Chapter 179: Weight of unspoken things

Ru Yi stood by the tall window, one hand resting against the weathered wooden frame as she watched Qingyue and Han Shuying speak in the courtyard below.

The distance between them was too great for her to hear their conversation, but she could read enough from their expression to know it wasn’t going well.

Han Shuying stood with her arms folded, her face serious. While Qingyue listened with a tension that seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment.

Then—

Qingyue’s shoulders stiffened. It made Ru Yi’s fingers tighten around the edge of the window. What was Han Shuying telling her? Could it be about the Empress’s seal?

Her stomach twisted at the thought. She’d already told Han Shuying that she would confess herself. But could she really trust the sinister smile that was currently on her face?

Watching Qingyue’s expression from the window, Ru Yi couldn’t shake off the feeling that Han Shuying had already exposed her.

"What do you think they’re talking about?"

Lieyin’s voice came from behind Ru Yi, startling her out of her thoughts. She turned slightly to see Lieyin standing a few steps away, watching the pair in the courtyard as well.

"I don’t know," Ru Yi stuttered as she turned back to the window.

Lieyin walked over and leaned against the wall beside her. "What did you offer Han Shuying that made her agree to bring us all the way to Ashen Fortress? You never did answer this question."

Ru Yi remained silent.

Lieyin glanced at her, watching the rigid planes of her face. "You really did make a deal with her."

"It doesn’t matter anymore," Ru Yi muttered. "We found Qingyue, and now we’re at the fortress. Doesn’t the end justify the means?" She gestured towards the courtyard.

"It will matter if imperial soldiers show up here," Lieyin answered. "Han Shuying cannot be trusted, she’s loyal to the Empress. Don’t let her fool you."

Lieyin continued. "Ashen Fortress is practically a graveyard, but it is still under the rule of the Empire. If word reaches the capital that we’re here, do you really think they’ll leave us alone?"

Ru Yi shuddered. "If Han Shuying was going to betray us, she wouldn’t have let us come this far."

Lieyin looked below them, at the woman in question. "Han Shuying’s mind is twisted and dark. It’s only safe to expect the worst from her."

Before Ru Yi could reply, another voice came from behind them. "Lieyin, stop it."

Yexue approached them, her eyes trained on Ru Yi. Her blonde hair framed her face perfectly in short strands.

"I’m just trying to make her understand the situation," Lieyin replied. "Han Shuying will go back to the capital. But what’s the guarantee she won’t tell anything to the old witch.?"

Yexue reached for Ru Yi’s wrist, ignoring Lieyin. "Come with me."

Ru Yi blinked. "Where?"

"To clean you up." She pulled Ru Yi along. "Officer Liang had them bring up a tub so we could run a bath. You’ve been wearing the same clothes since we left Emberfall."

Ru Yi took a subtle sniff at herself. "I can wash myself."

Yexue stopped to look at her briefly. "Where’s the fun in it when you can have someone else do it for you?"

The tub was deep and oval-shaped, made from thick wooden staves bound together with dark metal hoops. Two men came in just in time to drop off buckets of water.

Ru Yi stared. "Where did they get that?"

Yexue smiled. "The castle stores. Officer Liang was kind enough to give it to us." She looked at the men and thanked them, watching them leave.

Ru Yi watched Yexue pour water into the tub with a wolfish grin, immediately realizing that she was the prey of the evening.

"You really don’t have to do all this," Ru Yi said, even though her heart started to race in anticipation. "I can really wash myself."

Yexue dropped the empty on the ground with a soft click. "What’s wrong with wanting to take care of my woman?" she asked, drawing out her words.

Ru Yi’s cheeks warmed, "Yexue..."

"You can relax and let me help you..." Yexue stepped closer and reached for the fastening at Ru Yi’s collar. "Or I can find a more convincing way to make you believe." Her voice dropped into a low, husky murmur that made Ru Yi shiver.

Yexue gently loosened the knot holding Ru Yi’s outer robe closed. "Good girl...stay still for me."

She carefully removed the outer robe from Ru Yi’s shoulders, making sure to keep her movements slow.

Beneath it, Ru Yi wore a simple inner garment. Yexue reached for it before pausing briefly–

"Is this all right?"

Ru Yi, unable to form a word, simply nodded.

Yexue’s eyes roamed down Ru Yi’s body the moment all her clothes came off, a smile breaking free in appreciation of what she saw.

Finally, she moved, grabbing Ru Yi’s shoulders and leading her to the tub. "Get in."

Ru Yi obeyed, lowering herself into the water with a relieved sight. The tension in her muscles loosened and she closed her eyes for a moment.

She’d forgotten what this felt like.

Yexue watched her with a content smile, sitting beside the tub. Her fingers brushed gently through Ru Yi’s damp hair. "Relax..."

For the first time since forever, Ru Yi felt the weight pressing against her chest ease. But only for a moment. Because when she opened her eyes again, she found Yexue watching her with an expression that was painfully tender.

And Ru Yi suddenly wondered whether her confession would destroy this warmth between them.

Yexue pressed her thumb lightly to the spot between Ru Yi’s eyebrows. "I don’t want you to worry or think about anything." The pad of her finger massaged it gently. "Feel only my skin against yours."

Ru Yi did as she was told, closing her eyes and putting Yexue at the centre of her thoughts. Her breath hitched when she felt another set of fingers trace the sensitive skin of her inner thighs.