Одинокий город закрыт

Глава 109

Could I refuse? Even during the day, I struggled to twist Xu Da Niang's robe. Though I didn't know their exact location, it would take several days to reach Long Yao. Xi Lan's words seemed reasonable. More importantly, since Xi Lan had said so, if I refused, wouldn't that mean I didn't trust him? Even though the Xi Lan after his amnesia wasn't the Xi Lan I remembered, he knew I was in danger and still rescued me without hesitation. I gently stroked the Soul Guardian on my left little finger with my right hand. I knew how important this thing was to him, to Tian Qing, yet he never hesitated, whether before or after his amnesia. Xi Lan, I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face. My heart felt heavy as a stone. Suddenly, I bent over, hugged myself, and began to sob uncontrollably. The people around me just sat quietly. I cried very hard, cried my heart out, and unconsciously clenched my hands tightly on the guardian spirit until my voice was hoarse, until I could cry no more tears, until it felt like I had cried out all the air in my lungs, before I gradually calmed down, sobbing intermittently.

I looked up at him, my eyes aching so much I could barely open them. He looked back at me, his eyes filled with embarrassment and a hint of helplessness. I reached out, dipped my fingers in tea, and wrote on the table: I want to speak. I am Princess Xiu Ruo.

He clearly saw what I wrote, yet he remained silent. I was speechless for a moment. As I got up and walked past him, he suddenly reached out and swept me up in his arms, ignoring my struggles. He carried me straight to my room. I pushed him away, but he pulled one hand away and held both my hands firmly in his, not heavily, but so tightly I couldn't pull my hands away. Finally, he carried me to the bed, pulled the covers over me completely, and no matter how much I struggled, his arms remained tightly around me. After a long while, his voice came softly from behind my ear: "Don't move. You'll be able to speak eventually. Go to sleep."

When his hand brushed against my shoulder, I instantly fell into a deep sleep.

I woke up early the next morning to find it already bright, and no one was beside me. Just as I was about to leave, Zisu came in and helped me wash up. Then she went out and returned a moment later with a plate. As soon as she entered, I smelled a strong herbal scent. I looked up at her, my eyes questioning.

"It was His Highness who instructed us to do this, saying it would help the princess regain her speech," she explained. On the plate were two bowls; the larger one contained a thick, dark medicinal liquid, while the smaller one contained osmanthus-flavored syrup.

Was this medicine meant to make me speak? Did my crying last night have any effect? Is Xi Lan really as I thought, even if he forgets me, doesn't remember any of our past moments, even if he hears about those experiences from others and thinks I deceived and used him, and understands he should hate me, does he still have an intuitive, instinctive love for me deep down, or rather, subconsciously? So, even after what I did last night, he still gave in at the last minute?

I felt guilty, yet still grateful. Enduring the bitterness and holding my breath, I drank the medicine in the bowl in one gulp, then rinsed my mouth with osmanthus-flavored sugar water. Stepping outside, I unexpectedly saw Xi Lan, Wu Yin, Wu Hen, and Wu Ji sparring. Their white robes fluttered as they clashed and intertwined with three gray figures, only separating abruptly after a long while. I stood there, stunned, watching Wu Yin and the other two bow respectfully, then hearing Wu Yin say, "Congratulations, Your Highness, on recovering your strength!"

I paused for three seconds before slowly coming to my senses. I knew from Ye Feng's words that these three guards of Zhilan Palace were no ordinary men. Now, all three were fighting Xi Lan simultaneously. Although they must have been wary of Xi Lan being their master and dared not use their full strength, they also dared not be timid or careless. Yet, despite their combined efforts, Xi Lan hadn't lost the slightest advantage! I've always known Xi Lan's martial arts were superb. From the moment he saved me to his performance in the Sizhou battle, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his skills had reached a transcendent level. So when I learned that he had used the "most foolish method" to transfer his soul-protecting power to me, suffering injuries himself but acting as if nothing was wrong in front of me, until finally collapsing from severe injuries and nearly dying, the guilt and remorse in my heart almost overwhelmed me.

But now, what does Wuyin mean by "Congratulations on Your Highness's recovery of power"? Did Xilan suffer another injury and lose power again? A sudden tremor ran through my heart. Could it be that Xilan...? Is it possible that Xilan's loss of power was related to saving me? Is it possible that Xilan used that "most foolish method" again to transfer the Soul Protection to me? But didn't Xilan forget me?

"Have you taken your medicine?" Xi Lan straightened her clothes, walked up to me, looked at me with an ambiguous expression, and asked in a gentle voice.

I nodded instinctively, my mind racing with thoughts. I reached out to tug at his sleeve, wanting to ask him what I had been thinking, but he subtly avoided me, turned and walked towards the courtyard gate, leaving only the words, "I'll send you back to Xiuruo tomorrow."

He'll send me back to Xiu Ruo tomorrow? Xi Lan really wants to send me back to Xiu Ruo? He agreed, but he's sending me back to Xiu Ruo? I stared at his retreating figure, slightly lost in thought, until he disappeared from my sight. But no matter what, it's still a good thing, and Xi Lan has started treating my aphasia; everything seems to be slowly getting better.

I didn't see Xi Lan again after that; he didn't appear at lunch, dinner, or after dinner. The next morning, after breakfast, everyone started packing. I didn't have much to do; Zi Su was capable and would handle everything perfectly without me having to tell her.

In my memory, Xi Lan loved riding horses and rarely rode in a carriage. This time, after I finished my medicine and stepped out of my room, I saw a carriage parked in the courtyard. Zi Su helped me into the carriage, and I then saw that there was already someone sitting inside—it was Xi Lan!

The carriage was large. Xi Lan sat on the left, and Zi Su and I sat on the right. As soon as we were seated, the carriage started moving. I raised my hand and just as I pulled back a corner of the curtain, I heard Xi Lan's voice from the other side: "Don't look out."

I withdrew my hand, turned around to look at him, surprised and puzzled.

"If you'd like, you can try it, because it will let you see the things you fear most in your heart." He smiled, but his smile was somewhat cold.

What I fear most? I pondered to myself, but the image of learning from Ruochen that Xilan was seriously injured and unconscious, and rushing day and night to Wangzhou to open that small wooden house flashed through my mind. That scene was vivid in my mind. I saw Xilan lying straight on the bed, half-covered by the quilt, without a gentle smile, without a clear voice. His bright eyes were slightly closed, not looking at me with a smile, not even moving, and I couldn't even feel his chest rising and falling. It was as if he had fallen asleep, as if he had fallen asleep forever... At that moment, the pain in my heart, the fear and despair followed closely. I gripped the clothes on my chest tightly, bent down, and suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe.

"What's wrong?" He suddenly leaned forward, stretched out his hand, and swept me into his arms across the coffee table. As he said this, his voice and eyes clearly showed concern.

I still clutched my clothes tightly, frowning and desperately trying to suppress the strange feeling that I couldn't express, and shook my head.

"Weimian?" He reached out and cupped my face, his clear eyes looking at me with a worried expression and a hint of nervousness.

I looked up at him, and our eyes met. His clear eyes gradually transformed into deep, unfathomable peach blossom eyes. I reached out and tremblingly touched the cheek of the person in front of me. The smile on his lips was lazy and casual. The pain in my heart intensified, but my mind was filled with longing. I looked at him, mesmerized. Before tears could slide down my cheeks, I closed my eyes and couldn't help but lean forward to press my lips to his.

His hand caressed the back of my head, his tongue deftly invading, entwining with mine wantonly, lingering and greedy. When I realized that the warm and soft taste of his lips and tongue wasn't as domineering and passionate as a fox's, when I realized he didn't have the familiar ambergris scent on him, I suddenly reached out to push him away. But he didn't back down; instead, he tightened his grip on the back of my head, leaving me unable to retreat or escape. His other hand held me tightly until he finally reluctantly withdrew from my lips and tongue. Before I could even speak, panting and gasping for fresh air, he suddenly pressed me against his chest, so tightly it felt suffocating. His voice rang out above my head, his chest rising and falling noticeably as he spoke: "Weimian, you are mine."

No matter how much I struggled, he held me tightly. I struggled for a long time, but finally resigned myself to my fate and buried my face in his chest, tears streaming down my face. I didn't understand why I had that feeling or why I had that hallucination. He still wouldn't let go. As if he could sense my tears, he gently patted my back with one hand, as if to comfort me.

Clouds Drunk and the Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Four: A Hidden Melancholy and Resentment Arise as He Once Again Joins the Army on a Campaign

Chapter word count: 7480 Update time: 08-12-24 12:59

He went on a military expedition again.

The carriage sped along, and even after we left the so-called illusionary Bagua formation, I didn't lift the curtain. Xi Lan held me tightly, refusing to let go. When I was exhausted from crying, I wiped my face with my sleeve and finally snuggled into his arms and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up again, it was already afternoon. The horse stopped at the right moment, and Xi Lan, still ignoring my struggles, carried me down from the carriage first. I looked up and saw another courtyard, not large, but someone was already waiting outside the gate. When we went inside, the food was already prepared.

"Let's eat first." He lifted me to sit in a chair and handed me the chopsticks.

I reached out and took the chopsticks, but before I could even pick them up, I saw Wuyin standing outside the door, seemingly having urgent news to report. However, he just stood there, looking at Xilan with slight anxiety, not daring to come in or even speak. Xilan's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but when she looked at me, her expression was gentle as she said, "Let's eat first."

I knew Wuyin must have something important to say. And when Xilan was with me, he always ignored everything else, or rather, he would give up too many things. I knew that in his heart, I was always the most important person. Feeling guilty, I tugged at Xilan's sleeve, then looked at Wuyin, gesturing for him to come in.

"What is it?" Xi Lan didn't stop me, but reached out and grabbed my hand that was tugging at his sleeve. Although he was speaking to Wu Yin, his eyes were on me.

"Your Highness, Eunuch Yang has arrived."

Eunuch Yang? Which Eunuch Yang? Just as I was wondering, a man appeared outside the door. It was none other than Yang Xiu, the chief eunuch serving Prince Tianqing. He bowed to Xi Lan and greeted her. When his gaze fell on me, he was clearly taken aback, but then regained his composure and bowed to me as well, saying, "This servant greets Princess Xi Yue."

I quickly made a gesture of support, unable to speak, but able only to show him I wanted him to rise, my face showing a bit of embarrassment. I had almost forgotten my status, and Eunuch Yang's action at least proved that my status as a princess hadn't been revoked by the Prince of Tianqing.

"Your Highness, the army has already set off; Your Highness cannot delay any longer."

Uh, what does Eunuch Yang mean by that? Does it mean the Azure Sky Army has already set out to attack Ye Cang? Has the Azure Sky King appointed Xi Lan as Grand Marshal again?

"I know what I'm doing," Xi Lan replied frankly, her smile unchanged. She picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and placed it on the plate in front of me, saying gently, "Eat quickly, it's cold, the food won't be good if it gets cold."

"Your Highness, the Emperor..."

Before Eunuch Yang could finish speaking, Xi Lan interrupted him, saying, "Go down."

Eunuch Yang seemed to want to say something more, but ultimately remained silent. As he turned to leave, he glanced at me intently before retreating. Wu Yin followed suit. How could I not understand? Eunuch Yang had come personally to deliver a message, and it was about this matter. I feared that Xi Lan had once again defied the Heavenly King's wishes because of me, and the Heavenly King was currently furious. More importantly, I knew that Xi Lan hadn't refused the task, but was merely delayed because of my actions. Therefore, I had no reason to let Xi Lan fall out with the Heavenly King because of me.

"Xi Lan, I can go back by myself, or if you're worried, you can send a guard to escort me back." As I wrote these words, dipping my chopsticks in tea, I already knew in my heart that Xi Lan would never agree. Yet, I desperately wanted to do so, so that I could take the opportunity to return to Long Yao. If I was destined to owe Xi Lan, I would rather harden my heart and let him blame and resent me than let him have hope only to be disappointed again.

"What Wei Mian wants to go back to is Longzhou, isn't it?" He lowered his eyes slightly, making it impossible to see the expression in them as he spoke. His voice remained gentle, and he even had a smile on his face, a slightly self-deprecating smile. After saying this, he suddenly looked up at me, and there was a hint of hope in his eyes.

I wanted to nod, but I didn't dare. My gaze wandered, and for a moment I couldn't even look directly into those clear eyes.

"Your body is not yet fully recovered, so how can I let you go back on your own? On the way to Ye Cang, we will pass through Long Yao. If Wei Mian is willing, she can travel with the army. However, the marching speed will not be as fast as that of a single carriage, and it will take some time."

Although he asked me, I knew it was tacit agreement, a compromise, and also a form of expectation. Just like every time I had a thought or decision before, he couldn't refuse, couldn't bear to refuse, yet he harbored anticipation. I nodded. Actually, it was a good idea. It wasn't my first time accompanying someone to the military, and given my current physical condition, I could feel at ease with Xi Lan by my side.

I admit that perhaps my thoughts are selfish, and they often contradict my plans when I'm calm. But this feeling is an intuition, and it seems that making me ruthless and heartless towards Xilan is not a simple or easy thing to do.

His eyes held surprise, and his smile was as warm as the spring sun, yet it pierced my heart with a sharp pain.