Chapter 18: Caught While Bathing

Leaf turned around, looking at me in panic, lowering her voice, "Miss, Master Ma has returned!"

I wrapped myself tightly in the quilt. It was all Leaf’s fault—making me take a bath that lasted an entire hour. Leaf stood there, helpless, stammering, "Ma... Master Ma, please wait outside for a moment!"

Leaf hurriedly began tidying up, but the door suddenly flew open with a kick from Ma Wencai. "What’s going on here?" He paused for a moment, sniffing the air. "Why does it smell so fragrant?"

Leaf quickly hid the scattered items behind her back. "My young master just finished bathing, so... the room smells a bit strong."

Ma Wencai scanned the room and then walked straight toward me. My heart pounded wildly with fear—Ma Wencai was capable of anything.

He stood by my bedside for a long time without coming closer. Neither Leaf nor I dared to breathe loudly. Suddenly, he stepped forward and reached out his hand. Leaf hurried to block him. "Master Ma, what are you trying to do?"

Squinting, Ma Wencai appraised me and Leaf. "I just wanted to see if Brother Yiqing has sobered up. Why are you so nervous?"

"I... I’m not nervous at all! Absolutely not!" Leaf bravely defended.

Ma Wencai glanced at me, then his eyes fell on the foot of the bed. Damn, it was the red silk ribbon sticking out. Faster than Leaf, he snatched it out. "What’s this?"

"This is my young master’s belt," Leaf mumbled a haphazard excuse.

Ma Wencai sneered, skeptical. "A belt? I’ve never seen Brother Yiqing wear one."

Leaf yanked the red silk from his hand and stuffed it back under the quilt. "Of course you haven’t. It’s new."

"Oh! New," Ma Wencai said as he approached the wooden bucket, lifting the box filled with bottles and jars. "Your young master lives quite exquisitely. Even the princess in the palace wouldn’t live like this."

Leaf hastily took the box and covered it. "Master Ma, please don’t mess with my young master’s things. It’s nearly noon. You should go eat."

Ma Wencai glanced outside. "Is it? Almost noon. Isn’t your young master eating? Let’s go together."

"My young master needs to change. Master Ma, you go ahead."

But Ma Wencai didn’t leave—he sat on the edge of the bed. "Then Brother Yiqing, get up and change. I’ll wait for you."

I was done for—completely ruined. If I’d known it would come to this, I would have never taken a bath. I curled up under the quilt, motionless. Leaf froze too, unsure what to do. Seeing my silence, Ma Wencai reached to pull the quilt. "I suppose Brother Yiqing is still drunk. Let me help you."

"Ah!" I shouted, "Ma Wencai, don’t do anything reckless!"

It would be no problem if I were dressed, but I was naked—I absolutely couldn’t be exposed.

Leaf immediately covered the quilt. "Master Ma, my young master, he’s afraid of catching a chill."

I nodded vaguely. Ma Wencai withdrew his hand. Leaf and I both breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Wencai laughed, "Afraid of catching a chill? Yet you take cold baths? Look at Brother Yiqing, sweating all over. It’s obviously because the quilt is too thick. I remember Brother Yiqing never covers himself when sleeping—how could he be afraid of cold?"

As he spoke, Ma Wencai reached out again. I clung to the quilt, holding back. Judging from his expression, he wasn’t giving me any way out. I had to make one last plea. "Ma Wencai, didn’t you say that once I drank that cup of wine, you wouldn’t trouble me anymore? It’s only been one night—have you forgotten?"

Ma Wencai paused, then released the quilt. "I, Ma Wencai, keep my word. I never go back on my promises."

Watching him leave the room, Leaf and I finally exhaled deeply. Ah, my head was spinning—must have been from the tension. It was truly a matter of life and death.

Leaf hurried to lock the door and wiped my sweat with a handkerchief. Just as she finished tidying the room, a knock came at the door. Whoever it was, it wasn’t Ma Wencai.

Leaf opened the door. Wang Lantian entered carrying a tray of food, followed by Acheng with another tray. "Yiqing, I heard you caught a chill. I asked Acheng to prepare extra food."

"Thank you, Brother Lantian. It’s really troublesome for you all. Actually, I just overslept!" I realized I was quite honest.

Wang Lantian chuckled lightly. "I see."

Before I could eat much, Xie Daoyun and Liang Zhu arrived. "Brother Yiqing, we heard you were sick. Mr. Xie specially came to see you."

Wang Lantian and I stood and cupped our hands. "Sir."

Xie Daoyun nodded to us. "Brother Lantian is here as well!"

"Brother Lantian and Brother Yiqing are the closest friends in this academy," Liang Shanbo interjected, while Zhu Yingtai frowned beside him.

Xie Daoyun smiled. "Is that so? Yiqing, are you feeling better?"

"I’m fine. If you want to talk about the best friends here, it’s definitely Shanbo and Yingtai."

Zhu Yingtai smiled. "Naturally. Shanbo and I are sworn brothers—not like ordinary people."

That Zhu Yingtai was indeed a little woman.

Xie Daoyun glanced at the table. I quickly responded, "Sir, have you eaten lunch yet?"

Xie Daoyun looked at Wang Lantian and me for a while, then smiled. "Yes, I have. Since you’re well, we’ll leave you to eat before the food gets cold."

"Safe travels, sir."

To be honest, Xie Daoyun’s gaze just now was strange. I felt she was scheming something.

"Yiqing, why does your room smell so fragrant?" Wang Lantian looked around.

"Oh, I just lit some incense. Let’s eat quickly—this afternoon the teacher will teach us horseback riding and combat. You’ll get kicked off if you’re hungry."

Having just praised my honesty, I immediately contradicted myself.

"Mm," Wang Lantian took a bite and looked at me. "Yiqing, why did you defend Ma Wencai yesterday?"

"Brother Lantian, you misunderstood. I wasn’t defending him. Those were just my own thoughts. I’m the type who can’t keep things inside."

Wang Lantian nodded and didn’t press further.

I felt Wang Lantian was good in this respect. He never gossiped or pried, and even if he had questions, he wouldn’t dig deep like Liang Shanbo or harbor petty suspicions like Ma Wencai.

That afternoon, Xie Daoyun took us to the back mountain for practical drills. We split into two groups: Ma Wencai and his men in one group, and me with Liang Zhu and Wang Lantian in the other. Most importantly, Xie Daoyun was our squad leader, while the other group was led by Master Chen, which made me secretly delighted. With a person like him in charge, the country would have long since fallen.

"Two armies, listen up! Wooden swords and spears on the field. Drill until called off," Xie Daoyun commanded.

Master Chen raised his wooden sword. "Everyone, listen up! The drill begins."