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I nodded wearily, yawned, and said, "Don't refer to yourself as your subordinate anymore."

Yi Han paused, her hand resting on the corner of the blanket, and remained silent for a long while. I added, "That's an order." Then I turned over, curled up, and fell into a deep sleep.

Time travel requires not only sleep and moonlight, but also the rotation of a water chain. In the past, no matter how I fell asleep, I would always touch the water chain's Bagua (eight trigrams), thus resulting in time travel. Now, I've connected a silver chain to a ring, securing the water chain. Unless I choose, I will never travel arbitrarily. As a result, I usually stay in ancient times for six or seven days before returning to the modern world. Aside from the inconvenience of being unable to see in the modern world, it's as if I possess two lives, with endless time, splitting one day into seven or eight.

Half-asleep, I smelled a delicate fragrance, and then a pair of hands gently helped me sit up. I opened my eyes groggily, met Yi Han's cold gaze, and murmured, "Is it dawn?"

A fleeting smile crossed his dark eyes, then everything went black, followed by a cool sensation on my skin. Yi Han had placed a wrung-out towel on my face. After washing me, I stretched and straightened up, only to feel a tickle in my throat and start coughing repeatedly.

Yi Han hurriedly took out a bright green and translucent pill and fed it to me, saying with concern, "The climate in western Hunan is not good for your health, young master. It would be best to return to Luonan as soon as possible and let your wife treat you."

I coughed for a while longer until I drank the tea Yihan handed me, which finally calmed me down. My cheeks felt unnaturally hot, but my skin felt cool all over. I knew this was a ailment I'd picked up in the desert, somewhat like pneumonia, and if left untreated, it would probably stay with me for life.

Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard Yi Han look up and say towards the door, "What is it?"

I was startled, and upon closer listening, I noticed footsteps and rapid breathing outside the door. The curtain was lifted, revealing a young and handsome face, his delicate eyebrows furrowed. I knew his name was Qin Wu, Wu Sha under Neptune Ruoshui. He hurriedly approached us, bowed, and then lowered his voice to say, "Young Master, an urgent message has arrived from Luonan, saying that Madam has been imprisoned for plotting against Princess Jianing and will be executed soon."

"What?" I realized my voice was somewhat sharp as soon as it came out. I quickly took a deep breath to gather my thoughts and asked, "Is it a message from Catching Shadow? Are there any details?"

Qin Wu shook his head: "It's a message from Hades, but the letter seems to have been sent in a hurry and doesn't provide any details."

I frowned slightly and looked up at Zimo. He pondered for a while and then said, "Galan, send a message by carrier pigeon to Lu Shaojun to say goodbye, saying that there is an emergency at home. Also, I will teach you to write a letter of apology immediately. You return to the capital tonight."

I looked at him with great surprise: 'Zimo, don't you want to compete with Liu Cenfeng anymore?'

Zi Mo narrowed his eyes and smiled, "You two are destined to meet again in this life, you will meet again someday."

And so, Yihan, Qin Wu, and I set off that very night, with only one carriage and the three of us. Uncle Li stayed in western Hunan to oversee the overall situation, while Qin Li was in charge of reorganizing the Luo army.

My return to Luonan this time can be considered a private defiance of the imperial edict. Apart from sending a message by carrier pigeon to inform Lü Shaojun, the rest of the people celebrating the victory were completely unaware that their supervising officer had quietly left. As for the memorial to Yang Yi to apologize, I have already written it according to Zi Mo's instructions. Thus, although I am suspected of disobeying the imperial edict, firstly, my wife's urgent need to return to the capital after her accident is a matter of deep marital affection, which, though unforgivable by law, is understandable due to my feelings; secondly, I have rendered great service in the battle of Xiangxi, and even if I made a mistake, I can atone for it with my merits. I think that even if I am punished, it will not be too severe. Of course, if Yunyan's imprisonment is actually a trap set by Yang Yi against me, then everything will be different.

But in truth, this return to the capital was a double gamble. Leaving aside Yang Yi's punishment, my own personal safety was not guaranteed. Those who had been with me in the Night Division had all perished due to my foolishness, and there hadn't been time to rebuild. Li Luojun and Uncle Li were both left at the border. It could be said that the only people who could protect me were Yi Han and Qin Wu.

However, according to Zi Mo, our operation was extremely secretive; apart from Lü Shaojun and the three stars and six warriors of the Shura Dark Camp, almost no one knew about it. If nothing unexpected happened, our safety was assured. But for me, days without unexpected events are far too few. The night before we arrived in Luonan City, the three of us were ambushed with lightning speed and deadly precision. This made Zi Mo begin to suspect for the first time that there might be a spy among those close to me.

The long journey had taken its toll on my health, and I finally fell ill on the ninth day. Yi Han and Qin Wu had no choice but to stay at an inn outside Luonan City, but they dared not call a doctor and could only prescribe some harmless medicine for me to recuperate.

"Young Master, the medicine is ready." Yi Han carefully helped me up. "Are you still able to hold on?"

I leaned weakly against him, swallowing the bowl of medicine—which was actually more bitter than bitter melon—as if I were unconsciously swallowing it. After the medicine, as usual, I had a cup of light tea, fragrant and refreshing. I coughed a few more times, finally feeling better.

Just as I was about to lie down and rest, I suddenly felt Yi Han support my body and stiffen abruptly. His whole body was filled with murderous aura, and he said coldly, "Princess Consort, now that you're here, why hide?"

My heart skipped a beat. Before I could figure it out, I suddenly felt a strange floral fragrance wafting into the room. A clear, elegant laugh echoed around the room a few times before a light, green-veiled figure gracefully descended.

Mu Shuangshuang. I took a deep breath, but the fragrance of flowers suddenly became pungent, and I coughed repeatedly. Yi Han and Mu Shuangshuang stood face to face, one as cold as ice and the other with a smile as beautiful as a flower, but both of them were as still as mountains, not moving an inch.

"Qin Wu, take care of the young master!" Yi Han commanded in a low voice. My cough worsened, and a pair of warm hands supported me, gently patting my back to help me catch my breath. I finally caught my breath and looked up to ask, "Miss Mu...cough cough...how did you know I was here?"

Mu Shuangshuang's forehead was faintly covered in sweat, but she still slowly raised her hand to tidy her hair, and said in her clear and gentle voice, "Young master is so intelligent, does Shuangshuang need to say more?"

She paused, a blush rising to her cheeks, her gaze towards Yi Han now tinged with fear and admiration: "Qing Shuang Jian Feng Yi Han truly lives up to his reputation. Young Master Qin, you two are both unparalleled talents. It's clear that King Yang Yi of Jin Yao Kingdom is jealous of your high achievements and has placed your wife under house arrest. You've followed Yang Yi since you were fifteen, helping him eliminate the crown prince and ascend the throne, and this is the end you've received. Is someone who can only share hardship but not prosperity truly a good master for you?"

"Our Fengyin Kingdom is strategically located by the sea, and its fate is intertwined with that of the Chuyun Island Kingdom. Furthermore, our Fengyin ruler is known for his respect for the virtuous and his love for his people. If you and your men are willing to submit to Fengyin, we assure you that you will enjoy endless wealth and honor in this life. Even after you achieve your goals, there will be no betrayal or abandonment. Our Crown Prince has repeatedly expressed his wish to take you as his teacher and treat you with the respect due to a national hero. What do you think, sir?"

As Mu Shuangshuang spoke, I coughed, the fragrance of flowers lingering around my nose, yet my cough only worsened. Finally, I realized that, in my illness, I was actually allergic to the scent emanating from Mu Shuangshuang.

Zi Mo listened to her words and pondered for a long time before sighing, "It seems that Yang Yi has indeed begun to be wary of you. I'm afraid that if you die at Mu Shuangshuang's hands today, that will be the end of it. But if you are lucky enough to survive, and this gets back to Yang Yi, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"What should we do then?" I asked, coughing between waking moments. "Should we surrender to Feng Yin?"

Zi Mo's lips curled into a sneer, his expression turning somewhat cold: "What a joke! If Huo Ling were to come and invite us to surrender today, I might consider it. The ruler of Fengyin Kingdom is weak, the crown prince is incompetent, and the monarch and his ministers are indulging in pleasure and sensual pleasures. It's already good enough that we haven't been destroyed by other countries, let alone expect to unify the kingdom. Moreover, Yang Yi ascended the throne with Lin Yu's support. Now he wants to turn his back on us? Do you think it will be so easy? Even if I really can't defeat him, I will make him pay a heavy price."

Zi Mo's expression held a chilling cruelty and madness, but I merely coughed slightly, offering neither rebuttal nor agreement. Since it was his wish, I would follow it; what did life or death, success or failure matter?

I took a deep breath and said to Mu Shuangshuang, "As the saying goes, a loyal minister does not serve two masters. Miss Mu, please go back."

Mu Shuangshuang's expression was visibly unpleasant. She launched into a long explanation, using both overt and covert, soft and hard arguments, but I only replied with a nonchalant "Fine!" But only for a moment, and Mu Shuangshuang laughed heartily, "The young prime minister certainly has guts. In that case, Shuangshuang can rest assured and eliminate the young master!"

As soon as the last sound escaped her lips, she flicked her wrist, and out of nowhere, a delicate and exquisite bow appeared. The bow was mainly silver-white, inlaid with a few not-so-bright dark green gemstones. It was clearly a short bow that looked rather feminine, almost like an ornament, but in Mu Shuang's hands, it exuded a heroic and spirited aura.

Mu Shuangshuang no longer looked at me, and said with a light smile, seemingly unconcerned, "Shuangshuang has always wanted to experience the power of the Azure Frost Sword, but unfortunately, many things have prevented her from doing so. Today, on this occasion, I wonder if Young Master Feng would be willing to have a passionate battle with Shuangshuang?"

Yi Han frowned, his cold aura intensifying, but he remained silent.

Mu Shuangshuang drew her bow and nocked an arrow, the tip pointing directly at Yi Han. I trembled, feeling that although she was clearly fighting Yi Han, her killing intent was firmly locked onto me. I saw her smile vanish, her expression turning solemn, her already ethereal face now displaying an even more regal air: "Young Master Feng should know very well that our martial arts are evenly matched, differing only slightly. If you remain here, you will be hindered, while Shuangshuang will have an opportunity to take advantage. Even if you know that Shuangshuang has laid an ambush here to capture the Prime Minister, I'm afraid you will have no choice but to agree to Shuangshuang's request."

Xiao Yi

2007.9.5 18:18

Chapter 37: The Devastating News for Luo Nan (End)

I found that this volume gets into the plot quite quickly; the main plot will begin tomorrow... There are quite a few foreshadowing elements.

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Chapter 38 A Familiar Feeling

Chapter 38 A Familiar Feeling

Before Yi Han could answer, Zi Mo said in a deep voice, "Have Qin Wu help you to the main hall so that Feng Yi Han can face the battle with peace of mind."

I was slightly puzzled, but then I heard him say, "Mu Shuangshuang is extremely skilled in martial arts. If you stay by her side, Feng Yihan will definitely have to pay attention to you, and you might get hurt. But if you stay here, once those two leave, the people lying in ambush will come out, and you'll be like a turtle in a jar. How can you escape? So, the best way is to retreat in order to advance. There are many people and many eyes in the inn's lobby, so they won't be able to make a move, and you'll have a chance to escape."

I coughed twice and quickly whispered in Qin Wu's ear, "Help me to the inn's lobby." Qin Wu didn't doubt me at all and practically half-carried me to my feet, leading me towards the door.

A glint flashed in Mu Shuangshuang's eyes, and she turned her bow and arrow toward me. But then I heard a soft clang, a very familiar sound, clearly the Qing Shuang sword being drawn. In an instant, Yi Han was between Mu Shuangshuang and me, the tip of his sword pointed directly at her.