380: Take in Ye Nianrui

Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Ye Nianrui's eyes, quickly replaced by a thick, inseparable hope, like starlight suddenly lighting up in a long night, illuminating the gloom in the depths of her eyes.

She looked at Situ Jun, seeing the steady and reliable temperament between his brows, which gave her an infinite sense of security.

She then looked at the gentle and kind women beside him. Their faces all bore gentle and kind smiles, and there wasn't a hint of rejection in their eyes; instead, they showed a bit of concern. Such a warm and harmonious scene allowed her tense nerves to completely relax.

Ye Nianrui took a deep breath and bowed deeply once more, her skirt sweeping across the ground with a soft rustle.

“Thank you for taking me in, Young Master. I am willing to follow you to North Border City. In the future, I will certainly do my utmost to repay your kindness for taking me in!”

“No need for such formality.”

Situ Jun reached out to help her up. As his fingertips touched her slightly cool skin, a faint, imperceptible trace of pity flickered through his heart.

He turned and began to walk, saying:

“Follow me.”

Ye Nianrui followed obediently, moving with light, graceful steps as she followed Situ Jun to the carriage beside the convoy.

Inside the carriage, the rest of the women had already seen the situation outside clearly through the gauze curtains of the windows.

Seeing Situ Jun bring back a woman with an enchanting appearance and moving temperament, a hint of curiosity flashed in all their eyes. However, they didn't say much and instead smiled at her kindly. That smile was pure and warm, causing Ye Nianrui's tense heartstrings to loosen a bit more.

Situ Jun settled Ye Nianrui in another spacious carriage and instructed the accompanying maids to treat her wounds and change her clothes.

The maids' movements were gentle and their words soft. They quickly cleaned Ye Nianrui's wounds and changed her into a clean, plain-colored dress.

The convoy set off again, continuing toward North Border City.

Sitting in the spacious and comfortable carriage, Ye Nianrui gently lifted the curtain, watching the scenery retreat outside the window. From the desolate wilderness to the sparse woods, her heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

The events of these past days flooded her mind like a tide—the grief of her husband's death and the fear of falling into the hands of bandits made her unable to stop her eyes from reddening.

But thinking of Situ Jun taking her in, the kindness of the women, and the unknown yet hopeful North Border City ahead, a new spark of anticipation ignited in her heart, as if she had seen the dawn of Rebirth in a desperate situation.

The journey continued in silence as the convoy successfully left White Crane Ridge.

As the distance grew, the surrounding scenery gradually changed. The desolate wilderness was slowly replaced by lush vegetation, and the air became increasingly fresh.

When night fell, everyone rested in a beautiful valley.

The bonfire burned brightly, its dancing flames reflecting on each face. A warm glow spread out, dispelling the slight chill of the night.

After being carefully looked after by the maids, Ye Nianrui changed into an elegant light blue dress. Although the fabric wasn't luxurious, it was soft and made her skin appear even fairer.

Her hair was neatly rearranged with a simple silver hairpin tucked in, making her look even more graceful and moving.

Knowing that living under someone else's roof required a sense of propriety, she took the initiative to step forward, skillfully pouring tea and water for Situ Jun and the women. Her movements were elegant and appropriate, and her words were gentle and humble. There wasn't a hint of flattery in her expression, only a perfect balance of respect and sincerity, which quickly won the favor of the women.

During a chat with the Embroiderer, it was discovered that she was not only proficient in business but also had some knowledge of needlework, calligraphy, and painting. This made the Embroiderer feel even closer to her, and she pulled her aside to ask detailed questions about embroidery, the two of them chatting happily.

Sitting by the bonfire, Situ Jun watched Ye Nianrui's busy figure and thought to himself.

This woman was not only peerlessly beautiful and gentle in character, but more importantly, she possessed both business acumen and talent. Bringing her back to North Border City might truly be a wise decision.

As the night deepened, the bonfire gradually went out, leaving only a pile of dark red charcoal emitting residual warmth.

Everyone returned to their carriages to rest. Silence returned to the valley, with only the chirping of insects rising and falling in the night, crisp and pleasant, accompanying everyone into their dreams.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the convoy set off again, continuing toward North Border City.

The convoy headed north. The closer they got to North Border City, the more magnificent the scenery along the way became.

Rolling grasslands replaced the previous desolate wilderness, like a green ocean. When the wind blew, the waves of grass rolled, a truly spectacular sight.

Herds of cattle and sheep grazed leisurely on the grass, occasionally lowering their heads to nibble on the fresh green grass and sometimes looking up to let out a long, distant cry.

In the sky, pure white clouds floated like cotton candy.

In the distance, snow-capped mountains towered majestically, their peaks covered in white snow. Under the reflection of the rising sun, they shone brightly, emitting a holy and piercing light.

That evening, the convoy entered a town called 'Qingliu' to rest.

Although Qingliu Town was not particularly prosperous, it was bustling with activity. Shops lined both sides of the street, and the sounds of hawking were constant.

The group eventually chose a large inn with spacious rooms to stay in. More importantly, this inn actually had high-quality Spiritual Brew and exquisite dishes, bringing looks of joy to everyone who had been traveling for days.

Seeing this, Situ Jun gave orders to prepare a banquet on the second floor of the inn, allowing everyone to rest well and be rewarded for their hard work over the past few days.

Before long, several tables on the entire second floor of the inn were filled with a feast. The braised pork hock was enticing in color, the steamed fish was fragrant, and there were various exquisite stir-fries and pastries. The mellow aroma of the Spiritual Brew filled the air, making everyone's mouth water.

The women sat together, shedding the fatigue of the journey, chatting and laughing in a constant stream of joy.

Ye Nianrui had been getting along more and more harmoniously with everyone these days. She was already proficient in the art of socializing, and now she calmly poured wine and served dishes for everyone. Her words were witty; she would sometimes talk about things she had seen on the journey and sometimes tell interesting anecdotes, making everyone laugh frequently and making the atmosphere increasingly lively.

Situ Jun sat in the main seat, his heart warmed by the harmonious scene before him.

He raised his wine cup, gestured to everyone, and then drained it in one gulp.

The Spiritual Brew was mellow and long-lasting on the palate. The warmth spread from his throat to his limbs, instantly dispelling the fatigue of the journey and the chill of the border.

Ye Nianrui sat diagonally across from Situ Jun, her gaze involuntarily falling on him.

Watching his ease as he drank and his gentleness as he chatted with everyone, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

Over these days, Situ Jun's steadiness, reliability, gentleness, and thoughtfulness had already left a deep impression in her heart.

From his stepping forward at White Crane Ridge to save her from danger, to his meticulous care and concern along the way, to his protection and equal treatment of all the women—it all made her wounded heart gradually warm up, like the snow-covered earth welcoming the spring sun.

She knew that her feelings for Situ Jun had long since surpassed simple gratitude. That emotion was like a vine, quietly sprouting in the depths of her heart, wrapping around her heart and growing more lush every day.

But she was hindered by her status, making her afraid to easily reveal her feelings. She could only bury this deep affection silently in her heart.