Ji Wushang was quite surprised to hear Nan Xuzong's words. Yiyun Shangcheng was just about to lose his temper when he heard someone outside rushing forward, "Your Majesty, there is a report!"
Yiyun Shangcheng was even more surprised upon hearing this. "Bring it up!" Damn it, could this be true? Or was it something Nan Xuzong made up? If it really was, then his troops surrounding them would be disrespectful! Although war was inevitable, his strength was insufficient, and Ji Dingbei and the Prince of Zhenbei were indeed stationed on the border with 500,000 troops each! If he did anything detrimental to them, he would likely be immediately drawn into the war!
Yiyun Shangcheng opened the notification document and saw that it was dated seven days ago, while the Western Regions border had received it three days prior! Damn it! Yiyun Shangcheng sneered, "Why wasn't this document delivered directly to me, the King? Why was it sent to the border?!"
Nan Xuzong smiled wickedly, "This is Father Emperor's will. If the King of the Western Regions wants to know, why not go to the capital and ask him himself?"
"You!" Yi Yun Shangcheng was choked by him, and angrily looked at Nan Xu Cong, "Then as the fourth prince, why don't you bow to me?" Damn bastard, I must kill him, kill him!
“My beloved consort has difficulty walking. I think the King of the Western Regions wouldn’t be considerate of a young woman like her. I’ll carry her to prevent her from suffering any more harm!” Nan Xuzong snorted coldly, then looked at Ji Wushang with tenderness in his eyes. “My beloved consort is frail. It’s already a great favor that she came to the Western Regions with me. I will definitely pamper her well from now on!”
Ji Wushang felt that there was an ambiguous emotion in his eyes, and her face immediately turned red. She nestled in his arms without saying a word.
Upon seeing this, Nan Xuzong burst into laughter in front of so many people, "Hahaha, my beloved concubine, you are truly delightful to behold!"
Yiyun Shangcheng was furious, his powerful energy ready to destroy them all, but he held back, saying, "You two, get the hell away from me while you're flirting!"
Those who heard this immediately, including Yiyun Shangcheng and his entourage, all lowered their heads or were filled with rage. This was flirting in front of so many people! The Fourth Prince and Fourth Princess clearly didn't care about the Western Regions! Such people should be killed!
"Openly flirting in front of our king! Humph, it's utterly indecent! I had no idea that the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty had princes and empresses who knew no bounds!" Hao Yueyi stepped forward, brandishing his whip at Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang. "Moreover, your behavior is an act of contempt for the Western Regions' national dignity. Even if you are the fourth prince and the fourth empress, you must be dealt with according to the law!"
Nan Xuzong sneered, "Even the King of the Western Regions hasn't spoken, so who are you? What right do you have to speak?" He then turned to Yiyun Shangcheng, "We, husband and wife, were just talking. Does that count as flirting? Heh, this prince doesn't understand what the King of the Western Regions means!" His eyes sharpened, shifting to Hao Yueyi, "Indecent? Hmph, General Hao, if conversations between husband and wife are considered indecent, then what is reasonable?" The golden thread wrapped around his arms as he held Ji Wushang was now reflected in the sunlight, and Hao Yueyi saw it, startled.
It's him! The man in the wheelchair from back then! Unbelievable! Hao Yueyi paused, turned to look at Yiyun Shangcheng, and was utterly speechless!
Yi Yun Shangcheng's face remained cold and tense. "My men like to speak freely and offer advice; this is a long-standing custom in the Western Regions, and I will not blame them! I'm sure the Fourth Prince will understand!" However, regarding Nan Xu Cong's last sentence, Yi Yun Shangcheng's face was a mixture of anger, embarrassment, and awkwardness. Nan Xu Cong meant that he had mistakenly thought they were flirting, when in fact they were simply having a normal conversation!
Everyone else is explaining it this way, so what can I say? I can only swallow my pride and bear it.
Nan Xuzong snorted coldly. Trying to argue with him? He'd grown up watching the concubines bicker in the Marquis's mansion; he'd learned a thing or two from them!
"If the King of the Western Regions has nothing else to do, please step aside. My wife and I will go down the mountain to rest first, and then report to the palace tomorrow to discuss matters concerning strengthening our friendly relations with the King of the Western Regions!" Nan Xuzong didn't want Ji Wushang to be exposed to the elements with so many people here! It would hurt her!
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xucong and whispered, "Cong, please put me down! It's only proper for me to get down and pay my respects." She didn't want to put him in a difficult position, and besides, hadn't he gotten tired of carrying her for so long?
Nan Xuzong looked at her, leaned forward, and said tenderly, "There's too much snow on the ground, and the road is slippery. What if you accidentally fall? Sweetie, my arms are warm."
These doting words drew everyone's attention to Ji Wushang and his wife. This Fourth Princess Consort was truly the Fourth Prince's darling; it was as if he would pluck the sun and moon from the sky for her! Such pampering would surely make any woman envious and jealous!
Yi Yun Shangcheng's eyes turned crimson as he looked at Nan Xu Cong. "Fine!" He gritted his teeth as he uttered this single word, then waved his hand, ordering his men to make way.
Nan Xuzong laughed wildly, simply nodding to the King of the Western Regions, "In that case, thank you, King of the Western Regions!" With that, he strode down the mountain carrying Ji Wushang, and Gong Shu, Hong Fei, and the others immediately followed. They didn't quite understand what was going on—Nan Xuzong had clearly been brought up the mountain by Ji Wushang seeking medical treatment, how could he suddenly be on a mission to the Western Regions? And why didn't the King of the Western Regions dare to make things difficult for them!
Hao Yueyi couldn't swallow this insult. She recalled her previous encounter with Nan Xuzong when he stormed into General Murs's mansion in the Western Regions to rescue Bei Gong Jueshi and Yi Yun Muchen. At that time, Nan Xuzong was still in a wheelchair! This made Hao Yueyi incredibly resentful! And now, he was swaggering down the mountain right in front of her! This was a deliberate provocation!
"Your Majesty, I believe we should not let them go like this! This person must die, otherwise, it will be extremely detrimental to the growth of our Western Regions!" Hao Yueyi stepped forward, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
"I know what I'm doing, General Hao, there's no need for further words!" Yi Yun Shangcheng glanced at him with her red eyes, and Hao Yueyi felt as if the person in front of him was a demon from hell! He was immediately terrified and retreated.
"Guards, bury the person who received the notification alive and exterminate their entire family!" Yi Yun Shangcheng sneered. "We'll meet again tomorrow! Nan Xu Cong, just you wait! You and she won't get away with this!"
Ji Wushang was lying in Nan Xuzong's arms at this moment. She adjusted her position and looked at his chin. "Zong, are you deliberately trying to anger him?"
"Half yes, half no." Nan Xuzong said calmly, glancing at Gong Shu, Hong Fei, and the others beside him. "Get a carriage!"
"Yes." Gong Shu immediately went to do it.
"Then why is there another half?" Ji Wushang looked at him, anticipating his answer. He was confident that he would cooperate with Yun Shangcheng.
“The other half of the reason is because I genuinely wanted to hold you like this, it wasn’t something I did on purpose,” Nan Xuzong said, then thought for a moment and added, “Was it not enough for me? Don’t worry, Wushang, I will do better in the future.” As he spoke, he smiled at Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang looked at him, "You've already done very well..." With everyone spoiling her like this, what else could she not do well? Everyone else would be insanely jealous.
"Hehe, Wushang, I'm so happy today," Nan Xuzong said with a smile, then stood in the wind, holding her in his arms.
"Why?" Ji Wushang looked at him. "But, if you're happy, I'm happy too."
"Because you're in my arms, not in someone else's." How could he not be in a good mood seeing Yiyun Shangcheng's furious expression? Heh! But then, Nan Xuzong became more serious. "I want to hold you like this forever." Holding you like this until death!
Ji Wushang smiled, "Okay."
Standing together in the wind, they felt a chill, but Ji Wushang remembered what had just happened and was a little confused. He immediately asked, "Cong, how did we suddenly become ambassadors to the Western Regions?"
“This is something I came up with on the spur of the moment. No problem, I just need to send someone to inform my father immediately, and I believe he will definitely agree.” Nan Xuzong thought for a moment, “Besides, didn’t you say we were going to travel to the top of the snow mountain? Another way to put it is as an envoy, just on a different level, so don’t worry.”
Ji Wushang nodded, admitting that his calculations were quite ingenious.
At this moment, the carriage arrived. Gong Shu jumped off the carriage and then respectfully stepped forward, saying, "Master."
"Yes, Gong Shu, go to the palace immediately and tell the Third Prince that Wu Shang and I have already served as envoys to the Western Regions to discuss important matters concerning the development of the border with the King of the Western Regions. Tell him to inform Father Emperor!" Nan Xu Cong looked around to make sure no one was watching, and after giving the order, he carried Ji Wu Shang into the carriage.
"Yes, I'll take care of it right away!" Gong Shu turned around, gave instructions to Hong Fei, Cui Wu, and the other burly men, and then left immediately.
Nan Xuzong also got into the carriage, while Hongfei and Cuiwu sat on either side. Then the carriage began to move.
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong, "Zong, I still have a lot to tell you." He wouldn't be at peace until he achieved his goal! He would get back everything he had suffered!
Nan Xuzong held her in his arms, then gently lifted her legs. She exclaimed, "Zong, what's wrong?"
"Let me check your leg. As for the matter, we can talk about it later tonight." Nan Xuzong smiled and gently massaged her leg. "Does it feel good?"
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded. "But, stop, stop..." Ji Wushang looked at him. "This is a carriage, so please don't rub it for me anymore, okay?"
Nan Xuzong knew she was shy, so he nodded and hugged her tightly. "Next time, don't be so silly. There are many ways to solve this. You don't have to kneel down to climb the mountain. It really hurts me."
"Okay." Ji Wushang nestled in his arms and nodded. "I really didn't know what to do at the time, so I chose to do this. But it's all in the past now, you're okay, and I'm better, so let's not dwell on this anymore, okay?" Ji Wushang's bright eyes met his.
"I'll listen to you," Nan Xuzong said. "Then tell me what you want to tell me, and I'll listen."
“You’ve become the fourth prince, and you’ll be living in the palace, but I… I don’t want to… move into the palace so soon.” Ji Wushang hesitated for a moment.
"You don't like it?" Nan Xuzong looked at her. Only if he lived in the palace with her could he investigate the reasons for his mother's death!
"No, I like whatever you like." Ji Wushang looked at him with a hint of unfathomable sadness in her eyes, as if she had thought of something. But she understood him, she loved him, so he held on.
“If you don’t like it, we can move out. We just need to tell Father.” Nan Xuzong smiled.
“I want to move back to the Marquis’s Mansion, no, it’s now the Jinan Prince’s Mansion. Father has been granted the title of Jinan Prince by the Emperor.” Ji Wushang looked at him. “I have an unfulfilled wish.”
Nan Xuzong looked into the depths of her soul through her eyes. At this moment, her bright eyes were filled with burning hatred, yet also tinged with a deathly despair—the same look he had once seen in the murals of the stone chamber! Just like that look!
"I'll grant you anything! I think the Prince of Jinnan will be very pleased!" Nan Xuzong held her waist. "Wu Shang... whatever you've suffered is in the past. Let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you, okay?"
“…Okay.” Ji Wushang looked down at him. “I’ve thought about letting go before, but it’s not something I can just do as I please… Cong, am I being mean?” Did he understand what she meant?
"No." Nan Xuzong hugged her. "You are my Wushang. Do whatever you like. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I'll do it for you... You just need to ask." He understood perfectly!
Two lines of clear tears welled up in Ji Wushang's eyes. "Cong, I am so happy... I feel so happy... Thank you for the happiness you have given me..." Ji Wushang sobbed.
Nan Xuzong turned her around, then met her tear-filled eyes, his thin lips covering hers, kissing away her tears. "It's not enough, Wushang. The happiness I've given you isn't enough. I want to give you more..." He said, kissing her earlobe, "Just give the word, and I, Nan Xuzong, will do anything for you!"
"Mmm..." Ji Wushang was being held by him, but she could still hear his words. A soft, almost inaudible sound escaped her lips. Ji Wushang was startled when she heard it and hurriedly pushed him away. "Cong, don't do this." This is in the carriage! And he shouldn't be fully recovered yet. Her own legs are still sore. How could she do such a thing?
Seeing Ji Wushang's flushed face, Nan Xuzong immediately understood and grinned, "Did I hurt you?"
"No." Ji Wushang lowered his head. "Cong, you understand what I mean, right?"
"Okay, I understand." Nan Xuzong adjusted the angle and simply hugged her. "I also have some things to tell you, and you might be a little surprised, but it's all true."
Ji Wushang knew he was hiding something from him. Was he finally going to tell him? Ji Wushang pouted, "I knew you were hiding something from me, boohoo, you only think of telling me now, you jerk!" Ji Wushang said, gently punching his chest, but not daring to use too much force, afraid of hurting him.
Nan Xuzong pulled her delicate hand over, then stroked it a few times in his own palm, transferring his warmth to her. "I'm a bastard... Wu Shang, I'll only be your bastard, okay?"
"You're so glib!" Ji Wushang looked at him, into his eyes, and then said, "You'd better hurry up and tell me what's going on. I really want to know, you know? I've always known that you're hiding something from me, because I feel like we're drifting further and further apart, and I'm afraid of that feeling. Cong, if you love me, don't hide yourself, okay? At least, let's be honest with each other in front of each other, okay?"
"I... okay." Nan Xuzong nodded, affectionately stroking her lips with his fingertip. "I don't want to hide it from you, but there are some things that, if I tell you now, it will only make you worry. I'm afraid you'll be anxious about me, afraid you'll change yourself because of these things, I'm afraid of losing you, you know?"
“I know.” Ji Wushang looked at him. “But I once said that I wanted to walk side by side with you. I have been improving myself so that I could share everything with you and enter your heart and mind.”
“You’ve been in my heart for a very, very long time, and that will never change, it always will.” Nan Xuzong placed her hand on his chest. “My heart is on the right side, you know that?” he suddenly said.
Ji Wushang was taken aback. The right side? The right side… “The right side? Really?”
"It's true. There aren't many people in this world who know this secret." Nan Xuzong pulled her into his arms. "Beigong Jueshi, possessed by a demon, listened to the words of the Western Region King and came to kill me. To avoid hurting him, I let him stab me in the left chest. After faking my death, he left, and I immediately came back to find you. Who knew that the incident that almost wiped out my entire family that night would happen? Later, in the fight with the Western Region King, I was already injured, so I was no match for him." Nan Xuzong looked at her, "Wu Shang, what should I do?"
"Are you asking about the second son of the Prince of Zhenbei?" Ji Wushang looked at him. "Actually, I think we should find the second son's wife first, otherwise, I'm afraid Beigong Jueshi will continue to hunt you down."
“I know, but I can’t find the second princess anymore. I guess she’s been imprisoned by the King of the Western Regions.” Nan Xuzong looked outside. “Moreover, I haven’t found Minhao either. He probably left with Master and the others.”
"It's good that they've left. Wouldn't staying here only add to their sorrow?" Ji Wushang sighed softly. "As long as they're safe, that's enough."
"Hmm." Nan Xuzong pulled her close to him and stared intently at her. Ji Wushang blushed slightly under his gaze and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I really want to know what you've been through." Nan Xuzong thought for a moment, but then felt he shouldn't ask. "No, never mind, don't say it, Wushang. I'm sorry, I don't want to mention your sad stories."
"Do you know what I've been through?" Ji Wushang met his eyes. "Look at me and tell me."
“Yes.” Nan Xuzong looked at her entire face. “I found out by accident, but I wanted to confirm it, yet I was afraid of hurting you…”
Ji Wushang closed his eyes slightly, then opened them again. "That was a long time ago... Yes, I have lived two lives. Cong, are you afraid?"
Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, Nan Xuzong immediately hugged her. "Don't be afraid. What I hate is why I wasn't strong enough to stop them from hurting you... You know? The first time I saw you, I felt my heart pounding. I knew that you were sent by heaven to meet, know, and love me... I don't know why you had to go through all of this, but I know that I loved you in my past life, and in this life, I still love you and cherish you. In the next life, and the life after that, I will still love you!" Nan Xuzong held her tightly. "Wu Shang, don't cry, okay? It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought these things up."
Ji Wushang wiped away his tears and said, "I never thought I would be able to marry you. I thought that in this life, besides an empty bag of revenge, I had nothing else. Who would have thought that you would be so good to me... Maybe we couldn't be together in our past life, so we have to be together in this life."
Nan Xuzong nodded as he listened, but suddenly remembered what the old man who had been studying medicine had told him last time: that he and Ji Wushang would not have a good ending in this life... He was wrong, and Ji Wushang was right. He and Ji Wushang had not had a good life in their past life, but in this life, things should be peaceful and they should spend their lives together.
Ji Wushang looked at him, "I don't know how to explain all this, but I really didn't mean to hide it from you, I was worried..." Nan Xuzong gently pressed his fingertip to her lips, interrupting her, "I believe you, I'm so glad that God brought you to my side. It's because of you that I, Nan Xuzong, was able to emerge from the darkness, that I, Nan Xuzong, was able to stand up, and that I was able to feel what love is. You gave me a second life, and I think God is moved, she wouldn't be so cruel as to separate us."
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded.
At this moment, the carriage stopped, and Hongfei jumped down and said to Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, "Master, Madam, we have arrived at the inn."
Nan Xuzong lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. The surrounding area was filled with small vendors. The town was relatively quiet and there wasn't much conflict.
“Let’s go downstairs!” Nan Xuzong said. “I’ll take a look at your leg when we get back.”
“Okay.” Ji Wushang nodded. Just as she was about to get off the carriage, he pressed her down to stop her from moving. “I’ll carry you out of the carriage.”
"This... isn't quite right? This isn't a mountain trail, why do we have to do this?" Ji Wushang looked at him with a blush. Besides, there were many ordinary people around. Although it was her own business, she didn't like others judging her, and she also didn't like Nan Xuzong showing his doting affection for her in front of so many people.
"Don't care what others think. We live for the two of us." Nan Xuzong smiled and picked her up. "If you don't like it, close your eyes. I'll be upstairs soon."
Ji Wushang was helpless, but he smiled and carried her down from the carriage, then strode into the inn inside.
The vendors watching the two of them wondered what had happened that made the man so dotingly carry the woman inside.
"She's probably sick. Oh, look at that woman, how thin and frail she looks, it's so pitiful, her lips are all white, she really is sick!"
"But that man was alright; he knew to take care of me!"
"Wow, they're so loving!"
"If only my husband could carry me down from the carriage like this!"
"Forget it, look at you, so fat you're like a pig's head, and you still want to be carried by your husband?"
"..."