The Lady's Scandalous Night by Jeannie Lin Read Free Book Online Page A

him.
    I also dreamed of you.

Chapter 6
    River knew who was upon the horse the moment he came over the rise. Chen had sought her out. For the last three months, she and Father had lived far away from the main roads and cities of the province. It was safer that way. She didn’t know where Ru Shan was either. That was also safer.
    If Chen had found and challenged Ru Shan, she didn’t know what she would do. There was no such thing as a good death in her eyes. It was all loss and pain. Her father would never recover and she…she had already decided to bury her heart. Yet against her wishes, it came to life at the first sight of the swordsman.
    She walked to the edge of the path and held her breath. She couldn’t go to him until she knew. His gaze fixed onto her as he neared. Her heart caught in her throat as Chen dismounted and even when he stood before her, it was as if a veil still clouded her eyes, separating them. His presence was both beautiful and terrifying.
    “Is he dead?” she whispered.
    Chen paused, taking her in from head to toe as she had done him. “Ru Shan is not dead. At least not that I know of.”
    She could breathe again, but she kept her hands clenched at her sides to keep from reaching for him. There were still too many questions. “What is that?”
    Chen had pulled out an official-looking pamphlet from his saddle pack, but he lowered it to his side as if it were unimportant.
    “Do you still dream of me, River?”
    She blinked furiously. It was the sunlight, she told herself. It was too bright. “Why did you come here? Are you still hunting Ru Shan?”
    “I searched for him,” he admitted. “I followed news of him into the mountains. There was a skirmish somewhere in the south, but your brother escaped.”
    He came closer and she allowed it. She was too caught between hope and fear to move. Chen held up the pamphlet again.
    “A pardon. Governor Li has declared that the debt between the two of them is settled.”
    She took the decree from him and read through it. “Can this be a trick?”
    “Li Tao can be harsh and brutal, but he doesn’t believe in deceit.”
    “The governor would rather kill his enemies as public examples,” she said contemptuously.
    “Sometimes these matters can only be handled warrior to warrior. Only Li Tao and Ru Shan can understand what has happened.”
    “Then Ru Shan is safe? We don’t have to hide any longer?”
    He nodded and she nearly collapsed with relief.
    “I wouldn’t have taken Ru Shan’s life,” he told her. “I knew I couldn’t do it the moment we parted. I wanted to see you again, even if it was only in another life, and I knew the forces of heaven wouldn’t allow it if I went against what I knew was right.”
    The weight of a hundred stones lifted from her. She’d known he wasn’t a coldhearted killer. “I was so afraid. I thought of you every day, wondering.”
    Chen was finally there beside her. The barriers lifted away and the sight of him filled her, pure and uncorrupted.
    He looked beyond her to the window of the cabin. Father had pulled back the curtain to stare out at them. “Is that the elder Master Yao? I’ve always wanted to meet him and pay my respects.”
    “Father will be very happy to hear that Ru Shan has been pardoned,” she replied.
    They started toward the door, side by side. She was no longer the sheltered girl by the river, but being close to Chen brought back those days of hope and longing. She could dream again.
    “I didn’t just come to talk about Ru Shan,” he admitted. “There is something else I’ve been meaning to ask your father.”
    “Oh? What can that be?” She looked away, coy and uncommonly pleased.
    He reached out to take her hand and all the pieces of heaven and earth came together. Chen smiled at her for the first time since he’d returned, a true smile full of promise and happiness.
    “It’s about his daughter.”

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