"Running around barefoot again will really make you catch a cold. The manual is in Lan Ying Palace." Lan Wuxie got up, walked behind her, picked her up around the waist, and threw her back onto the wooden bed. "If you want to see it, just ask them to bring it to you whenever you want."
"Is such a prestigious book bound with a gold cover and silver thread?"
Lan Wuxie laughed again:
"It's just an ordinary book."
Lan Wuxie gave a listless "Oh," and then picked up the book on pacifying the south again:
"Why do you like military strategy and medical books so much?"
Lan Wuxie thought for a moment and then shook her head:
"I wouldn't call it liking."
"If you don't like it, why watch so much?"
He smiled and placed Hua Chongyang on his lap:
"I remember my father doing this when I was little. He would put me on his lap, then start flipping through a book, and if he got into it, he would read to me while turning the pages."
How old were you then?
"Two or three years old, I guess."
"Teaching military strategy to children as young as two or three? What about medical books?"
Lan Wuxie smiled slightly and took the book from her hand:
"I remember my mother's health was never very good. So my father often looked through medical books, searching for remedies."
Hua Chongyang was somewhat surprised.
She always thought Lan Wuxie was an orphan—most of the disciples in Lan Ying Palace were also orphans—good families' children have parents who love them, who would be willing to send their children to such a place?
But it seems Lan Wuxie remembers his parents very clearly. What misfortune befell his family?
Just as she was about to ask, she heard Lan Cao knocking on the door from outside:
"Master, Lan Shu is in the study."
"Understood." Lan Wuxie got off the bed, slipped on her boots, and glanced back at Hua Chongyang. "I'll be right back."
As Lan Wuxie left, Hua Chongyang beckoned to the orchid by the door:
"come over."
Lan Cao glanced at her sideways:
"I am a man now."
I'm hungry.
"I won't serve anyone except the Pavilion Master. If you want food, go find it in the kitchen yourself!"
The orchid stand had grown larger, and he turned to leave. Hua Chongyang knew he still held a grudge about last night's midnight snack, so he got up, put on his robe, and went outside to find the kitchen.
As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Lan Wuxie and Bo Hai standing under the corridor in the distance.
Lancao was shrewd after all. It turned out she wasn't putting on airs; she was indirectly inviting Lancao out to watch the show and catch her in the act of adultery.
She sneered, walked straight over, and stood outside the corridor, calling out to Bo Hai with a smile:
"Second Miss Bo."
Lan Wuxie turned her head and saw Hua Chongyang, her expression changing; Bo Hai, on the other hand, remained calm, nodding in return with composure, his demeanor and actions exuding arrogance.
"Master Hua."
Hua Chongyang was wearing Lan Wuxie's water-red robe, which was so long that it trailed on the ground. She was barefoot, wearing embroidered shoes, and her hair was loosely tied in a bun. Her robe was half-open, revealing her slender neck, prominent collarbone, and close-fitting snow-white inner garment.
Bo Hai's gaze followed her hair, down to her neck, her collarbone, her chest, and finally to her bare feet.
Hua Chongyang was absolutely certain that Bo Hai's gaze was filled with pure contempt. She looked at Bo Hai's snow-white silk shirt embroidered with faint, light red patterns, the collar completely covered, and the skirt perfectly neat. She couldn't resist provoking him first:
"The Second Miss Bo's attire is truly, truly 'elegant and unique.'"
"You flatter me, Master Hua."
Whether Lan Wuxie didn't want Hua Chongyang to speak with Bo Hai, or was genuinely worried about her, she stepped forward, adjusted Hua Chongyang's collar, and whispered:
"It's cool outside, so I'm not afraid of getting cold."
"So what if it's cold? Miss Bo Hai is now ranked as the number one beauty in the martial arts world," Hua Chongyang raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways at Bo Jiang, her tone tinged with a hint of coquettishness, "I want to hear what you're saying to the number one beauty in the world."
Lan Wuxie paused, clearly taken aback, then took Hua Chongyang's hand by hers and lowered her voice:
"She didn't say anything—she stopped me. Don't overthink it."
Ke Hua Chongyang frowned, turned his back to Bo Hai, looked up at Lan Wuxie with a smirk, and muttered:
"I was just overthinking it. Who told you to stand so close to her!"
Lan Wuxie was taken aback. He raised his hand, pinched her chin, and carefully observed her expression.
Bo Hai couldn't get a word in edgewise, so she turned to leave, but neither Lan Wuxie nor Hua Chongyang paid her any attention. Lan Wuxie stared at Hua Chongyang for a long time, then suddenly laughed:
"Double Ninth Festival."
"What!"
Lan Wuxie smiled until her eyes formed two crescent moons:
Are you jealous?
"Hmph, me, jealous?" Hua Chongyang tossed her chin up and shook off his hand. "What's there for me to be jealous of!"
Lan Wuxie didn't say a word, he just looked at her and smiled.
Hua Chongyang, looking both embarrassed and angry, shoved him in the chest:
"Lan Wuxie, what are you laughing at?! Did you see gold or silver and you're laughing like that?"
"I only smiled when I saw you," Lan Wuxie said, his eyes crinkling as he took her hand. "Seeing you jealous for me, of course I had to smile."
"Who's jealous? Don't talk nonsense! If she doesn't leave, I'm going to argue with her, what are you going to do about it?" Hua Chongyang became even more enraged, shaking off his hand and turning to leave. "Keep laughing, I'm going back!"
Lan Wuxie grabbed her from behind and pulled her into his arms:
"Why are you running? I like you just the way you are."
Hua Chongyang remained silent, then let out a soft hum. Lan Wuxie stroked her hair and chuckled gently:
"If you don't like me talking to other people, I won't. You can argue all you want, just don't cry. Lancao said you ran away crying last night, it really scared me, I was so afraid you'd do what happened last time—"
"Cry?" Hua Chongyang interrupted him with a stubborn snort. "Hmph, next time I won't just stop crying, I won't just argue with her, and if she dares to offend my people, I'll beat her up! Let her try!"
69. Narrow path...
Hua Chongyang truly kept his word.
While eating breakfast, she was happily feeding Lan Wuxie porridge with a spoon when the door was suddenly pushed open. Her hand trembled, and some porridge splashed onto Lan Wuxie's sleeve. Before she could wipe it off, she turned around and saw Bo Hai standing straight in the doorway, his expression cold as he looked at Lan Wuxie.
Hua Chongyang raised an eyebrow.
Behind Bo Hai, orchids cautiously peek out, glancing at Lan Wuxie and then at Hua Chongyang:
"Miss Bo insists on seeing the Pavilion Master... I couldn't stop her..."
Bo Hai completely ignored Hua Chongyang, staring straight at Lan Wuxie, and finally spoke coldly:
"Palace Master Lan."
Lan Wuxie didn't even look up. She picked up a handkerchief from the table, wiped her sleeves, and then used her chopsticks to put some food into Hua Chongyang's bowl.
"Try this."
Bo Hai took two steps forward and suddenly spoke:
"What do I lack compared to her?"
Hua Chongyang looked up, gazing at Bo Hai with great interest. If she wasn't mistaken, the "she" Bo Hai was referring to was probably Hua Chongyang herself, right?
Lan Wuxie remained silent. Lan Cao followed behind, tugging at Bo Hai's sleeve from behind:
"Miss Bo, you'll come with me—"
Bo Hai pushed him away and stood by the table, staring intently at Lan Wuxie:
I liked you the moment I saw you.
Hua Chongyang immediately looked like he had been struck by lightning.
This Bo Hai is no ordinary girl.
But Bo Hai had something even more unusual to say:
"What she can do for you, I can do; what she can't do, I can also do. Just give me a chance, and I'll make sure you fall in love with me."
Lan Wuxie acted as if she hadn't heard, and used her chopsticks to put another piece of food on Hua Chongyang's plate without even looking up.
"Orchid, close the door."
Without further hesitation, Lan Cao stepped forward and pulled Bo Hai out:
"Miss Bo, please don't make things difficult for me."
Bo Hai shoved him aside and sneered at Lan Wuxie:
"You don't need to kick her out. I'll leave after I finish speaking. Ever since a year ago, she's been having an ambiguous relationship with my brother-in-law, Situ Qingliu. Until yesterday, she was still flirting with Bai Lu, and today she's come to see you again—I really don't understand, Lan Wuxie, what exactly do you like about her?"
Lan Wuxie put down his chopsticks, his expression changing. Hua Chongyang, still smiling, reached out and pressed his hand down:
"Don't touch her. Let her talk; I'd like to hear it."
"If you want to hear it, I'll tell you. When you like someone, you should be devoted and never change your mind. Hua Chongyang, with your fickle nature, I don't see how much you truly like him!"
Hua Chongyang smiled, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked at Lan Wuxie:
Did you hear that?
Lan Wuxie is indeed ruthless:
"I can't be bothered to listen."
"This Miss Bo is truly sincere towards you."
Lan Wuxie kept his eyes straight ahead and picked up more food for her with his chopsticks: