The Third Scholar of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 27

The pain throughout Zitong's body intensified, numbing her mind. Unconsciously, she curled up into Shiva's embrace.

Xue Lihong was engrossed in her story: "She asked my ancestors to have a young girl let her blood from her fingertips flow into this sacred pool every year, so that she would not forget her gender when she reincarnated. She said she was waiting for someone to come to her, no matter how long or how many times she reincarnated, she would wait for him. She wanted to retain her gender until the day he came to find her... She believed in him."

Tears welled in Xue Lihong's eyes: "And so, the Snow Mountain Goddess cut her finger, let her blood flow into the divine pool, left my ancestors with a long sword, and disappeared. It has been a thousand years since then. I wonder if the Snow Mountain Goddess has found the person she is waiting for? She said that if she has, she will come back here to thank my family. So, I wait for her here every day, waiting for her to find the person she is looking for, waiting for her to come back. Even if I only see her once, I will die without regret."

He took off the longsword beside him and handed it to Shiva: "Arya, look, this is the divine sword."

The crimson hue within the divine sword was faintly visible.

The excruciating pain caused Zi Tong to suddenly stand up, screaming as she kicked away the divine sword and frantically rushed down the mountain.

Falling flowers have intention

Watching Li Xinyun leave, Li Yuxuan stood up and straightened his clothes. He'd already lost face, but he couldn't afford to lose it too. He had to make himself look calm and collected.

A moment later, footsteps sounded outside. She quickly stood up straight, smiled, and looked directly at the door. She wasn't a timid wife; she had to remain calm.

Think about it, what's the big deal? It's just realizing you went into the wrong bathroom after taking off your clothes in the shower, right? It's just having a late-night fling with a guy, right? And it wasn't even a proper late-night fling, so there's nothing to be ashamed of, is there?

The first one to enter was Prince Xin, supported by Xu Qingzhi. Following behind was Xiao Feng, and there was another man I didn't recognize. He must be Xu Zhu, the one Li Xinyun had mentioned. Li Xinyun wasn't there; she probably went to buy her some food.

When they came in and saw Li Yuxuan's smile, they were all stunned for a moment. Seeing their expressions, Li Yuxuan laughed and said, "It's only been a day, and you don't recognize me anymore?"

After a moment of surprise, Xiao Feng laughed heartily: "Lord Li is a man of great magnanimity. He truly deserves my admiration."

Li Yuxuan laughed heartily, mimicking his manner: "Great Hero Xiao is so benevolent and righteous, truly a chivalrous and loyal man. I admire him greatly."

"Hahaha," Xiao Feng laughed loudly, and the subtle atmosphere that had been there when they entered the room instantly vanished with his laughter.

Prince Xin flashed his signature smile, but with a hint of indulgence in his teasing: "Your mouth is still so sharp."

Seeing his pale face and the slight twitch of his lips as he smiled, Li Yuxuan knew it was from aggravating his wound. Her heart softened. Even if love and hate were irrelevant, how could she not be moved by this man's feelings for her? She couldn't say she had no feelings for him at all. It wasn't that she was fickle, but rather that the power of Prince Xin made it impossible for her to ignore him.

Besides, just as Li Xinyun said, they were so open and honest with each other last night. She avoided Xu Qingzhi's gaze, walked to Prince Xin's side, and took his arm: "Are you alright?"

Xu Qingzhi released Prince Xin and stepped aside.

Seeing his actions, Li Yuxuan knew that she and Xu Qingzhi could never go back to the way things were. Suppressing the regret and sorrow in her heart, she helped Prince Xin to the kang (a heated brick bed), made him sit up against the quilt, and asked softly, "Where are you hurt? Are you alright?"

Prince Xin casually grabbed her right hand and laughed, "How could I be so weak? Besides, with Master Xiao and the others around, there's no way I'll die."

Li Yuxuan looked at Xu Zhu, who had been silent all along, and seeing that he was even more at a loss than she was, she couldn't help but blush: "Thank you for yesterday."

Xu Zhu's face was even redder than hers. Hearing her thanks, he hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "No need, no need."

“You have a lot to thank Xu Zhu for. If he hadn’t transferred a lot of his internal energy to you last night, do you think you would be able to stand here and talk to us so energetically right now?” Prince Xin squeezed her hand.

Yes, no wonder she felt hungry when she woke up and didn't feel any discomfort in her body. She thought she was healthy, but it turns out she's out of touch.

Seeing that Li Yuxuan was alright, and probably having seen the hand that Prince Xin had held Li Yuxuan's, Xiao Feng coughed and said, "You two have a good chat. We have other things to do, so we'll head out first." Without waiting for anyone's reply, he strode out, with Xu Zhu and Xu Qingzhi following behind him with their heads down.

She and Prince Xin were left alone in the room. This feeling was a bit abnormal. Her back felt a little numb. Even though she had the thickest skin, it was still too embarrassing.

Where is Li Xinyun? Where did all that food go?

Seeing her gaze fixed on the doorway, Prince Xin chuckled and said, "Hungry again? Didn't you eat enough last night?" He pulled her into his arms with a gentle touch.

*Pfft!* Li Yuxuan's face flushed crimson. This Prince Xin was even more shameless than her. How dare he make fun of her embarrassing secret! She angrily tried to shake him off, but whether it was her shame and panic or Prince Xin's injury that made him weak, she pulled him sideways towards her, about to make intimate contact with the ground. Without thinking, she quickly bent down and caught him.

She helped him sit up straight again and was about to tidy the blankets behind him when they both froze in shock. It turned out that Li Xinyun hadn't tied her breast wrap when she dressed her, and she, seeing that she was wearing men's clothes, had also forgotten this detail. At this moment, as she leaned over him, her softness touched his face...

"Your Highness~~" I didn't mean it, I swear to God.

"Call me Ziqing!" Prince Xin leaned back, taking advantage of Li Yuxuan's distraction to wrap his arms around her waist and press her down onto his body: "Yuxuan, call me Ziqing. From now on, I am your Ziqing."

Li Yuxuan was restrained by Prince Xin and lay on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin through his clothes and listening to his strong heartbeat. His body softened involuntarily. He said, "Do you want me to hear your heartbeat? It's strong, which proves you're not going to die."

"Yu Xuan~~" Prince Xin tightened his grip, perhaps using too much force, and let out a low groan. Li Yu Xuan was struggling to breathe, pressing his hands firmly against the bed, trying to break free. But all he got in return were a few muffled groans from Prince Xin, whose grip remained unyielding.

She was somewhat discouraged and gave up the futile struggle: "Your Highness!"

Call me Ziqing!

"Ziqing—"

"kindness?"

"Last night was a misunderstanding, I don't remember anything."

"I remember!" "I..." The rest of her words were sealed by Xin Wang's lips, which pressed against hers quickly. She heard him groan, his body burning hot and passionate. He began to gently bite her lips, his warm kisses falling on her face, and finally lingering on her tongue, so tender and irresistible.

She had to admit that this Prince Xin was a seasoned lover; even his kisses were so deep and lingering, making her unable to resist and unable to control herself. She unconsciously let out a soft moan, beginning to respond to his passion. His gentle hands lightly caressed her back, and that fluttering feeling spread from his fingertips, permeating her entire being and the depths of her soul.

Was it his strength that made her submit, or did she originally like him? Or was it a woman's dependence on the first man who saw her naked?

She didn't know.

All she knew was that his penis had swelled up again and was pressing hard against her mouth. After last night, his virility was still intact; this man was quite resilient.

Finally, he gently kissed her forehead, then pulled his lips away from her face. Li Yuxuan's hands rubbed his chest through his clothes, her voice wanting to be stern but also somewhat languid: "Can you let me go now?"

Prince Xin smiled and released his hand.

Li Yuxuan stood up, but he didn't let her walk away from him. He put his arm around her waist and made her stand beside him. He took a few long breaths and looked into her eyes: "You still have me in your heart."

Li Yuxuan sneered, "You think you can act so recklessly just because I have feelings for you?" This guy is too audacious. I have to put an end to his thoughts. Otherwise, she will only be bullied in the future. And I guarantee that as soon as he recovers, he will take advantage of her completely.

In terms of physical strength and cunning, she was no match for him.

The problem is, I don't reject his power either.

However, she'd marry whomever she wanted, but not the royal family. She wasn't suited for it, nor did she like it. Besides, she was currently disguised as a man, holding a fourth-rank official position; marriage was simply impossible for her. To work so hard to become a third-rank scholar, only to fall for a man so quickly… that was absolutely out of the question.

But how can we get him to leave?

She simply couldn't bring herself to say anything too cruel or heartless.

"Ziqing".

"Um?"

"Last night was truly an accident, and it has nothing to do with whether I have you in my heart or not. You know, if word gets out that I'm a woman disguised as a man, it's a crime of deceiving the emperor, punishable by beheading."

"I know."

"So let's just be friends, a gentleman's friendship."

“I can’t do it. Besides, once you become my queen, you’ll be the safest.”

"I still have a great grudge to avenge..."

"I will take on your deepest grievances and give you the answer."

"You're not the person I truly want to marry!"

"I know I can live a secluded life with you."

"Zhao Yun!" Li Yuxuan finally couldn't help but roar, "What do you want me to do to understand what I mean? I will not marry you, I will not!!!! I don't like you. You are a despicable person who takes advantage of others in distress."

Looking at her angry little face, Prince Xin released her waist and smiled leisurely, "Continue, continue. If threats worked, what would be the point of Bao Zheng and Zhan Daxia? I am the kind of person who would die under a peony flower and still be romantic even as a ghost. Don't you know my famous saying?"

"You're a pervert! Don't you like men? Waaah, please let me go! I'm begging you, please have mercy, be magnanimous, and let this scoundrel go!" She was about to explode: "If you don't agree, I'll cripple you sometime!"

Prince Xin was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Are you trying to murder your husband?"

Li Yuxuan lowered his head and walked towards the wall.

What are you doing?

"Knock on the wall and commit suicide!"

"Hahahaha." Prince Xin laughed heartlessly again, his laughter so arrogant that it aggravated his wound, and he cried out in pain. "I know what you mean. Don't worry, I won't do anything to you until your identity is confirmed. You can be my Lord Li, and I'll be my Prince Xin. However..." He gestured with his hand in front of his chest, "Make sure this area is well-guarded. We can't afford any more problems like today. I've been abstinent for a long time and can't resist temptation."

The flowing water has feelings

Thankfully, Li Xinyun finally came in with the food box, bringing their conversation to a close. Li Yuxuan had originally intended to have a proper conversation with Prince Xin, but during the conversation, she realized it was all just a beautiful fantasy. Chickens and ducks, though kept in the same cage every day, had absolutely nothing in common. The quacking and clucking made the listeners feel utterly bewildered, while the speaker was filled with indignation.

Li Yuxuan could only wolf down his food with grief and indignation. Prince Xin lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) pretending to be asleep, his deep and shallow breathing filling the air, appearing completely innocent and harmless.

Li Xinyun, resting her chin on her hand, stared wide-eyed at the rooftop, lost in thought.

She didn't see Xu Qingzhi again until dinner. He usually sat next to her, but today he sat far away opposite her as soon as he came in, avoiding her at all costs.

Prince Xin addressed her sternly as "Lord Li," but the look in his eyes sent shivers down her spine. Fortunately, Li Xinyun felt guilty towards her and generously sat between her and Prince Xin.

This meal was utterly tasteless, like chewing wax. For the first time, Li Yuxuan felt a profound sense of crisis and helplessness regarding his future. He used to be able to sit at the table with them, calling them brothers and laughing and joking, but now he could only watch helplessly as they all changed.

She looked at Li Xinyun with resentment. A packet of poison had ruined most of her life. Of all the drugs, why did it have to be poison? Laxatives, poison, madness drugs… Being poisoned by a woman like that, she could be used as a textbook example of a woman disguised as a man to teach future generations of children. Fortunately, she was blessed with good fortune. A Xu Zhu appeared out of nowhere, not only helping her detoxify but also giving her a bit of internal energy as a bonus.

By the way: "Where are Master Xiao and Master Xuzhu?"

"They've left. They said something happened at Lingjiu Palace, and Master Xiao accompanied Xuzhu there." Xu Qingzhi finally spoke his first words of the day. Once the first sentence is out, there's a second, and a third. Once the knot in one's heart is untied, everything is easy to say. To be continued—

"Brother Xu, who is this Xu Zhu? How did he get here?" Speak up, answer me...

"I heard from Master Xiao that he's his sworn brother, who was captured and taken to an ice cave a month ago, and only escaped yesterday." Brother, you've finally decided to talk to me! Tears are streaming down my face—

Seeing the look of surprise on her face, Prince Xin coughed softly: "Lord Li, didn't you say that Princess Xinyun was also kidnapped into an ice cave the other day?"

Li Xinyun frowned: "I didn't say it was an ice cave, did I? I only know it's a very, very cold and very, very dark place."

Li Yuxuan raised his eyebrows, also looking puzzled: "How did I know the place you went to was also an ice cave? How strange..."

"Ah—" Li Xinyun jumped up, threw down his chopsticks, and let out a deafening howl.

"Ah—" Li Yuxuan also stood up abruptly, without chopsticks in his hand, and let out a deafening howl.

After two howls, they looked at each other with strange expressions.

“You are the little princess of Western Xia!” These words were spoken by Li Yuxuan.

"Is he the dream lover from the ice cave?" This was Li Xinyun's question. Li Yuxuan nodded on her behalf: "Yes!"

No wonder I was so familiar with the name Xiao Feng from the beginning. So, it turns out that what Jin Yong wrote in his novels was all true?

Xiao Feng, Xu Zhu, Li Xinyun? Li Qiushui, Tianshan Tonglao, Wuyazi?

This is unbelievable! How could this be? My God, why didn't she realize it sooner? Alas, Li Xinyun is such a heartless girl, she was drugged and then poisoned—it's clear that everything was arranged by the old master long ago. If it hadn't been her who was drugged, but any of the real men here, it would be Li Xinyun jumping off the building right now.

Li Xinyun collapsed back down with a thud: "It's him! So it was him!"