Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping - Chapter 65
"Princess Xiyue!" A voice called from behind, freezing my sly smile into a dry laugh.
I wanted to continue playing dumb and slip away quickly, but the fake man suddenly rushed in front of me and blocked my way. I couldn't help but squint (sweat, it seems I learned this from the fox) to sizing up the person in front of me. From that sentence just now to this, could this fake man have come all this way with General Qi just to find me?
She called my name, blocking my way, and then stared at me intently without saying a word. Her eyes were filled with undisguised resentment. I stood there too, lazily observing her for a while, without saying anything. Since she seemed to have something to say, why should I bother to speak first?
"Are those rumors true?" She looked me up and down again, and finally couldn't help but ask.
"What rumor?" I continued to play dumb.
"What exactly is your relationship with Yun Xiang?" she asked directly, her attitude arrogant, but her eyes held an unprecedented shrewdness.
Turns out she's not someone to be trifled with. I misjudged her the first time we met. Looks like she's secretly in love with the fox spirit and's come here to interrogate me and find out what's going on. I looked at her and saw the anger in her eyes rising before I smiled and replied, "What relationship? The relationship as you see it."
"You!" she shouted angrily, but a fake smile suddenly appeared on her face. "Speaking of which, Qianhui should call you Imperial Sister Xiyue."
I shook off the goosebumps and replied with a dry laugh, "You're too kind."
Sigh, apart from Xi Lan, whom I like, who is related to the Azure King, why is there not a single one I feel close to? To make matters worse, the Azure King insisted on taking me in as his goddaughter, and I always seem to have some kind of relative I don't like. Now that I've formed an alliance with someone, I feel bad about ignoring them too much. It's really disgusting.
Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume Three: If Life Were Only As We First Met, the Shocking Change in Wangzhou (Part One)
Chapter word count: 4330 Update time: 08-12-23 14:37
The Shocking Change in Wangzhou (Part 1)
"Royal sister, I heard that Crown Prince Wangyue is in the military camp?" She suddenly walked to my side, affectionately took my arm, and said in a seemingly innocent and carefree manner.
My inner alarm bells were ringing, but I still managed a weak smile: "It seems so."
"Elder sister, let's go take a look. Qianhui really wants to meet the Crown Prince of Wangyue Kingdom." She said, pulling me forward.
I barely managed to stay upright and avoid being dragged away by her, gritting my teeth and forcing a smile as I said helplessly, "But it won't work. Wangyue Zongning is an important hostage. Without Xilan's consent, even I can't just see him whenever I want. The guards watching over him won't listen to me."
A hint of suspicion flashed in her eyes, but she acted as if nothing had happened, released my arm, and laughed, "Qianhui was just a little curious. Since even Princess Xiyue can't do anything about it, then let it go."
I seized the opportunity to suggest, "Why don't we go back? They should be done talking by now. If we keep running around like this, General Qi will get worried if he can't find you."
After saying that, I ran towards the commander's camp in a flash, expecting that the girl named Qianhui would follow.
I escorted Mu Qinglin outside the command camp. Xi Lan, General Qi, and the fake man were still inside. It seemed that the fake man was trying to get close to Xi Lan. In a way, the two of them were relatives, even though they had no blood relation at all.
"Qianqian, let your second brother send someone to escort you back." Erlinzi stood in front of me, but his expression was somewhat grave.
"Second Brother, is something wrong? I also feel something's off about the journey." I hadn't heard their discussion earlier, so I wondered how things were going. They must have gathered some useful information, right? What exactly is the Moon-Gazing King up to?
"Qianqian, it's too dangerous. Listen to your second brother, you should go back to China first."
I wanted to frown and say a few words to Erlinzi, but seeing his earnest and worried expression, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Sigh, he's only saying these things repeatedly because he cares about me. Besides, I smelled a conspiracy and had a gut feeling of danger. Perhaps retreating now is the best course of action. After all, this isn't a battle I'm fighting; I have complete faith in Tian Xilan and my dear Qinglin.
Thinking of this, I immediately nodded obediently and added rather nosyly, "Second Brother, then I'll discuss this with Xilan. You need to manage your provisions well, keep an eye on your soldiers, fight your battles well, and most importantly, take good care of yourself!"
Why does this sound like we're really about to part ways? I'm sweating. I don't even know if Tian Xilan will agree.
Erlinzi left Mu Mo behind, gave me one last deep look, and then turned and walked away. I remained standing there, watching his receding figure until Xilan walked up to me and took my hand, which brought me back to my senses.
"Xi Lan, would it be better for me to leave now?" Judging from Er Linzi's words and expression, the battle in Wangzhou is the most arduous and difficult one. As someone who doesn't know martial arts, staying here doesn't seem to do much except to distract them.
He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking with slightly lowered eyelids, "Qianqian has decided to go back?"
“Xi Lan, I will go back one day. Besides, I know neither martial arts nor military strategy. Staying here will only distract you.”
"I heard that the marriage procession has arrived at Ye Cang Palace. Even so, is Qianqian still determined to go back?" His voice was indifferent, and there was no smile on his face.
My heart skipped a beat. I had only sent Ye Feng to gather information about the rumors surrounding me and the situation in Wangzhou, but I had never thought to investigate the truth of the rumors about the fox's marriage alliance. Because of what the fox had said before, I hadn't taken it to heart. But now that Xi Lan had mentioned it, could the marriage alliance be true? If it was, could the fox still keep what she said before?
"Xi Lan, I have to go home eventually." I smiled awkwardly, pretending nothing was wrong, and then said abruptly, "Can I not go back to Tianqing with Xi Lan? Being Princess Xi Yue is making me nervous and uneasy."
He chuckled softly, looked up, his eyes clear and gentle as water: "After this battle, shall I accompany Qianqian home?"
I almost fainted on the ground. Oh my god, what did Tian Xilan say? She wants to come home with me? She went out and brought a man home with her, isn't that like a prospective son-in-law coming to visit?!
"Doesn't Xilan need to return to the palace?" My tongue trembled for a while before I finally found my voice.
“If Qianqian wants to go home, then let’s go home with her first,” he said matter-of-factly.
I was even more confused. What did he mean by "I want to go home, so come home with me first"? Did he mean that after I got home, I would have to eagerly go back to the Azure Palace with him?
"Now that I'm going home, what are you going to do, Xilan?" I swallowed hard and asked with difficulty.
"Qianqian doesn't welcome me?" He looked at me with a big smile. "It's okay if Qianqian doesn't welcome me. I don't think Yunfeng will kick me out."
"Tian Xilan!"
Looking at the smile in his eyes, I suddenly felt like I'd been tricked. Just as I was about to unleash my fury, he pulled me into the tent and smiled, "Qianhui said she wants to see Wangyue Zongning and wants you to go with her."
No sooner had I finished speaking than a commotion broke out outside. Xi Lan flashed to the outside of the camp again. I lifted the tent flap and looked out. In the distance, there seemed to be some flickering lights. Judging from their location, they should be where the grain supplies were.
I had a bad feeling, and then I saw General Duan Sheng rush over. He bowed to me and Xi Lan and reported, "Marshal, they really did launch a night attack on our supplies."
Sure enough? What do you mean "sure enough"? I turned to look at Xi Lan suspiciously. The kid still had a calm smile on his face. It turned out he had anticipated that the other party would have this dirty trick. I wasted three seconds of worry just now. Humph.
"Don't let a single one escape. You can go now." He spoke with a smile. Duan Sheng accepted the order and left. He then took my hand and led me back to camp.
"Sister Xiyue, Sixth Brother has already agreed to my request. Sister Xiyue, please accompany me to see Wangyue Zongning." I was about to speak to Xilan when I saw the fake man rush over, grab my arm, and pull me outside.
"Xi Lan." I looked at Tian Xi Lan for help. Doesn't this kid know that I don't get along with that fake man? I just rejected her, and you turned around and agreed to her. You have no chemistry at all.