Chapter 21: My Husband Returned with a Woman
“Whoa?”
“Miss, are you alright? How did you end up like this?”
“You… help…”
The woman struggled to lift her head to look at Xu An, trying to say something, but before she could speak, her eyes rolled back and she lost her balance, collapsing into his arms.
“Hey, don’t fake an injury! This has nothing to do with me!”
Xu An was startled.
“Could it be… she’s dead?”
Seeing no response for a long moment, Xu An’s heart tightened.
He reached out and checked the woman’s nose for breath.
She was still breathing.
Judging by her appearance, the injuries were severe, clearly beyond what she could endure, which explained her fainting.
Xu An breathed a sigh of relief. If this woman really died in his arms, he’d be unable to explain himself no matter how many mouths spoke.
He was still young and inexperienced, not yet ready to challenge the rules of this world.
Getting involved in a lawsuit would bring considerable trouble.
It might even cost him his life.
After all, wrongful convictions were all too common in history.
“This woman, though dressed like a tomboy, is really something else!”
Only now did Xu An take a careful look at the woman in his arms.
She wore a sleek black outfit, two broken knives fastened at her waist. Her eyebrows were like willows, her eyes phoenix-shaped, with a delicate nose and cherry-red lips.
Her skin was snow-white and smooth, her features exquisitely carved as if by an artist’s hand.
Between her brows lay an air of refined leisure befitting a young lady of a wealthy family, yet also a graceful, dignified aura of strength.
These seemingly contradictory qualities blended harmoniously in her.
Her figure was equally remarkable.
She stood about 1.7 meters tall, tall and slender, with a chest like twin peaks of a great mountain.
Firm and prominent, as if ready to burst through her tight clothing.
As for her hips, Xu An could not see them to describe.
Even so, this woman was undoubtedly a breathtaking presence from every angle.
She truly deserved the title of “rare beauty.”
“This woman’s identity is clearly extraordinary; ordinary families don’t have such bearing!”
“I wonder what she’s been through to be so badly injured. What should I do now?”
Xu An felt a headache coming on.
He hesitated, unsure whether to just leave her here.
After all, he was merely a passerby, barely connected to her; there was no need to expend effort caring for her.
Though his conscience was troubled—after all, this was a human life.
But time would heal all wounds.
As for stepping in to save her?
Ridiculous!
She was badly hurt; nursing her back to health would cost money and energy. They were strangers—why should he bother?
But what troubled him was the undeniable sense that her identity was far from ordinary.
If he saved her now, there might be unexpected rewards later.
With this thought, Xu An decided to check if she carried anything that could prove her identity.
So, he began to search her body.
Xu An swore he had no other intentions—he was simply looking.
Believe it or not.
Finally, he found a token at her waist.
The front bore the character for “captain.”
On the back were three characters: “Mu Qingqing.”
“Could it be this woman is a captain?”
“Moreover, judging by this token, she’s no ordinary captain! She must be a captain of the Six Gates!”
Xu An was stunned.
According to the original owner’s memories, the Six Gates was the special department in Great Wei responsible for hunting criminals.
They handled everything from catching corrupt officials to capturing murderers, operating almost independently from both the military and government, wielding immense power.
Similar to the police force in the previous world.
All bounty hunters were under their authority, with priority above their superiors.
The Six Gates’ officers were ranked in four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow, with the highest rank being the divine level—the Divine Captains.
Divine Captains were extremely rare; it was said there were only four in the entire Six Gates.
Each enjoyed the emperor’s utmost trust.
“But why would a Six Gates captain appear here?”
Xu An couldn’t quite figure it out. There had been no news of dangerous fugitives in Linyuan County lately.
“Wait, this woman is actually a Divine Captain?”
Xu An was shocked.
The token’s border was adorned with a dragon motif—an unmistakable sign of Divine Captain status!
“I, Xu An, am kind-hearted and warm, known throughout Qinghe Village as a good man. Since fate has brought you to me in your time of need, would I not lend a helping hand? If I do not, then what kind of man would I be?”
Xu An’s gaze fixed on the woman, full of righteous resolve.
Then, he slung his basket in front of his chest and carefully lifted the woman onto his back.
His movements were gentle, careful not to jostle her.
After all, she was a favored figure close to the emperor!
The debt of saving a life this great could hardly go unreciprocated.
Though she had a generous bust, the woman was not heavy—about ninety pounds.
Well within Xu An’s strength.
Carrying her, Xu An reached Qinghe Village as the sun was about to set.
Seeing him return with a woman on his back, many villagers gathered around.
“Master Xu, where have you been? Who’s this beautiful young lady you’re carrying?”
“Whose daughter is she? What happened? My goodness, she’s so stunning — clearly no ordinary family! Master Xu, you better be careful, or you might get into trouble!”
“Master Xu, you’re carrying a woman home—does your wife know? Watch out, she might get mad and not let you into bed tonight...”
Hearing the chatter, Xu An was speechless.
But to ease the villagers’ rigid impression of the original owner, he patiently explained.
After all, these neighbors might be needed for help in the future.
Being aloof and solitary like the original owner was impossible.
Where there are people, there is society.
In society, skill matters, but more important are the subtle arts of human relations.
This explained why some mediocre folk could hold high positions and command respect, while many talented ones remained nothing more than beasts of burden.
Finally home, Xu An called out loudly before entering, “Yan’er, I’m back!”
Inside the courtyard, Su Yan’er, who was washing Xu An’s shoes, immediately brightened at the familiar voice.
Her husband was finally home!
She sprang up to greet him, only to see Xu An already stepping into the yard, carrying a woman on his back.
Wait!
Her husband had brought another woman home?
Su Yan’er’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly flustered and at a loss.
What did this mean?
Was he abandoning her? Why else would he bring another woman home?
Her small hands, reddened and chapped from washing shoes and clothes in the cold, clenched tightly at her garment’s hem.
Her lips quivered in quiet distress.