Ich legte meinen Arm um die schlanke Taille des kräftigen Mannes

Kapitel 87

"Xue, the word 'love' is really annoying. I really wish I were a true love idiot." Ao Jun didn't answer Ao Xue's question, but instead smiled bitterly and mocked himself.

"You... sigh, if I had known, I would never have agreed to hide your true identity from Jin Xuan even if you killed me. Why was I so trustworthy!" Ao Xue looked at Ao Jun like this and knew that she was also suffering inside. She didn't know what to say, so she sighed and regretted it.

"Because you are Xue, Xue who keeps her word." Ao Jun smiled, but the smile looked bitter. Even if she told Jin Xuan, what difference would it make? The problem now is not Jin Xuan, but herself. It is her own indecisiveness that makes Jin Xuan suffer so much and puts her in such a difficult position.

"Mo Jun, although love can cause pain, I still hope you won't let Jin Xuan suffer this inhuman pain anymore. He..." Zheng Xuan advised Ao Jun with the air of someone who had been through it all. He glanced at Ao Xue and continued, "He already suffered once because of Qing'er. Don't let him suffer again this time, okay?" His tone at the end even had a hint of pleading. He wasn't speaking to Ao Jun as an emperor, but as Jin Xuan's second brother. He knew that love couldn't be forced by the emperor's authority.

Ao Jun glanced back at Zheng Xuan, then at Ao Xue. Both of them looked at her expectantly. After a long, long time, so long that Ao Xue and Zheng Xuan thought she would answer them with silence again, Ao Jun finally sighed and said slowly, "If only there were two Ling Ao Juns in this world. I don't want Jin Xuan to suffer, I really, really don't. Seeing him suffer hurts my heart too, but I can't let another person suffer. I owe him so much. Just thinking about his painful expression hurts my heart. I don't know what to do. Xue, can you tell me what to do? Xue..." By the end, Ao Jun couldn't speak coherently, and two lines of tears slowly flowed down her cheeks. The emotions she had suppressed for so long finally erupted at this moment. Her heart ached uncontrollably. At this moment, she looked so fragile, so powerless, so like a homeless child, lost and adrift in the vast world, not knowing where to go.

"Jun, so that's how you are..." Ao Xue suddenly realized, first staring wide-eyed at Ao Jun in disbelief, then could only sigh helplessly, hugging the fragile Ao Jun in her arms and gently stroking her back. Jun, her cousin, who seemed strong, actually had her vulnerable moments.

So this is why Jun has been avoiding Jinxuan. It's that damned love triangle again! How similar it is to her relationship with Zhengxuan and Jinxuan back then! And now Jinxuan has run into her again, this time with her cousin. How ironic! I wonder if Jinxuan offended the Ling family ancestors in his past life. And this time, Jinxuan seems even worse off. Jun has two people in her heart at the same time. For someone who already doesn't understand love, this is even more chaotic. Jinxuan and that other guy both love Jun, which means they're destined for pain. Jun can't bear to hurt either of them, so in the end, all three will be hurt. How can she help them? But who is this "other guy" Jun is talking about? In Jun's heart, who holds more weight—Jinxuan or him?

Looking at Ao Jun, so fragile and nestled in Ao Xue's arms, Zheng Xuan couldn't help but sigh: People revere Mo Jun, the number one strategist in the world, as a divine being, planning strategies within the tent and winning battles a thousand miles away, with wisdom surpassing the world and knowledgeable in ancient and modern times, unmatched by anyone in the world. But who knows that she is actually just a weak woman hurt by love? Jin Xuan, it seems that you are destined to be hurt on the path of love. I just wonder if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Jun, what's wrong?" Aoxue asked, puzzled, looking at him who had suddenly left her embrace and resumed his indifferent and cold expression.

“Someone’s coming,” Zhengxuan replied on behalf of Aojun.

Sure enough, a short while later, a very shrewd-looking steward knelt down before Zhengxuan and Aoxue and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty and Empress!"

"Get up!" Zhengxuan said calmly. The steward used to be a eunuch in the palace. Aoxue saw that he was shrewd, experienced, honest and kind, so she sent him to the Crown Prince's tutor's mansion to serve as an official. Aojun never interfered in affairs, so he handled all the affairs in the mansion, and he managed them in a very orderly manner.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The steward stood up and said respectfully, then turned to Ao Jun and said, "My lord, someone outside is requesting an audience."

"I won't see you." Ao Jun replied coldly and directly. It must be suitors again. Those people's information network is really impressive! The day after she moved into the Crown Prince's tutor's mansion, a whole bunch of matchmakers came to her door, claiming to be proposing marriages for the daughters of various officials. However, they were all frozen in her cold aura and dared not utter a word, fleeing in embarrassment. She thought she could finally have some peace and quiet, but those people really wouldn't give up until they achieved their goal. They came again on the third day, and more and more people came. In the end, even the ministers came to her door in person. But apart from the second day, she never appeared in front of those people again, and had the steward turn them away for her. But these people still came to her door on time every day. They weren't annoyed, but she was. And now they were here again.

"Uh? But this time the person claimed to be a friend of the master." The butler shivered from Ao Jun's cold gaze, but finally forced himself to speak.

"Friend? Junhao?" Ao Jun frowned and asked, could it be him?

"Yes, he calls himself Dongfang Junhao," the butler replied truthfully.

"It really is Junhao. Please invite him here." Ao Jun was overjoyed, and her expression softened considerably. Because of Jin Xuan's matter, she hadn't left the manor for the past two weeks and naturally hadn't seen Junhao. She never expected him to find her way here.

"Yes," the steward said respectfully to Ao Jun, then turned and left.

"Dongfang Junhao? Dongfang Junhao, the owner of Dongfang Manor, the richest man in the world?" Zheng Xuan frowned and muttered. This man controls one-third of the wealth of the entire Longxuan Dynasty. He is a rare talent, but at the same time, he is also a playboy who spends his days in brothels. He is a womanizer and amorous. Could the 'he' that Mo Jun is talking about be him? With his methods with women, no woman he sets his sights on will not fall in love with him.

"Jun, could that Dongfang Junhao be another one in your heart?" Aoxue asked, voicing Zhengxuan's doubts.

“No, he’s a new friend of mine. Xue, would you like to meet him?” Ao Jun asked with a smile.

Before Aoxue could answer, Zhengxuan grabbed her hand and said, "Xue, Mo Jun's friend has arrived. We shouldn't disturb him. Let's go back to the palace first!" He was joking, though; he didn't want that womanizing Dongfang Junhao to see Qing'er.

Ao Xue wanted to say something, but Zheng Xuan suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up. In a few leaps, she disappeared from Ao Jun's sight.

Ao Jun glanced in the direction they disappeared and chuckled: "Brother-in-law's possessiveness towards Xue is really strong! Hehe..."

"What makes Ao Jun so happy?" A familiar, cheerful voice suddenly rang out. Before the words were finished, a light blue figure had already arrived in front of Ao Jun, looking at her with a smile and a bright light in his eyes.

"Because Junhao came!" Ao Jun looked at the handsome face in front of her and joked lightly. She turned around and sat back on the swing, smiling at Dongfang Junhao. She didn't know why, but for this new friend she had only met twice, just seeing his cheerful smile and his handsome, carefree manner made her feel exceptionally good. Her gloomy heart suddenly felt like it had seen sunshine, and she felt full of joy. She really liked being with him.

As Ao Jun turned around, Dongfang Junhao's loving gaze followed her intently; the longing of the past two weeks had culminated in that deep look.

"Hmph, stop lying. If you were really happy to see me, why didn't you come to the manor to find me for so long, and you didn't even tell me your real name?" Dongfang Junhao snorted coldly, turning his face away as if he was angry and aggrieved. In fact, he didn't want Ao Jun to see him blushing, but his heart was still beating wildly, as if it was about to burst out of his body.

Since their parting at Misty Rain Pavilion, his heart and eyes were filled with her elegant white figure, her kindness, her aloofness, her haughty arrogance, her uncontrollable laughter, her beauty, everything about her… A tidal wave of longing tormented him day and night. Whether he was intimate with other women or dealing with the affairs of the manor, her image was always constantly on his mind, making him lose interest in everything and everyone. He hadn't even visited his beloved Misty Rain Pavilion in a long time. His friends all said he must be sick. He thought he was sick, lovesick. Ha… how ridiculous! He thought that he, so indifferent, would never fall in love with any woman in his life, but unexpectedly, from the first moment he saw Ao Jun, the moment his heart fluttered had already destined him to fall. Because of her, he could no longer be carefree; because of her, he could no longer linger among women without a care; because of her, he gave back the heart he had forgotten; because of her, he was no longer the self-proclaimed romantic Dongfang Junhao.

He waited for many days, but she never came. He went to the Prince Jin's residence to look for her, only to be told that there was no one named Ling Aojun there. She was like a fleeting flower, impossible to find again. At that moment, he was stunned. He didn't know what to do. He had never had any difficulty in doing anything he wanted to do, but at this moment, he completely lost his composure. Where should he look for her? Was he destined to fail before he even began? No, impossible. Even if it was to the ends of the earth, he had to find her. He loved her, deeply in love. But no matter how many people he sent out, he still couldn't see the one in his heart. One day, two days, three days... the days passed by, and he became more and more disappointed.

Just when he thought she might no longer be in the capital, he heard rumors about Mo Jun, the greatest strategist in the world. Legend has it that Young Master Mo Jun was dressed in flowing white robes, incomparably handsome, and his stunning appearance made the world pale in comparison. Legend has it that Young Master Mo Jun was exceptionally talented, wise, and possessed a god-like aura. Legend has it that Young Master Mo Jun was taciturn and rarely smiled. Legend has it… All the legends about Mo Jun startled him. This wasn't just talking about Mo Jun; it was clearly his proud and arrogant Lord Mo Jun! He recalled Prince Jin's attitude towards her, her constant attire as a man, and her claim that she lived in Prince Jin's residence. At that time, according to his investigation, the only guest staying in Prince Jin's residence was Mo Jun. Could Ao Jun be Mo Jun...? Sure enough, upon investigation, he discovered that the Ao Jun he admired was indeed the greatest strategist in the land, Young Master Mo Jun. This news filled him with a mixture of surprise, joy, anger, and fear. He was surprised that the Young Master Mo Jun he admired most was actually Ao Jun, a woman; he was joyful that he had finally found her; he was angry that she hadn't even told him her real name; and he feared whether such an outstanding person could possibly have feelings for him. Could he win her heart?

"Then you've wronged me. Ling Aojun is my real name, while Mo Jun is just an alias," Aojun said with a smile that said, "Don't wrong me."

"Really?" Dongfang Junhao had composed himself, turned around, and raised an eyebrow in disbelief. But inside, he was overjoyed by those words.

"Really." Ao Jun nodded seriously.

"Alright then! I forgive you, haha... I never imagined that I, Dongfang Junhao, could become friends with the world-renowned Young Master Mo Jun. What an honor!" Dongfang Junhao laughed exaggeratedly, his funny actions and expressions making Ao Jun chuckle as well. The sound, like a cat's, kept tickling Dongfang Junhao's already sensitive heart, causing him to clench his hands tightly and swallow repeatedly. A familiar heat rose in his lower abdomen, startling him. He quickly suppressed these inappropriate thoughts, inwardly cursing himself for blaspheming such a divine figure. He, who had never lacked women, never imagined that one day he would feel blasphemous for having desire for this one woman.

"Junhao, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ao Jun asked worriedly, seeing Dongfang Junhao's restrained expression and the thin layer of sweat on his forehead. She stepped forward, placed her hand on Dongfang Junhao's forehead, and murmured, "No fever?"

"Ao Jun..." Dongfang Junhao pulled Ao Jun into his arms and called out affectionately, holding her tightly as if trying to melt her into his body. Ao Jun's closeness brought her unique fragrance to his senses, making him almost use all his strength to control his mind and pull back his shattered rationality. He barely managed to control himself and wanted to hold her tightly and express his love. But all his rationality collapsed the moment her cool, soft hands touched his forehead. He held his beloved in his arms without hesitation, and his heart was instantly filled with joy. It was as if he had the whole world just by holding her. He was satisfied.

He made up his mind that today he would make things clear to Ao Jun and tell her about his deep love. However, before he could even speak, Ao Jun spoke first. Little did he know that these words would almost cause the untimely death of a promising young man.

"Junhao, are you feeling cold? Why aren't you wearing more clothes?" Ao Jun lifted her head from Dongfang Junhao's embrace. Blinking her big eyes, she scolded him earnestly. Suddenly, two loud thuds were heard from outside the garden, the sound of two heavy objects falling over.

"Huh?" Dongfang Junhao rolled his eyes, almost fainting. He couldn't utter a word, staring blankly for a moment before finally shaking his head and giving a bitter smile: Was she rejecting him? With her intelligence, she must have seen through his feelings long ago and knew what he wanted to say, which was why she said such a strange thing before he could confess. He smiled and said, "Yes! It's a bit cold. You're so warm; I don't want to let go." But in his heart, he added: Even if you reject me, I won't let go. I'll make you fall in love with me.

"Hehe... because I have a treasure on me!" Ao Jun chuckled, seemingly genuine, then turned and picked up a cloak from the side, draping it over Dongfang Junhao's shoulders and considerately covering him with it. The reason she dared to be here in this cold winter instead of staying in bed was because of her automatic 'heater'—that was truly a treasure!

In truth, Dongfang Junhao was mistaken. Ao Jun genuinely believed that his sudden embrace was because he felt cold, and she instinctively interpreted his restrained expression as a result of being cold but too embarrassed to admit it, thus suppressing his shivering. Though intelligent, she was still, in Ao Jun's words, a love idiot. She only belatedly realized the deep affection between Jin Xuan and Yelü Ying from their blatantly obvious and undisguised expressions and actions. It was only after their impassioned confessions that she realized their profound feelings for her, and her own feelings for them. Therefore, it was utterly impossible for her to discern Dongfang Junhao's deep affection from his actions and expressions and thus subtly reject him.

"Treasure? Heh... To me, you are the best treasure in the world." Dongfang Junhao still acted like a playboy, speaking lightly to Ao Jun, but the deep affection in his eyes as he looked at Ao Jun revealed that these words were exactly what he was thinking.

"Hehe... You're so smooth-talking, so good at sweet-talking people. Do you spend all day deceiving naive young girls?" Ao Jun chuckled. She seemed to laugh a lot when she was with Jun Hao; he always managed to make her laugh.

"I'm innocent! It's like a frost in June!" Dongfang Junhao's face fell, looking like he had been wronged to death. He cried out, trying hard to squeeze out a few tears, just like a young wife who had been wronged by her mother-in-law. Although Jun had temporarily rejected him, he would not give up. He would stay by her side and bring her joy. He would not put pressure on her, make her feel embarrassed or unhappy. He would wait until she accepted him.

"Haha... Junhao, it's such a pity you don't go into acting, hehe..." Ao Jun was amused by Dongfang Junhao and laughed happily, temporarily putting aside the annoying things about Jin Xuan and Yelü Ying. Her mood improved greatly, and for the first time in half a month, she laughed sincerely without any bitterness.

"Fine! You dare laugh at me for being an actor? I'll teach you a lesson..." Dongfang Junhao pretended to be angry, putting one hand on his hip and pointing at Ao Jun with the other, shouting like a shrew. As he spoke, he attacked Ao Jun, trying to tickle her.

"Hehe..." Ao Jun laughed and quickly dodged, not wanting him to touch her as a joke. She was extremely ticklish, and if he caught her, it would be terrible. But how did he know that this was her weakness? Waaah... If he used this trick every time, wouldn't she have no choice but to dodge?

As soon as Dongfang Junhao saw Ao Jun dodge, he attacked again, his hearty laughter and low chuckles filling the entire Crown Prince's residence, making the quiet mansion seem to come alive all at once.