The Disabled Heir Pretending to Be a Physician (5)

Zhao He turned around and saw Jing Ze clad in a deep crimson robe, with black accents at the waist and cuffs, faintly threaded with gold.

Zhao He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly; no matter how many times she saw him, he was always stunning.

“Why has the heir come?” Zhao He turned her head and continued to stare at the Kiss Beast.

“It’s been a few days since I saw you, and I found myself missing you more,” Jing Ze replied, now standing beside her. “My leg has mostly healed these past days, so I thought I’d take a stroll.” He noticed she’d only spared him a glance before turning away. Did he not have enough charm?

“Oh.” Zhao He kept her eyes fixed on the Kiss Beast.

Jing Ze, sensing her indifference, grew curious himself and lifted his gaze to the rooftop. But there was nothing there but the roof—what was she looking at?

Behind them, Lu Er also glanced up, following the other two’s gaze with curiosity.

If anyone passed by, they’d surely think they’d stumbled upon three lunatics, unmoving, all staring at the roof.

After the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, Zhao He made up her mind to steal it that night.

“Your Highness, what are you looking at?” Zhao He turned and saw Jing Ze still gazing at the rooftop. Did he want to steal it too?

“Nothing, nothing,” Jing Ze replied awkwardly, turning toward the carriage behind them. “I'm heading back to the estate—care to join me?” He offered Zhao He a ride.

“No, I don’t like sharing rides,” Zhao He replied, too dignified to carpool.

“Then I’ll wait for you at the estate. By the way, about my important item—” Jing Ze began with a smile.

“Fine, let’s ride together. You’re quite easy on the eyes, after all.” Without waiting, Zhao He darted toward the carriage, lifted the curtain and disappeared inside. Jing Ze’s lips curved into an unbidden smile.

—

“What’s the most important thing to you, Your Highness?” Zhao He asked, chewing a piece of spicy diced chicken, tongue out as the heat made her sweat. She couldn’t handle the spice, but the suffering was half the joy.

“You avenged me, Zhao He. Of course, you’re the most important to me,” Jing Ze said with a laugh, passing her the teacup from his left.

Zhao He took the cup, drained it, then grabbed another chunk of chicken, cheeks puffed out as she spoke, “I’m not your east… item.”

Jing Ze burst into laughter, and then, for some reason, laughed even harder.

“What’s so funny?” Zhao He asked, reaching for the teacup on the other side to keep drinking.

“I just remembered the little thief who once broke into my room.” Jing Ze rose, took the teapot from Lu Er, who had just entered, then waved him away before turning back to Zhao He. A faint fragrance of tea drifted from the pot as he poured it into her empty cup.

—

Zhao He turned her head to look elsewhere, only to see Jing Ze’s slender fingers as he poured. She sniffed, then silently reached for the spoon and moved to the steamed egg custard.

—

In a carriage on the long road outside the capital.

“Sister, are you giving up on Jing Ze’s mission? Why are we leaving the capital?” Tongzi’s voice was tinged with uneasy anxiety.

“No rush; we have plenty of time! If I’m not worried, why are you?” Zhao He replied, eyes closed, reclining on the furry soft cushions.

Tongzi: The host refuses to do the mission—what should I do? Waiting for a reply, it’s urgent!

“Master, news just in: someone saw Miss Zhao He’s carriage leave through the south gate at dawn. She’s probably left the capital,” Lu Er reported, head bowed, not daring to meet Jing Ze’s eyes. That Zhao He—she’d nearly emptied the whole prince’s residence before leaving! How did she manage it? Surely the heir would be furious…

“Prepare the carriage; we’ll leave the city as well,” Jing Ze said, fiddling with the jade thumb ring on his finger.

“Yes.” Lu Er left the study. From experience, the calmer the master appeared, the worse the coming storm. Zhao He was definitely in trouble—his master was so angry he’d chase her out of the capital.

A plain, unadorned carriage left the residence through the rear gate.

Through the carriage curtains, Jing Ze gazed at the rooftops…

“Lu Er, where do you think Zhao He would go?” Jing Ze’s tone carried a hint of amusement, which eased Lu Er’s nerves.

“Near the capital, there’s Tongcheng, Coal City, and the Port. Coal City is the wealthiest, Port the poorest,” Lu Er replied, recalling how Zhao He had robbed and plundered throughout the capital, taking everything from the prince’s residence—even the foot basins—when she left. “She’s probably headed to Coal City!”

“She is a bit greedy,” Jing Ze mused, remembering how Zhao He was always scheming to get valuables from him. “Let’s go to the Port instead. Since we’re already out, we might as well see the sea.” With that, he lay back to rest.

“Yes,” Lu Er answered, urging the horses to a smoother pace. It had been years since his master left the capital due to his injury; a trip to the seaside would do him good.

Miss Zhao He might live a few days longer—at least that was something.

—

In the palace, the emperor.

“That plague has finally left! If she’d stayed any longer, she’d have emptied the palace,” Long Heng wept tears of relief upon hearing the news.

But wait—what about my poison?

“Hurry, send someone to bring her back!” Long Heng ordered the commander of the Imperial Guard, Li Xian. “Be polite and ask when she’ll return.”

—

Within the Port City, stalls of merchants lined the streets, overflowing with every kind of fish and shrimp, their scent lending a salty tang to the air.

“Host, aren’t you going to collect the items?” Tongzi, at some point, had resumed calling her ‘host.’

“Mmm, I'm stuffed.” Zhao He leaned back in her chair, one foot propped on another seat. “No rush. First, I’ll fill my belly. This port may not be a rich city, but the wealth gap is huge—plenty of rich folks to rob. And best of all, the seafood from these unpolluted waters is incredibly fresh.”

Tongzi: How did a quest for emotional value items turn into a robbery spree?

“Master, the Port is just ahead,” Lu Er called from the driver’s seat.

“Head to the largest restaurant,” came the reply from behind the curtain, the voice cool as the sea breeze.

Could the master be craving seafood?

From a distance, Lu Er spotted the extravagant, ostentatious carriage parked beside the restaurant. Wasn’t that Miss Zhao He’s? He sighed; her luck was truly abysmal to run into them here. “Master, Miss Zhao He’s carriage is ahead.” Lu Er could almost see the impending bloodbath.

“Miss Zhao He, it’s been a while.” Jing Ze, dressed all in white, entered the restaurant where Zhao He was feasting.

“Oh, you came for some seafood on a whim?” Zhao He forced a smile, remembering her escapades in the prince’s residence the night before, and shifted awkwardly. “Shall I treat you?”

“I came to ask, Miss Zhao He, about the theft at the prince’s residence last night.” Jing Ze, surprisingly, made no move.

Lu Er stood behind Jing Ze, torn. If they started fighting, should he intervene? After all, Zhao He had helped avenge Jing Ze and even healed his leg.

Zhao He picked up the white napkin on her right, dabbed her mouth, then wiped her hands offhandedly. “I slept like a log last night; I have no idea,” she replied with her typical shamelessness—there was no proof anyway.

“Fortunately, nothing important was lost,” Jing Ze said, settling across from her and picking up a crab from the table, glancing at Lu Er.

Why was the master looking at him? Was he supposed to act? As Lu Er hesitated, hand creeping toward his sword, Zhao He said, “You don’t even know how to eat crab?”

She glanced at Lu Er—was the guard planning to hack open the crab with his broadsword?

“Then I’ll trouble you to shell it for me,” Jing Ze said, passing the crab to Zhao He without waiting for her agreement.

Zhao He looked at her own stomach, then at the crab, rose to her feet, pressed her hands to the window ledge, and, to the stunned astonishment of Jing Ze and Lu Er, vaulted out of the inn entirely.

“I’m full. Enjoy your meal,” Zhao He’s voice drifted back on the salty sea wind.