horse as it stormed down the rough road that led back to the city.
Han Shuying had traveled for three days straight without making any stop along the way. She was pressed for time and understood the importance of acting quickly if her plan was going to work.
Her cloak was covered in dust as she made her way through the city. Nobody paid attention to her as she rode through, the signs of a failing ruler evident wherever she looked.
Empress Lihua had increased taxes shortly before she had left to trail Qingyue and her group, but had done nothing to improve the standard of living. Even now, there were soldiers harassing a man because he was still owing his tax for the previous farming season.
It was a very pitiful sight that made Han Shuying look away. She hadn’t expected things to become worse like this.
Her eyes fell on a certain soldier as she entered the palace gates. He was one of Empress Lihua’s men. Han Shuying already knew that he was going to report her arrival to the Empress.
It was only when Han Shuying got to her residence that she brought the horse to a stop and came down. Her entire body ached, her legs already cramping from being in the same position for two long.
"Miss Han Shuying..." It was Lu Feng, the head maid in her residence. The older woman gave her a low bow. "Welcome back. I’ll have the maids run you a bath and prepare dinner. Anything else you’d like?"
Han Shuying patted her on the shoulder. "That will be all Lu Feng. If possible, don’t let my father know that I’m back. Tell the other maids to keep it down."
Lu Feng nodded. "I’m happy you came back safe, we were all worried."
Han Shuying flashed her a tight smile. "Have a little faith in me." With that she walked inside, making straight for her inner chamber.
Everything was as she’d left it. Many royal scrolls scattered on her table, Ru Yi’s old robes still on the floor behind the changing screen. She’d instructed Lu Feng not to discard them.
Han Shuying walked over to the screen and picked it up. Without an ounce of shame she pressed the fabric to her nose and sniffed. It still had Ru Yi’s flowery scent on it, with a bit of the dust that had slipped in through the windows.
"I’m going to get you back," she whispered, taking another sniff. She’d planned to whisk Ru Yi away after she helped the princesses with Ashen Fortress. But then...General Sheng had attacked and upset the balance of her plan.
She wasn’t angry that the triplets had given Ru Yi away so the General could call off his men. Not really. It was sensible considering many innocent lives were at stake. She of all people understood that.
Except Han Shuying had never been sensible since the day she was born. That was the difference between her and Qingyue. Both playing the villain and the hero respectively.
Han Shuying would’ve let Ashen Fortress burn to the ground if it meant keeping Ru Yi by her side. That was the huge difference between them.
There was a soft knock on the door before two maids bearing two buckets of water came in. They gave a low bow in unison.
Han Shuying simply nodded towards the bathtub and moved out of the way so they could fill it with clean water. It took them three trips for them to fill it up.
"I don’t want to be disturbed," Han Shuying told them. "Tell Lu Feng to make dinner very lightly. I don’t want to upset my stomach."
The maids nodded and left.
Han Shuying finally pushed the cloak off her shoulders before taking off her robe. She walked barefoot to her bed and dropped Ru Yi’s robe there.
One of her virtues was patience. She knew had to wait. Eventually she would have Ru Yi by her side if everything went according to her new plan.
She froze when she heard the door to her room open. "I thought I said I didn’t want to be disturbed?" she asked in a voice coated with annoyance.
"Oh dear..." a pair of slender arms coiled around her waist. "I thought you’d be eager to see me after being away for so long."
Han Shuying’s face fell when Empress Lihua’s sultry voice filtered through her ears. "That was fast. I didn’t think I’d see you till tomorrow."
Empress Lihua buried her face in the curve of Han Shuying’s neck. "Unlike you...I missed you deeply. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were avoiding me."
Disgust spread through every part of Han Shuying’s skin that came in contact with Empress Lihua’s. "I’m not avoiding you."
"Then why are you not hugging me back?" she murmured, her voice muffled by Han Shuying’s neck. "How was your trip?"
Han Shuying finally pulled away and turned to face her. "My trip was fine. Why are you really here?"
Empress Lihua’s gaze swept through Han Shuying’s unclad body before meeting her eyes. "You spent some time with the maid and now I’m not enough for you?"
Han Shuying forced a sad smile onto her face. "We both know that’s not true. I’m just filthy from traveling and don’t want the dirt to get on you."
Empress Lihua raised a hand to cup the younger woman’s cheeks. "You know I don’t mind. Even if you rolled in the dirt I’d never turn you away."
Han Shuying knew better than to trust her words or the soft smile on her face. She buried the side of her face in the woman’s palm. "I did miss you."
Empress Lihua didn’t show any sign of not believing her words. "Did you?"
Han Shuying nodded. "A lot. That was why I hurried back to you." She pressed a kiss to the inside of her palm."
A smirk bloomed on Empress Lihua’s face. "Why don’t you get on your knees and show me how much you missed me?"