Chapter 293: Extra: Joy Record Five

Extra: Joy Record Five

Shui Yun never thought she was exceptionally clever, but whenever she met anyone, just one glance could pretty much read their thoughts. Yet regarding Pei Yaoguang, Shui Yun truly had no idea what this bastard was thinking!

Calling him stupid? He's not stupid—after all, what fool could become a third‑rank official at such a young age? Calling him shrewd, yet he sometimes seems downright crazy! Just like now, Shui Yun knows without thinking that today her master sent her out of the city to find him; it must be that this scoundrel said something to the master in private. Otherwise, the master would never have let her leave the palace!

But Shui Yun simply couldn't figure out why Pei Yaoguang had summoned her like this! Moreover, if it were because of the Huining County case earlier, that wouldn't make sense—after all, Huining County lies west of the capital, yet the carriage is heading south… Could it be that he's heading south solely based on the hairpin found at Wang Er's house earlier? That would be like looking for a needle in the ocean!

For a moment, Shui Yun racked her brains to no avail. But at this moment, hearing Shui Yun's words, Pei Yaoguang merely curled his lips.

"So what if it was I, the great lord, who said it?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"It's naturally useful!"

"You don't expect me to follow you south to trace the origin of that hairpin, do you?"

At this point Shui Yun couldn't bother with anything else; she blurted out what was on her mind. But hearing that, Pei Yaoguang gave her a strange look.

"You're an idiot! Do you take me for a god?"

Fortunately, the carriage is pitch‑black, so you can't see your hand in front of your face; otherwise, if Shui Yun saw Pei Yaoguang's expression now and added his words, she'd surely beat him up. Even though she can't see his face right now, just hearing his words instantly makes Shui Yun seethe!

Shui Yun gritted her teeth, forcing down her anger, afraid that a slip of the hand might slap this bastard to death. Seeing Shui Yun stay silent, Pei Yaoguang, taking the hint, stopped talking, leaned sideways, and lay down again.

"Sleep, I'm tired; we'll talk tomorrow!"

As soon as he spoke, Pei Yaoguang really pulled the thin blanket over himself, then completely ignored Shui Yun's glaring and fell asleep.

In an instant the carriage fell silent, but Shui Yun, sitting opposite, stared straight at the man lying beside her, so angry she couldn't utter a word.

……

The carriage headed south all the way, traveling most of the night until dawn, when it finally reached a small town. At that moment Pei Yaoguang woke up and immediately told the driver to find an inn.

The driver was efficient, and since the town wasn't big, they soon arrived at the inn. By then Pei Yaoguang had sat up, and upon lifting his face he met Shui Yun's icy stare that seemed ready to freeze.

Shui Yun was truly furious. She glared at him, her face turning a frighteningly dark bluish‑black. Seeing her like that, Pei Yaoguang felt nothing in particular; after looking at her for a moment, he unconsciously twitched his brow.

"Why are you glaring at me, great lord?"

"…" I don't want to glare at you; right now I want to bite you to death!

"Tsk, you… uh, I'm saying you didn't sleep all night, right?"

He must have only just noticed the bloodshot in Shui Yun's eyes, for he reflexively asked back; upon hearing that, the pent‑up Shui Yun couldn't hold back and shouted.

"Where are you letting me sleep?"

Having lived this long, Shui Yun had never been this angry; hearing her shout, Pei Yaoguang froze for a moment, while Shui Yun, too lazy to deal with him, pulled back the carriage curtain and stepped out—yet Pei Yaoguang grabbed her!

"Come back! I haven't finished speaking, great lord!"

Although Pei Yaoguang is arrogant and odd, he's still a gentleman; grabbing Shui Yun was a reflex, not something he thought much about. But being pulled like that, Shui Yun's face sank instantly and she shoved his hand away.

Shui Yun is no ordinary woman, so Pei Yaoguang naturally couldn't hold her! After shaking off his grip, the Shui Yun who had been furious to the extreme suddenly calmed down, closed her eyes to compose herself, recalled her master's instructions before leaving the palace, straightened up, sat back in the carriage, and lifted her gaze to Pei Yaoguang.

"Please speak, Sir Pei."

Shui Yun regained her usual composure. Seeing this, Pei Yaoguang curled his mouth, couldn't help looking her up and down for a while, then silently turned, took out a bundle, and began to undress in front of her.

Seeing this, the newly calmed Shui Yun froze again. Just as she was dazed, she heard Pei Yaoguang, while removing his outer garment, say softly:

"This trip out of the capital is because of that earlier case; it's a bit complicated, can't talk about it here—first change clothes, then we'll discuss!"

While speaking, Pei Yaoguang had already taken off his brocade robe, then produced a set of blue long robes prepared in the bundle and tossed another bundle to Shui Yun.

"You change too!"

Shui Yun is an unmarried daughter of the Yunying family; if she were an ordinary girl, she'd already be frightened pale. Fortunately, Shui Yun is no ordinary person—after all, among Yin Fengzhan's death‑warriors there are few women, and when carrying out missions or acting with other death‑warriors, there's no room for the notion of men and women avoiding each other, or nothing would get done.

So, after the brief initial surprise, Shui Yun calmed down; upon hearing Pei Yaoguang's words, she realized a few things, knowing this wasn't the time to quibble. Thus, as soon as she took the bundle, she turned her back to Pei Yaoguang, removed her black night‑clothes, and put on the clothes he had prepared.

Shui Yun changed quickly; soon her clothes were swapped. At that moment Pei Yaoguang had also finished dressing, glanced at her, said nothing, then lifted his chin and pointed to the white veil hat placed nearby.

"Put this on."

Saying that, Pei Yaoguang stopped explaining, lifted the curtain, and stepped down. Shui Yun in the carriage glanced at the veil hat, didn't think much, put it on her head, and followed him out of the carriage.

……

By now Pei Yaoguang had changed into a scholar's attire; though still arrogant and overbearing, the touch of elegance made his haughtiness seem like that of a proud scholar, which didn't feel out of place. Shui Yun wore a plain dress with the veil hat hiding her face, but her graceful figure standing beside him made a lovely contrast.

Having stepped down from the carriage, Pei Yaoguang glanced around, then led Shui Yun into the inn. It was early morning, the inn had just opened, and hearing the movement, the accountant behind the counter couldn't help but look up, then broke into his habitual merchant's smile.

"Oh, sir, you're early—are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

"To stay."

"Our inn offers three room types—Heaven, Earth, and Man—which would you like, sir?"

"Give me the best!"

"Sure thing~! And how many rooms would you like, sir?"

Just as the inn opened at dawn, a customer arrived—naturally a good thing. Looking at this handsome, generous‑spending gentleman, and at the woman beside him whose face was veiled but whose figure was slender, one could tell their relationship was anything but ordinary, resembling a newlywed couple.

But the innkeeper, being thoughtful, didn't indulge in speculation despite noticing their unusual connection, for fear of causing trouble; thus he paused deliberately, then shifted his gaze to look at Shui Yun beside Pei Yaoguang.

Seeing this, Pei Yaoguang naturally understood his meaning, raised his sword‑brows, and said directly:

"This is my humble wife."

Pei Yaoguang said it as a matter of course, without even thinking; upon hearing it, the innkeeper instantly understood, as clear as a mirror, and replied.

"Sure thing, then I'll give you and your lady a Heaven‑class room! Xiao Liuzi, come escort the guests upstairs and take good care of them!"

The innkeeper's mouth was quick, but just as Pei Yaoguang uttered the words 'humble wife,' Shui Yun froze, and when she heard the innkeeper say they'd get one room, her eyes widened.

For a moment Shui Yun felt awful all over; her usually composed face tightened, and she almost wanted to drag Pei Yaoguang over for an explanation, but being rational she instead followed the attendant upstairs with him to the Heaven‑class room.

……

Since the town itself is small, the inn isn't large either; going up the stairs took only a moment before they reached the door. The attendant named Xiao Liuzi, though young, was also articulate; he pushed the door open and politely spoke to Pei Yaoguang, who was pleased and tipped him.

Pei Yaoguang is truly a bona fide tycoon—he flicked his wrist and produced twenty taels of silver ingots. The attendant, who had worked at the inn for however long, found his total wages paltry compared to that, and was so delighted he nearly fainted.

"Alright, you may go; I, the young master, need to rest—don't bother me unless it's necessary!"