Chapter Thirteen: Long Awaited

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In her heart, Luo Yunyao was thinking of Qin Jinghao, and the words “Brother Qin” slipped from her lips.

Beyond being a bit more formal and refined, “Brother Qin” carried essentially the same meaning as Yue Liuxi’s “dear elder brother.”

Fortunately, Luo Yunyao was now in a male identity, so addressing him as brother posed no issue.

The words lingered quietly in the shadows after she had spoken.

“Sir, you’ve finally returned!” Qing Zhu was so delighted she nearly leapt forward. She quickly bowed and smiled at Luo Yunyao, “Please have a good talk with General Qin. I will go prepare some tea for you.”

Luo Yunyao saw Qing Zhu’s cheerful demeanor and shook his head with a smile, instructing her, “Tell the kitchen to prepare lunch.” Then he turned to ask Qin Jinghao’s opinion, “It’s getting late. General Qin, you don’t mind dining at this humble abode, do you?”

Qin Jinghao nodded in agreement.

Qing Zhu, relieved to avoid the icy general and to see her lady return unharmed, was almost skipping with joy as she hurried to the kitchen.

Luo Yunyao felt a bit embarrassed and smiled apologetically at Qin Jinghao, “General, please excuse her lack of manners. I have not disciplined her well.”

Qin Jinghao’s gaze studied Luo Yunyao carefully. Seeing that he was indeed unharmed, he relaxed slightly. “You may also call me Brother Qin.”

Luo Yunyao was momentarily taken aback. After realizing the familiarity implied by those words, he was not shy about using them—after all, Princess Yue Liuxi, their great ancestral lady, wasn’t here. “Then how would Brother Qin like me to address him?” The question carried a playful tone.

“Brother Luo?” The homophone of “failure” lingered, though Luo Yunyao had already succeeded in the imperial examination; still, the phrase bore no good meaning.

“What is your courtesy name?” Qin Jinghao asked.

Luo Yunyao had forgotten about this. In ancient times, directly calling an adult by their given name was considered highly disrespectful, hence the use of courtesy names. She hadn’t expected this custom here as well.

But Luo Yunyao actually had no courtesy name; her father had not yet bestowed one.

After some thought, a sudden inspiration came to her. “Yunyao. Like floating clouds and a distant path. Father said being an official is like floating clouds—you must not take yourself too seriously. To plead for the people and be a good official is a long, arduous journey.”

“Yunyao.” Qin Jinghao repeated the name, his lips opening and closing slowly, uttering two of the most beautiful sounds. Smiling, he nodded, “Secretary Luo is a thoughtful person.”

This Secretary Luo was Luo Yunyao’s nominal father, the former Minister of War.

Yet Luo Yunyao felt that when Qin Jinghao pronounced her name, those two syllables—her name—were spoken with such gentle care that her heartbeat seemed to slow.

Compared to the crown prince’s presumptuous “Yao’er,” these two characters were like heavenly music.

Compared to Xiao Limo, Qin Jinghao was practically an angel.

Being with him brought an unparalleled inner peace and joy.

Here, at this moment, peace was home.

It was Qin Jinghao who pulled Luo Yunyao back to reality: “You treat your servants well.”

Luo Yunyao took a seat beside Qin Jinghao and smiled awkwardly, “Has the girl been rude? I, your humble servant, apologize to Brother Qin.” She opened her cup and responded, “They have followed me all the way to the capital. Rather than master and servant, we are more like friends. Don’t be fooled by Qing Zhu’s boisterousness—she’s very meticulous when it counts and has helped me greatly.”

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Luo Yunyao realized she had shared too much personal information and feared Qin Jinghao might grow impatient. Yet when she turned to look at him, their eyes met.

Qin Jinghao had been listening attentively all along.

A warmth blossomed in Luo Yunyao’s heart. She suddenly recalled her university days when friends, after falling in love, would share stories of their parents, friends, and past.

Her face flushed as she chided herself for overthinking. Had she forgotten that there was Yue Liuxi’s childhood friend still in the picture?

Qin Jinghao noticed Luo Yunyao’s sudden silence and lowered his head, seeming lost in thought. He then resumed her earlier words to break the quiet: “From what you say, she is quite a formidable girl.”

But the cool General Qin was not skilled in conversation. His remark fell flat, deepening the awkwardness.

Just then, Qing Zhu brought over the tea, breaking the tension.

Qin Jinghao handed his cold cup to Qing Zhu for replacement. Luo Yunyao flipped her cup and took the teapot from Qing Zhu, blushing as she poured tea for Qin Jinghao.

After Qing Zhu left, Luo Yunyao calmed her expression and refocused her thoughts. “Brother Qin, I apologize for keeping you waiting. May I ask the purpose of your visit to this humble abode?”

“Concern for you.”

This simple statement made Luo Yunyao blush deeply. She knew she was overthinking, but her feelings were hard to restrain.

Qin Jinghao himself paused, surprised at his own honesty.

Luo Yunyao sipped her tea, gently blowing on the steam to conceal her emotions. “Oh? What do you mean by that?”

“Some days ago, you refused Prime Minister Lu. Now the Crown Prince has invited you; you ought not to be so obstinate...” Qin Jinghao shifted his tone, looking at Luo Yunyao, “Yet last night, you did not return until late.”

Being told she stayed out late made Luo Yunyao strangely guilty. “I didn’t expect that after so many days apart, Brother Qin would remember me. Your concern leaves me honored.”

They met eyes sincerely. “As you see, the Crown Prince did not trouble me.”

Luo Yunyao was an open-hearted person, especially towards those who showed her kindness. Qin Jinghao’s concern compelled her to honestly disclose the events of last night: “The Prince said it was to celebrate my appointment. There was no discussion of other matters, nor any attempt to pressure me into joining his faction.”

Only the Prince’s attitude and behavior at the banquet were somewhat odd. But... the Crown Prince was never one to play by the usual rules.

Luo Yunyao concluded for Qin Jinghao, “Perhaps the Prince felt that forcibly recruiting allies would breed resentment, so he decided to win me over more gradually.”

Qin Jinghao neither confirmed nor denied, only cautioning, “Be careful.”

His words warmed Luo Yunyao’s heart. In this strange place, amidst the turbulent currents of court politics, she was not alone. Someone was by her side, caring for her, guiding her.

“Mm, understood,” Luo Yunyao replied, sipping her tea delicately. “Brother Qin came all this way just out of concern for me?”

Qin Jinghao adjusted the lid of his teacup, silently affirming, then tilted his head to study Luo Yunyao for a moment before asking, “What does the Ministry of War oversee?”

Luo Yunyao was momentarily surprised by the question. In some ways, Qin Jinghao was her senior—he had once served as acting Minister of War.

She pondered this but could not grasp why he would quiz her on this.

Still, she answered, “It manages military appointments, rewards and punishments, military registration, weaponry, supplies, military orders, and prisons.”

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Of course, such an answer was unlikely to earn praise; these were common facts.

Luo Yunyao thought quietly: this position overlapped greatly with General Qin’s affairs. No wonder he cared so much about her.

Qin Jinghao sipped his tea leisurely and finally spoke slowly, “Autumn’s drizzle turns to heavy rain; the South River dikes have broken. Flooding has devastated the South River region—crops lost, nothing survives.” His gaze was calm and steady. “Yunyao, what is your view?”

Luo Yunyao’s hand trembled slightly, the weight of his words sinking deeply.

No harvest at all. She had witnessed droughts and natural disasters. Before Bilu was defeated by Tiansheng, the people had suffered from calamities beyond war. It was the most tragic sight she had ever seen: no grain, starving people staggering, even resorting to desperate measures. The populace was destitute and chaotic. As a princess of the realm, she could do nothing but watch helplessly.

Bilu’s fall was less a consequence of war and more a decree of fate.

Those memories were vivid. Luo Yunyao closed her eyes, striving to steady herself, but her voice trembled, “I have not heard of this... Brother Qin, are you certain this is true?”

Since Qin Jinghao shared the news, he had watched Luo Yunyao’s expression closely.

This delicate young scholar looked deeply saddened, as if truly empathizing. Qin Jinghao recalled that Luo Yunyao’s family was not from the South River region, and he himself had never been there. Her reaction was pure and kind—a good official who regarded the people as her own children.

His favor for this young top scorer naturally grew, but his heart held more sighs and relief than mere admiration.

Fortunately, he had come.

“The latest reports from my troops arrived swiftly.”

Had Luo Yunyao known him better, she might have laughed: no wonder the emperor was wary of you—your authority is immense.

Luo Yunyao nodded faintly, murmuring, “The people there must be suffering terribly.”

Qin Jinghao said nothing further; his cold expression was grave. Though he sympathized with the people, he knew distant aid could not quench an immediate blaze. There was no use in showing his distress.

Luo Yunyao’s thoughts wavered; she seemed transported back to her country’s downfall. After a long moment, she looked at Qin Jinghao and asked, “Brother Qin, why do you tell me this?”

Qin Jinghao patiently waited for her to regain composure and nodded calmly, “I wanted to hear Yunyao’s thoughts on this matter. What do you intend to do?”

Without hesitation, Luo Yunyao said, “Of course, allocate funds for disaster relief.” Then, realizing suddenly, she stared at Qin Jinghao wide-eyed. She had no authority over such matters.

Now she understood why Qin Jinghao had asked about the Ministry of War’s duties earlier. He was concerned she might overstep her bounds out of worry.

Amazed at Qin Jinghao’s thorough foresight, Luo Yunyao looked at him gratefully but still retorted, “The emperor and the Ministry of Revenue will handle this properly; I won’t act recklessly.”

Qin Jinghao was unfazed by her objection. “I know you are not one to act rashly. The emperor will certainly approve relief funds. However...” Rarely seeing him smile, Qin Jinghao’s lips curled with a gentlemanly charm, though the sarcasm beneath was strong. “That is the Ministry of Revenue’s responsibility alone. Disaster relief is not their concern, nor even that of Prime Minister Lu.”

Qin Jinghao’s sardonic smile pained Luo Yunyao, who wished she could soothe his lips.