Chapter 17: Why must you make things difficult for me, my lord?

Finding Room No. 8 on the second floor, Tang Zheng opened the door with the key the proprietor had given him, then locked it behind him as he entered.

He went straight to the point, crawling under the room's large bed. After some searching, he discovered a small hidden compartment on the wooden board at the back of the bed frame.

It looked as though the compartment had been cut with a sharp tool like a sword or knife, but the edges hadn't been sanded down; it had been nailed shut directly, suggesting that whoever made it had been in quite a hurry.

Tang Zheng pried the nails off the compartment with a small knife and removed the board. A thin booklet immediately fell out. Upon opening it, he found it densely packed with numerous figures—records of water transport transactions dating back three years.

"Got it." Tang Zheng couldn't help but pump his fist. It seemed Su Shanhe hadn't lied.

With this account book, he had finally taken the first step on the road to clearing Su Shanhe's name.

However, the account book alone probably wouldn't be enough. To avoid further complications, he should take it and rendezvous with Lin Zuo now to ask what to do next.

As Tang Zheng thought this, he didn't even realize that he had already begun to rely on Lin Zuo.

……

Three hours later, in an ordinary civilian residence.

Night had already fallen. Tang Zheng washed the caked rouge and powder off his face and took off the completely soaked women's clothing. A gust of wind blew by, and he couldn't help but sneeze.

Lin Zuo, standing nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't we just stay at the inn?"

"You don't understand," Tang Zheng said firmly. "Miss Su might be in danger, so I must protect her closely."

Although his words were firm, the expression on Tang Zheng's face and the smile at the corners of his mouth clearly betrayed his inner thoughts. Lin Zuo couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "As far as Miss Su is concerned, I'm afraid you're the one who's more dangerous."

"Commander," Su Xiaoxi's voice suddenly came from outside. Then, a fair hand reached through the door crack, holding a set of dry clothes.

"We only have the old clothes my brother used to wear at home. I hope you won't mind, Commander."

"How could I mind?" Tang Zheng quickly took the clothes and said, "Xiao Xi, you're too polite. Didn't I tell you? Don't call me Commander anymore; call me Brother Tang. Doesn't that sound much more intimate?"

"I wouldn't dare," Su Xiaoxi replied softly from outside, then continued, "Since you don't wish to stay at the inn or the courier station, you'll have to make do with my brother's room."

"It's no hardship, no hardship at all," Tang Zheng said repeatedly. "I don't know why, but this place gives me a sense of home; it feels very comfortable and warm. By the way, which room are you staying in?"

"I'm staying right across the way," Su Xiaoxi said, pointing to another part of the courtyard. "Please change into your clothes quickly so you don't catch a cold. I'll step aside for a moment."

After saying this, she turned and left, pulling the door shut behind her.

……

Tang Zheng went into the inner room and changed into the old clothes Su Shanhe had left behind. Thinking that his relationship with Su Xiaoxi seemed to have made some progress, he couldn't help but hum a little tune happily. When he came out, he found Lin Zuo sitting alone at the table, flipping through the account book of Su Shanhe that he had brought back by the light of a candle.

"How is it? Did you find any problems?"

"Nothing yet."

"Then I'll have to trouble you." As Tang Zheng spoke, he looked out the door with a yearning expression. "Anyway, there's still plenty of time. Take your time looking; I'm going out to get some air first."

As he spoke, he picked up Lin Zuo's Black Umbrella, took a folding fan from the table nearby and tucked it into his waistband, then pushed the door open and walked out.

The rain outside was still drizzling, though it was much lighter than in the afternoon. Su Xiaoxi was sitting on a stone chair in the courtyard corridor, staring blankly at the hazy moon in the sky.

Some raindrops were blown by the wind into the corridor, landing on her clothes and hair, but she seemed not to notice.

Under the moonlight, there was a beauty to her face that carried both stubbornness and fragility, making one feel an unprovoked urge to protect her.

Tang Zheng stood behind her for a long time, feeling for the first time in his life as if he were in a dream. He couldn't help but walk up gently, open the umbrella, and shield Su Xiaoxi from the rain drifting down from the sky.

"Miss Su, what are you looking at?"

"Ah, Commander." Su Xiaoxi was startled out of her trance. Finding Tang Zheng standing behind her, she hurriedly stood up and bowed. "I was just lost in thought and didn't see you come over. Please forgive my rudeness, Commander."

"No forgiveness needed, no forgiveness needed." Tang Zheng supported Su Xiaoxi and said, "Didn't I say, don't keep calling me Commander? If you really can't help it, you can just call me by my name."

"I wouldn't dare."

"What's there to be afraid of? I don't mind, so what are you worried about?" Tang Zheng said, then added with a straight face, "Actually, I'm about your age, steady and reliable, and not yet married."

Su Xiaoxi lowered her head and said nothing.

"Actually, I have a question I want to ask you, but I feel a bit embarrassed." Tang Zheng coughed twice, his tone tinged with nervousness. "It's just... what do you think of me as a person?"

"Since you were able to become a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you must be a person of great martial skill, upright and brave."

"Of course, you can tell from my name that I am an upright person." Tang Zheng used a smile to hide his embarrassment, but he persisted in asking, "But I'm not asking about that aspect; I'm asking... well... about the man-woman aspect."

Su Xiaoxi was bewildered: "Ah?"

Tang Zheng: "Like, for example, do you think I'm the type one could fall in love with at first sight and entrust their life to?"

Su Xiaoxi lowered her head, biting her lip without answering.

*There's a chance. Is she shy? * Tang Zheng said to himself, his emotions beginning to stir. He snapped his folding fan open, fanned himself in front of his chest, and struck a pose he considered dashing.

"To put it simply, just tell me if I'm handsome."

Su Xiaoxi: "Commander, if you have any complaints about me, please just say so. Why must you make things so difficult for me?"

*Clatter*—The fan in Tang Zheng's hand dropped to the ground, and he scrambled to pick it up in a panic.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, I didn't mean that." Tang Zheng said awkwardly, "Miss Su, do you already have someone you're fond of?"

Su Xiaoxi didn't speak.

Tang Zheng: "Then may I ask, what kind of man do you like?"

"Actually, when my brother and I were young, we were once captured by river bandits. It was an Embroidered Uniform Guard who sacrificed his life to save us. I will never forget that for the rest of my life." As she said this, a different light flickered in Su Xiaoxi's eyes, as if she were recalling the scene from back then.

"If I am to marry, I will marry a hero who stands tall between heaven and earth."

"Stands tall between heaven and earth... well said, well said." Tang Zheng's voice was significantly lower, and his head drooped like a defeated rooster.

"It's late. I'll take my leave. Please get some rest, Commander."

"Oh, alright. You get some rest too, Miss Su." ===== CHAPTER 18 =====