"Wh-what?"
It's so rare to see someone make such an expression; I was even so surprised that I bit my tongue.
What are you thinking about?
I laughed out loud, almost to the point of wanting to beat my chest in frustration.
"I'm here to change your dressing, what are you thinking?"
He stared wide-eyed for a long while, then turned his head away, his pale cheeks regaining some color.
"Don't laugh..." He covered his mouth with his hand, his voice muffled and somewhat indistinct.
"Huh? What did you say?" I pretended not to hear.
She raised a brow and glared at me fiercely, then immediately looked away when her eyes met mine, her fluttering eyelashes as light as butterfly wings.
When I changed his dressing, he wouldn't look at me and kept turning his head away, not even afraid of getting cramps.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Xiaohe City." The carriage stopped as Cang Zhe's voice rang out.
He led me out of the car, coughed twice in a mock manner, waved his hand symbolically as if fanning himself, and muttered about how hot it was that day.
"Still laughing?" Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her phoenix eyes subtly swept around the surroundings before she lowered her voice and tightened her grip on my hand.
"If you don't laugh, are you going to cry?" You should thank me for not laughing so hard in front of so many people.
"I don't care if you can cry right now."
This person clearly knows I won't shed a single tear in front of outsiders, which is why they can speak so easily.
I hate that I didn't carry a packet of chili powder with me.
Besides the city lord Zhao Hequan's precious snake, Xiaohe City is most famous for its Qianqiu Bureau, which is said to be the best at protecting people and escorting goods, and has almost never made a mistake.
"Wan Shou Tang's Yongyan Escort Agency has gone bankrupt?"
Why do you say that?
"Otherwise, why would they use their own escort agency to give money away to Qianqiu Bureau for free?"
"Have you forgotten? I've already shut down Wanshoutang, and Yongyan Escort Agency is long gone."
No way, just because Wu Fei bothered me, you really got rid of him?
"Do I really look that much like a serial killer? He's actually quite capable, which is why he was sent to be Xiao's errand boy."
"Oh, what kind of dart do you want to throw?"
"Human body dart".
"You still need bodyguards?"
He nodded, his lips slightly pursed. "It's easier to get things done with more people."
"What do you need me for?"
"When you think you have victory in your grasp, and suddenly someone who never says a word stabs you in the back, what would you do?"
"Kill his entire family."
“…You’ve been corrupted by your third brother; all you think about are violent things.” He tapped my forehead with his index finger.
The more you say that, the more I feel that the person who has crossed the line is in danger. No one who provokes him will have a good outcome.
"Hmph, without my third brother, I would have been even more deceived by you. Did you go to brothels and casinos for nothing? Those are the places where you can hear the most gossip. My third brother taught me a lot."
"Yes, I could tell that I wanted to take advantage of the Rong family, so I suggested that you break off the engagement so that you could get away from danger as soon as possible."
Why is this person still holding a grudge after all this time? You're petty, vindictive, and stubbornly refuse to admit it.
After placing the order, I stayed overnight in Xiaohe City. The next morning, someone dug me out of bed and threw me onto a carriage.
The accompanying group was now accompanied by a bearded head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and three nimble镖师 (bodyguards/escorts). The journey was peaceful for a while.
The closer we got to the capital, the hotter it got. I didn't feel anything, but some people's injuries were more troublesome. Because they weren't treated in time, they now need to be taken extra care of and spend a lot of energy on their recovery, for fear of leaving any lasting problems.
In the capital city, there is a famous building called Ruyi Tower. This building has three stories high and five stories facing each other, each connected by flying bridges and railings, with light and shadow intersecting. Beaded curtains and embroidered lintels, flickering lamps and candles, make it a dreamlike and enchanting place. It has always been a favorite restaurant for wealthy families, where they indulge in extravagance and luxury.
"I thought you would bypass the capital or stop by Peach Blossom Valley, but I never expected you to enter the city so openly and stay in the most popular Ruyi Tower..."
"Peach Blossom Valley, is it habitable?" He held a bottle of musk, the white jade bottle and emerald green bottle shining brightly and translucently in the golden light.
I forgot that he has severe mysophobia, but Peach Blossom Valley isn't as bad as you make it out to be.
What if we run into Li Mu? He doesn't have the magnanimity to let go of someone who kidnapped his son.
"The people from the Thousand Autumns Bureau don't work for free once they've been paid. As for whether Ruyi Tower has the Moon Palace backing it up, there's nothing to worry about."
Wearing a pale purple robe over a matching gauze garment, he sat cross-legged on the bed. The hibiscus-patterned curtains hung halfway down, rippling softly in the warm breeze. The midday sun streamed through the window lattice, casting a hazy glow. The person within the soft curtains had eyes that shimmered like autumn water, alluring and enchanting like flowers and the moon. If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that such a proud and noble person could ever be so down and out?
"Wuyue Palace?" He put down his tea set. "Just how many businesses do you own?"
He turned his head and thought for a while, then said, "I forgot."
"How much property does he have?" My eyebrows twitched involuntarily.
"...At least I don't have to worry about food and clothing." He looked up at the stray hairs on his forehead, his face full of innocence.
"Why are you not practicing proper skills but instead running around making so much money? Are you planning to switch careers and become a wealthy merchant?"
His hand, which had been toying with the jade bottle, paused. A mysterious smile curved his lips, and his eyes shone brightly like stars and the moon.
"Want me to tell you a secret?"
I squinted, my heart pounding.
"What's your purpose? Are you planning to trick me again?"
"Tsk, what are you saying? I love you so much, how could I possibly hurt you? It's you who shouldn't be hurting me..."
He realized what he had said later, but because he had stopped so abruptly, it seemed abrupt. He stared at each other blankly for a while, then frowned in annoyance and turned his head away.
Just then, the cicadas, which had just quieted down, started chirping again as the sun rose higher, their incessant chirping making people increasingly irritable.
Chapter 103
Good times always come to an end, and even when I manage to get up early, things aren't peaceful.
The figure was sitting in the empty lobby. Even though I couldn't see the face clearly because of the backlight, the habit of carefully wiping each finger after eating, and the flamboyant silver-red gossamer dress made me recognize who it was at a glance. I was so caught off guard that I almost fell down the stairs.
"You don't need to be so excited to see me, it makes me feel bad."
Judging from his tone, he was clearly gloating and felt bad. Who was he saying this to?
How did you get in?
"Of course they walked in."
"What are you doing here? Is Zhiyu here?"
"With Lord Guan's charm, wouldn't they all throw themselves into his arms with just a flick of his little finger?"
"Don't try to sow discord in front of me."
"Did I? Is it wrong to tell the truth?"
"How could she possibly have anything to do with Li Mu? Can you give me something plausible?"
After wiping her hands and tossing aside the silk handkerchief, she took a few sips of tea, then leisurely raised her head, pursed her cherry-red lips, and her peach blossom eyes were filled with a seductive smile.
"Why is it impossible? Tell me, I'm all ears."
For some reason, coupled with his expression, what he said felt like a fishbone stuck in my throat, something I couldn't swallow or spit out.
"Can't say it?" A knowing smile appeared on his lips.
"I can't say, so tell me, what could these two possibly have in common?"
He paused for a moment, then smiled with a thousand charms and ten thousand flirtatiousness. Fortunately, there was no one in Ruyi Tower so early, otherwise the staff would have been too busy to help but call the doctor.
"You're really going to sit here and listen to his nonsense?"
Suddenly another voice came from the doorway; it was Qiong Ying.
Xiao Lianjue turned his head to look at Qiongying, raised an eyebrow, and with just a change in expression, I seemed to see the flash of swords.
"Because she's always been a very boring person."
Then came in, and it turned out to be Gemini Ann, who had been missing for a long time. How did these two end up together?
"Don't you guys get any rest or anyone else get any sleep this early in the morning?!"
Cang Xiaozhe's room was not far to my right, but it certainly wasn't me who woke him up. It was Gemini who, after excitedly saying that, tripped over the threshold as he entered, his left and right feet clashing, and then, of all people, accidentally pulled on a table piled high with benches, causing a commotion as everyone fell over. So, don't talk about me in front of me, or you'll get your comeuppance.
Although Cang Zhe is known for his volatile temper and notorious difficulty in dealing with people, there is always someone who is more troublesome and harder to handle than him.
"Still sleeping? Go ahead and sleep your ass off! People are already under the eaves, are you all just freeloaders?!"
Qiong Ying stormed in, but luckily she didn't have the habit of carrying a sword and always preferred to fight with fists and feet. Otherwise, not only would there have been internal strife, but there might have been bloodshed.
"It's really ugly." Xiao Lianjue tapped the table with his hand, shaking his head and laughing. "If the subordinates are like this, the master can't be much better."
The ferocious Cang Zhe, who had been so menacing that he seemed about to breathe fire, was stunned for a long time after seeing Xiao Lianjue.
"What happened?"
"How dare you ask me! Putting aside the guards, I can't even see a trace of Shui Tian outside. What's going on? How can you even ask me that!"
I know you're angry, but could you please be a little quieter when you step on the stairs? If you wake up the person I finally managed to get to sleep upstairs, will you take responsibility for that?
Cang Zhe frowned, his delicate brows furrowing. He raised his hand and blocked Qiong Ying's fist. This kind of situation probably happened often, judging from how easily he blocked it.
"What do you mean there's no trace of Shui Tian? I'll have them guarding the place. Who would dare to abandon their post?"
"If you don't believe me, go see for yourself."