I nodded. He touched my face, and something felt off. What was wrong? I took his hand off and looked at it. My once fair and smooth hands had become dry, cracked, and rough, covered with many thick calluses.
“The hands of a servant who does rough work can’t be too clean. Since he’s in here, he can’t leave any clues for others to catch. It’s just like having a layer of skin stuck to his face.”
"Oh." She looked at his hands more closely. "Where were we?"
"Tianchen Yaoxing, which side do you think we should support?"
"Don't help them, let them fend for themselves."
"You're quite decisive. I was just thinking that if Li Mu sided with the emperor, it would be a one-sided outcome and pointless. But what if they used you to threaten me?"
"Asking me is pointless. When have you ever made a decision that no one can change? I know how to handle things. It's not easy to make people like you, but it's not difficult to make people dislike you."
"Well, so far things are going well. Just be careful." He pulled his hand away and picked up the plate. "I'll come back later."
I watched him leave until his figure disappeared from sight before I looked away. During this free time, I also took the opportunity to review the mantras and formulas.
Although it was early spring, the night was still chilly as it got deeper. I wrapped myself in a quilt and curled up on the bed, but my feet were still icy cold. I'd gotten used to Nangong Ling warming my bed these past few days, and now that it was suddenly cold, I really couldn't stand it. I dozed off with my eyes half-closed, and I don't know how long it was before I heard a rustling sound beside me, followed by a familiar, cool fragrance wafting towards me.
"Tsk, have you been practicing those internal skills I taught you properly? Have you been slacking off again? Why is your body still so cold?" He lowered his voice, his low tone so soothing that it was easy to fall asleep.
"I just finished sleeping, don't make false accusations against me." I turned over, put my feet on his calves, and slipped my hands inside his undershirt, instantly feeling much warmer.
"You're so afraid of the cold, how did you get through the winters in the past?" He placed his hand on mine, and through the layer of clothing, I could feel a faint warmth.
"You always sleep with my mother. Why don't you get rid of this layers of skin? Why are you being so cautious?"
"When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Li Mu's men should arrive tomorrow. I don't want to reveal my identity before he states his position, otherwise I'll inevitably drag you down with me."
You dragged me into this a long time ago, now you're just saying it to comfort yourself.
"You've gotten all energized after talking so much, haven't you? Go to sleep, get some proper sleep!"
You think so much all the time, aren't you afraid of growing old before you know it? Don't you ever consider that while you worry about me and are afraid something might happen to me, don't you also worry about you?
He chuckled softly, held me in a comfortable position, then fell silent, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
I opened my eyes and stared at him for a moment. As my body gradually warmed up, I felt sleepy. Eventually, I couldn't resist the allure of sleep and drifted off to dreamland.
I woke up cold the next morning. The person next to me probably went home in the dark before dawn. Even if he tucked me in well, I would still get cold without any warmth.
He hunched over and got up, and after finally managing to put on his coat, the door was pushed open again.
"Come and have some porridge, warm yourself up while it's hot."
He had planned it well, knowing I would get up at this moment. Thinking about it, I couldn't help but smile, because I was very happy.
Did you cook this?
He shook his head. "Yesterday I wanted you to know I was here, so I used some tricks to get rid of the cook who was in charge of your meals. Since we were short-handed, and I happen to know how to cook, I stepped in. Anyway, it's nothing serious. As long as we don't alarm the Emperor and the Consort, everything is negotiable."
"...It's probably because they're too lazy to cook. People with such severe germaphobia wouldn't easily come into contact with cooking fumes."
I called him out on it directly, and he wasn't embarrassed at all; he just urged me to drink the porridge quickly.
Changing the subject is his specialty, and it's usually only at this time that Nangong Ling is completely defeated in front of me.
He didn't stay long. Before leaving, he transferred some of his inner energy to me, reminded me to be careful again, and even told me to steal a stick of incense before leaving.
This morning, as I finished reading my third book, there was finally some movement outside the door.
Chapter 87
When Li Yu pounced, I dodged. My blue figure was about to crash into the bookshelf, but someone was quick enough to grab it and pull it back.
"You old geezer, put me down!"
"Stop fooling around, go play with Xiao Jiuzi." The newcomer patted the young marquis's bottom without any politeness.
"No way! With Mingfei around, Ninth Uncle won't dote on me anymore."
"Then go and find a way to get Mingfei away. I'll play with you after I've finished my business."
Li Yu persisted, trying desperately to move closer to me, but he wasn't as strong as his father and couldn't budge an inch after struggling for a long time.
"Who wants to play with you? I only like beautiful women."
These words made Li Mu's face turn pale. "Your mother died young, so do you want to anger your father to death sooner?"
When his mother was mentioned, Li Yu suddenly quieted down, broke free from his father's grip, and left the house, looking back every few steps.
"The little guy has such a unique eye; he took a liking to Madam Nangong at first glance."
Strange? Are you praising me or insulting me? This person isn't as handsome as I imagined, nor as good-looking as his son; he can only be described as refined.
"It's one thing for the young marquis to be young and ignorant, but are you all going to follow his nonsense too?"
"It's alright, as long as Yu'er likes it. You wouldn't want it, would you?"
I was never willing from beginning to end, though of course I didn't say it out loud.
"Hmm?" Seeing that I didn't speak, he leaned against the door with one hand and raised one eyebrow. "Rong Lian doesn't seem like such an obedient person."
Because I really didn't want to talk to you, and was just about to find an excuse to send you away, there was a sudden commotion outside the door.
The person at the door frowned, turned around, and yelled, "What's all the noise about!"
"Yes, the fire broke out in the Xuanfang room."
Is anyone inside?
"It's not clear yet."
Li Mu turned around and said, "Anyway, Nangong Ling is guilty of treason for helping the people of the Heavenly Clan. Yu'er doesn't mind that you're not a widow, which is a great thing that others would kill for."
"Why is there going to be a war?" I only asked the questions I wanted to hear.
"Yes, it's all thanks to your husband, who won't let go of Han Xuanmo. Do you even know who Han Xuanmo is?"
"The eldest son of the Han family, and the leader of the Xuanmo Sect."
"He's still Tianchen's older brother."
"What?"
"So you didn't know." He smiled. "Back then, when the Heavenly Clan was in turmoil, the old imperial concubine secretly sent Han Xuanmo to the Han family. The Han couple had no children for many years and assumed he was a poor child they couldn't afford to raise, so they naturally raised him like their own son. A year later, the couple had a daughter, but they never mistreated Han Xuanmo. However, that Tian Chen was really something else. A few years ago, he seized back the imperial power and originally wanted to bring Han Xuanmo back to the Northern Desert, but he was obsessed with revenge. Who knew that he would be detained in the capital by Nangong Ling? Now it's going to turn into a fight."
"Don't try to shirk all responsibility. You're surrounded by enemies. Aren't you afraid your son will get dragged into this too?"
"I don't need to worry about this kid. You should think about it carefully yourself. Should I let you go back and persuade your husband to abandon the darkness and embrace the light as soon as possible?"
"You know how to release it, so this isn't a pointless question."
He smiled and said, "Yes, he is still aware of his situation. However, Nangong Ling disappointed me quite a bit; his trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain was still able to fool him."
"That's because Yun Zhi is too smart. Who told you to use such a stupid method?"
His expression changed, and his eyes sharpened. "Sharp-tongued and argumentative."
"Haven't you even entertained the thought of doing so? With your abilities, you're perfectly capable of replacing the person in charge..."
"Outrageous! How could you say such a thing?!"
Based on what you just said, I would never believe you didn't have that thought even if you were beaten to death.
"This humble woman is ignorant and doesn't know the rules. I hope Your Excellency will forgive me." Teasing the Marquis of Xiaguan is quite a pleasant thing.
But my amusement didn't last long before I saw a smile spread across his face. "Was it fun? Should I act even more excited next time?"
My hands were itching, but I was unlucky and ended up touching the tiger's tail.
"Not bad, at least it's not too boring. Wash your neck and wait..."
"My lord, where will you have lunch?"
Looking through the gap where Li Mu was standing, he saw the person with his head down and body bent over.
"It's already this late? Where is the young marquis?"
"The young marquis is having lunch with the emperor in Qingju Palace."
"Tell them to add another bowl and chopsticks, I'll be right there."
So the person responded and hurriedly ran away. This scene was truly a rare sight in one's life. Yunzhi, you also have such a humble and submissive time?
"why are you laughing?"
When I came to my senses, I saw Li Mu staring at me intently. "Why haven't you left yet?"
"Oh, it's the first time I've seen a father so obedient to his son. I just find it amusing."
He nodded, his eyes filled with indescribable complexity, and finally turned around and left.
I breathed a long sigh of relief after he had gone far away. Anyway, things will work themselves out.
Chapter 88
I stared at the person in front of me for a long time before I knew I had to react.
How did you get so wet?
"They're putting out a fire over there, and I accidentally got doused with a bucket of water."
"With your skills, you can't dodge it?"