Chapter 803: Chapter 763: Entrusted Care

It’s too much, just too much!

Xu Jia really didn’t understand how Yun Huai could teach Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu as his apprentices with such behavior.

Listen, is that even human speech?

She was so embarrassed she wished she could cover herself with an eggshell and not come out.

It was so humiliating.

This was probably the most embarrassing moment of her life, both past and present.

Yet, at this moment, Yun Huai was calmly walking beside her, how did he manage to remain so composed?

Xu Jia reached out and lightly covered her forehead.

Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu, seeing the two of them approaching, immediately ceased their actions, stood properly on either side, leaving the middle path open, bowed, and said in unison, "Greetings, Master, and greetings, Mistress."

Xu Jia’s face was burning red, and she glared at Yun Shisan through her fingers, "What are you shouting about?"

Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu exchanged a glance and said again in unison, "As long as the Suzhou Yun Family’s genealogy doesn’t remove your name, even the Holy Emperor has to acknowledge you as part of the Yun Family."

Xu Jia was utterly mortified; she slightly turned her head, daring not to look Yun Huai in the eye, "Master Yun, could you let them go first? I have something to say to you alone."

Yun Huai looked at the two apprentices, "Stop messing around, go do your work."

Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu immediately withdrew their excess emotions and returned to being normal Yun Family disciples, walking away.

Once those two had gone far away, Xu Jia apologized, "Earlier, I was really left with no choice but to use the name of Master Yun, don’t take it to heart, just consider it as... just consider it as me owing you another favor, and when the chance comes—"

Yun Huai reminded her, "You already owe me two favors."

Xu Jia was speechless.

Last time, she asked him to help change the Phoenix Blood Jade into a bead string, and this time she casually borrowed the name of the Suzhou Yun Family, indeed two favors, but she hadn’t thought about how to repay them yet.

"By the way, I haven’t asked you, how did you know about Tang Yuan in Suzhou? Did you investigate him secretly?" Xu Jia started to change the subject, originally just asking casually, but the more she asked, the more it seemed off.

The case Yun Huai mentioned was definitely not just recent intelligence, it must have been discovered some time ago, but Tang Yuan had no connection with the Yun Family, why would Yun Huai investigate him for no reason?

Facing Xu Jia’s question, Yun Huai appeared very composed, casually saying, "Oh, disciples discovered it, and when the information returned, I just happened to glance at it."

Xu Jia felt that this person probably wasn’t telling the truth, but since he’s the boss, naturally whatever he says goes, she had no right to question.

"Thanks for helping me out earlier, but I still have to go to the Northern Border, let’s part ways here, until we meet again."

Yun Huai looked over, his expression was unlike the previous cold detachment when confronting Tang Yuan; it was the calm and composed demeanor she was familiar with, "It’s good that a young lady knows how to save herself in emergencies, but if you’re too stubborn, not everyone will accommodate you."

After speaking, he urged her, "Go upstairs."

These two words were slightly stern, more like an elder scolding a defiant child.

Xu Jia pressed her lips together and ultimately followed him upstairs obediently.

Her room had already been vacated, she was temporarily going to Yun Huai’s room.

After sitting down, Yun Huai walked over, took the bundle from her hand, and casually put it in the wardrobe.

Xu Jia turned her eyes away, no longer looking, "You keep me here, and I can’t do anything."

Yun Huai said, "Perhaps you can consider how to repay the favors you owe me."

Xu Jia sniffed, "Then I’ll go get a room; I can’t get used to staying here."

"Thirteen will handle it." Yun Huai poured her a cup of tea, "When he returns, he’ll bring your father’s commission."

"My dad?" Xu Jia suddenly became nervous, "What did he say?"

"Knowing your stubborn nature, you won’t easily return to the Capital, and you’ll definitely head to the Northern Border again, he commissioned me to take good care of you and to ensure you don’t step out of Liangzhou City before the battles at the Northern Border are over."

"This..." Xu Jia found it unbelievable, "Did my dad really say this himself?"

"There’s his handwritten letter, do you want to see it?"

"Yes!" Xu Jia said decisively.

She was very skeptical that Yun Huai was teasing her.

She was an adult; did she really need someone commissioned to take care and protect her? It sounded unreliable.

Yun Huai went to the inner room and came out shortly after with a sheet of paper.

Xu Jia took the letter and upon seeing it, indeed recognized her father’s handwriting. It was true that he had entrusted Master Yun to look after his daughter.

Xu Jia’s gaze fell on the rows of words, and she suddenly felt deflated, "So what you’re saying is, the reason you went down just now to bail me out was entirely because of my father’s request?"

"Naturally." Yun Huai nodded.

"Then there’s no need to bring up the family register, is there?" Xu Jia said, "Tang Yuan is unpredictable. If he spreads this around and I’m not on your family register, it’s sure to cause a stir."

Yun Huai retorted, "Weren’t you the one who first admitted I was your fiancé?"

Xu Jia coughed a couple of times, "I was forced by circumstances, had to adapt on the spot."

"So was I," Yun Huai said.

Alright, with that, the conversation couldn’t continue. "Is the room ready? I’m tired and need to sleep."

Yun Huai looked at the hourglass on the antique shelf, "You haven’t had breakfast yet."

Xu Jia forced a smile, "I’m not very hungry."

"Since your father entrusted you to me, I should naturally fulfill my duty thoroughly."

After Yun Huai finished speaking, he walked towards the window, signaled something unknown below, and shortly after, there was a knock on the door. It was Yun Shisan bringing breakfast.

He looked at Xu Jia with a grin, "Try it, Master’s wife, see if it’s to your taste?"

Xu Jia glared at him, "Call me that again, and I might just smash a bowl of porridge on your face."

Yun Shisan retreated awkwardly.

Yun Huai sat down and handed her a porcelain spoon.

Xu Jia stiffened her back, woodenly reached out to take it, and reluctantly drank half a bowl of porridge under his watchful gaze. She originally wanted to say no more, but feared he would scold her for wasting it, so she braced herself and finished the remaining half.

Yun Huai watched her, "A perfectly good bowl of porridge, and you make it seem like poison. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Maybe I got up too early," Xu Jia replied casually, though inside she wanted to cry. When could she go back to her room and sleep? Why did her father entrust her to someone like this? Being watched by him, it might as well be like being imprisoned.

"The room is right next door, go to sleep if you’re tired." Yun Huai didn’t push her further.

Xu Jia was taken aback.

The room next door, wasn’t that the one she left after taking care of Yun Huai that night? Why was it still open?

Too tired to think further, Xu Jia stood up and walked to the door, pushed it open, and left.

The adjoining room was right next to Yun Huai’s. She went in, closed the door, and laid down on the bed. As she quieted, she noticed her cheeks were suddenly flushed. She pressed the back of her hand against them, pulled the blanket over herself, and emptied her mind. Not long after, she fell asleep.

In the inn’s backyard, Yun Shisan was feeding Yun Huai’s horse special feed, somewhat absent-mindedly. He asked Yun Shiliu standing next to him, "Shiliu, do you think Master has been acting strange lately?"

"How strange?" Yun Shiliu asked earnestly.

"I can’t put my finger on it. It’s like something’s different from before." Yun Shisan recalled the Family Head’s behavior these days, especially when they first arrived in Liangzhou City. He even had someone investigate Tang Yuan from Suzhou. "If Master is interested in Miss Xu, it doesn’t seem like it. But today, he actually brought up the family register to rescue Miss Xu, which is really puzzling."

Yun Shiliu said, "Master promised Marquis Zhenxi to help take care of Miss Xu."

Yun Shisan suddenly laughed, "But speaking of which, if Miss Xu were to become our Master’s wife, would you like that?"

Yun Shiliu’s expression remained unchanged, "Would it matter if I liked it or not?"

...

No one disturbed her in between, and Xu Jia slept until mid-afternoon. When she woke, it was raining outside, with thunder and lightning.

This scene couldn’t help but remind her of that night on the way to Liangzhou City. Afraid of wolves, she didn’t dare leave Yun Huai’s tent all night. In the end, she was hypnotized by his flute music and somehow took over his bed, sleeping until morning. When she woke, the wolves and Bei Yan’s hidden guards had retreated. He was still sitting there, posture straight as a pine.

She sat in the room absent-mindedly for nearly an hour until Yun Shisan knocked on the door, calling her to dinner.

Having already eaten breakfast in Yun Huai’s room, Xu Jia wasn’t as restrained now. She tidied herself up and went over. At the dining table, it was just her and Yun Huai; Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu had already sensibly retreated.

Xu Jia tried hard to adapt, yet the aura of this person was too strong, always making it impossible to ignore his presence.

Gripping her chopsticks but not moving, Xu Jia asked him, "How long do I have to be under your watch?"

Yun Huai’s expression was calm, "It’s up to you."

"Up to me?"

"You have only two choices: either stay in Liangzhou or return to the Capital. You can think it over tonight and give me an answer in the morning. If you choose to return to the Capital, I’ll arrange for it."