Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 14
14
“The journey ahead is long and treacherous—may you return safely.”
“Wait for me to come back next year, and I’ll stop by your place for a cup of young tangerine tea!”
After bidding farewell to her friend, the Alpha wandered aimlessly along the cobblestone path. The clamor of vendors and the bustle of pedestrians surrounded her, yet she moved through the crowd with a faint trace of melancholy in her eyes.
The Northern Di region was far, and the imperial capital had been anything but peaceful lately…
Jiang Ciqing couldn’t help but sigh, her thoughts still lingering on her only close friend. Lost in her emotions, she soon found herself disoriented, meandering without direction.
It wasn’t until she nearly collided with a moss-covered brick wall that she snapped back to reality.
This was…
Jiang Ciqing frowned. She had somehow wandered into Wuyi Lane, where most of the nobility and high-ranking officials resided. She had left home discreetly this time, only to see Li Zhile off, and hadn’t informed anyone else. If she ran into someone who recognized her, she’d inevitably be dragged into tedious conversations.
But…
The Emperor of Southern Liang had yet to make a clear stance, summoning or decreeing rewards for Xu Fusheng. Instead, he had merely cleared out an empty residence in this lane for her temporary stay.
Her steps hesitated as she debated whether to leave.
The wind tugged at the hem of her robe, and dust rose beneath her boots.
She had often heard A-Fu and the others say that Wuyi Lane was where the wealthy and powerful lived. But now that she was here, it seemed rather ordinary—lichen grew between the bricks, and cracks marred the walls. If an earthquake struck…
Pretending to pass by casually, Jiang Ciqing noticed the unusually quiet alley. No one else was around, making her aimless stroll all the more conspicuous.
The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, blooming earlier than usual, drifted through the air.
Dressed in a green robe embroidered with bamboo, the Alpha tilted her head to admire the flowering branches stretching beyond the wall. She reached out, tempted to pluck a sprig to place in a vase in her bedroom.
“In broad daylight, in a deserted alley outside a green wall, how improper is it for an unmarried Alpha like Miss Jiang to secretly pluck osmanthus branches from an Omega’s courtyard?”
The would-be thief’s hand jerked back, her face flashing with panic as she turned toward the source of the voice.
A woman in a red dress sat perched atop the wall, her waist-length silver hair fluttering in the wind. Her peach-blossom eyes shimmered with amusement, rippling like gentle waves.
Jiang Ciqing’s gaze faltered, her fingers curling into fists beneath her sleeves as she struggled to suppress her embarrassment. It took her a moment to realize that these words were a playful reversal of her own, thrown back at her.
She opened her mouth, ready to retort.
But Xu Fusheng was quicker. “If Master Jiang wants to pluck them, go ahead. Otherwise, you might add ‘stingy’ to your list of grievances against me—’temperamental, unpredictable, and vindictive’—and I’d be utterly wronged.”
Someone had clearly relayed those words to Xu Fusheng.
Jiang Ciqing pressed her lips together, her gaze dropping to the slender legs swinging playfully in the air. Pale and flawless, save for a smudge of dirt, they were otherwise perfect.
Receiving no response, Xu Fusheng deliberately kicked out, her toes aiming for the Alpha’s thin shoulder. Even for an Alpha, the sharp pain was hard to ignore. Jiang Ciqing instinctively grabbed the other’s ankle, only to find her skin icy to the touch despite the warm sunlight.
Her fingers twitched, transferring warmth to the cold skin.
“In broad daylight, in a deserted alley outside a green wall, how improper is it for an unmarried Alpha like Master Jiang to boldly grab—”
Here we go again.
The wooden-faced Alpha finally spoke up. “Do you want to eat osmanthus cake?”
The teasing stopped. Xu Fusheng blinked, visibly tempted.
Who would have guessed that an S-rank Omega with a tequila scent would have a sweet tooth rather than a love for alcohol?
Jiang Ciqing quickly added, “There’s a century-old pastry shop at the corner of Ping’an Street. Their osmanthus cake is soft, fragrant, and sweet without being cloying…”
Xu Fusheng’s eyes brightened, gleaming like rubies under the sun.
Jiang Ciqing looked up at her, her sharp jawline tense, her expression softer than she realized.
“If we don’t go now, we might miss out. That shop is famous in Southern Liang—people line up at the crack of dawn. And since it’s not peak osmanthus season, the petals they use are scarce…” Her voice was gentle, almost coaxing.
The fish took the bait.
Xu Fusheng pulled her foot free, though her kicks were now lighter, more like playful nudges. “Then hurry up!” she urged.
The one who had intended to pluck osmanthus blossoms ended up plucking the flower herself. Jiang Ciqing instinctively reached out, just as she had three years ago. The Omega leaped down, landing securely in the Alpha’s arms before being gently set on the ground. Neither found anything unusual about it—it was as if they had returned to their old dynamic.
The faint scent of strong liquor enveloped them, and beneath her palm, Jiang Ciqing could feel the firmness of the Omega’s waist, the subtle outline of abdominal muscles. Unconsciously, she took a step back, her dark eyes unfathomable.
“Why are your hands so hot?” The Omega wore only a thin silk dress, and the heat seeped through the fabric unmistakably.
“Huh?” The distracted Alpha snapped back to reality, dazed.
“Let go. You’re sweating,” Xu Fusheng complained. She hated heat, let alone the sticky sensation of sweaty hands on her.
“Oh, right,” The flustered Alpha quickly withdrew her hand, mumbling, “Shall we go?”
Xu Fusheng didn’t understand what was wrong with her. Had she scared her? She rolled her eyes. “Which way?”
“Ah—this way,” Jiang Ciqing stumbled forward, her steps unsteady—less like leading the way and more like fleeing. Her black hair swayed as she walked, revealing ears flushed crimson.
The Omega behind her watched her retreating figure and suddenly laughed, her eyes crinkling like rippling spring water.
Ping’an Street wasn’t far from Wuyi Lane. After exiting the alley and cutting through a shortcut, they soon reached the corner where the pastry shop stood.
The silent Alpha and the equally quiet Omega arrived in no time.
Xu Fusheng’s hopeful expression froze as her gaze traveled from the shop counter to the snaking line of customers stretching beyond ten meters. She couldn’t even see the end of the queue.
Are the people of Southern Liang this idle? Don’t they have work to do, lining up for pastries in broad daylight?
Having lived in the wild borderlands for so long, Xu Fusheng was stunned by the spectacle.
The rich aroma of pastries wafted from the shop, tantalizing her senses. She stared intently at the storefront, contemplating what method she could use to bypass the crowd and get her hands on the cakes.
The shop owner shuddered, unaware that someone was already plotting to uproot him from his homeland and relocate him to the desolate borderlands.
Jiang Ciqing, oblivious to her thoughts, strode forward. A burly man in coarse clothing immediately approached. “Master.”
Jiang Ciqing nodded and took the package he handed her.
“You came into the city? I was just thinking that since I got to the front of the line early today, I could deliver the pastries sooner,” the man said cheerfully.
Xu Fusheng didn’t fully grasp their relationship, but it seemed she wouldn’t have to endure the misery of waiting in line. Her gloom vanished as she stepped forward, eyeing the oil-paper-wrapped package.
The man was sharp. Noticing the stunning Omega beside his master, he couldn’t hide his delight.
The master, who’s always obsessed with forging blades, actually knows an Omega! He didn’t know how far things had progressed between them, but at least there was a spark.
His eyes gleamed as he deliberately remarked, “You have me line up every day, yet you barely eat any of the pastries. They just sit on the table, going to waste…”
Before he could finish, Jiang Ciqing cut him off with a warning glance. “Don’t want to do it? Should I assign someone else?”
That wouldn’t do. Jobs that allowed frequent trips to the city were rare, and his comrades envied him for it. Sure, it was tiring, but at least he could run errands in the city without requesting leave from the squad leader.
The man’s face fell as he forced a smile. “How could I refuse a task from the master?”
Jiang Ciqing waved him off dismissively. “If there’s nothing else, head back early.”
She was practically shooing him away. The man chuckled, undeterred. “At least this batch of pastries won’t go to waste this time.”
Before Jiang Ciqing could kick him, he bolted.
The Alpha stiffened, the heat creeping back up to her ears.
“If I recall correctly, Master Jiang doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth,” Xu Fusheng teased, her voice lilting with amusement.
Jiang Ciqing’s lips twitched. She didn’t dare look back. “It’s nice to indulge once in a while.”
“Indulging once in a while doesn’t require sending someone to buy them every day, does it?” Xu Fusheng pressed, her smile widening.
“I buy them to keep at home, so I can have some whenever I want,” the usually disciplined blade-smithing heir replied, her tone awkward as she played the part of a spoiled aristocrat.
“Oh~” Xu Fusheng feigned belief, nodding sagely.
“Xu! Fu! Sheng!”
“What?” The Omega’s terrible acting was on full display as she pretended to be clueless, her eyes dancing with mischief.
Jiang Ciqing stood rooted to the spot, her mouth opening and closing before she finally shoved the pastries into Xu Fusheng’s arms and stormed off, her face burning.
The woman behind her was utterly shameless. Hugging the pastries, she called out loudly, “Since Master Jiang doesn’t like sweets, just send them to me. No point letting them go to waste!”
Jiang Ciqing stumbled mid-step but quickened her pace without looking back.