Lu Pianpian had already come up with a plan: "Only if you spare his life will I take him into seclusion and guarantee that he will never appear in front of you again."
Huan Changming, however, understood another meaning: "Lu Pianpian, without my permission, you're not going anywhere!"
"I just want to save my dad, can't you just let him go?"
“As long as you stay obediently by my side, I guarantee Lu Zhong will live to be a hundred years old.” Huan Changming stared at Lu Pianpian with bloodshot eyes. “On the contrary… if you dare to run away and go to Huan Juntian’s side, I will definitely make you regret it.”
"Why do you insist on keeping me by your side?" Lu Pianpian couldn't understand why Huan Changming was so insistent on her staying or leaving. "What have I done to offend you that you would go to such lengths to keep me by your side and subject me to your humiliation?"
He believed he had never done anything to wrong Huan Changming, yet Huan Changming insisted on clinging to him. Huan Changming's obsession with him even seemed to exceed the bounds of reason.
Huan Changming suppressed the surging desire in his chest. Lu Pianpian couldn't understand, and he couldn't understand either, why he had such a foolish thought about this blockhead in front of him!
But this blockhead even pushed him into the sea, and even wanted to kill him for his junior brother!
Thinking of this, Huan Changming gritted his teeth in hatred, "Lu Pianpian, you overestimate yourself! I keep you by my side only to restrain Huan Juntian."
"I will be at war with Huan Juntian in Huaijiang County in a few days. With you as a hostage, I don't believe Huan Juntian would dare to make any rash moves!"
This makes sense; keeping him around was simply to keep his junior brother in check.
Lu Pianpian dispelled his doubts and unconsciously swallowed. His saliva stung his tongue, and he couldn't help but touch his lips. But his lips also hurt terribly, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"You idiot!"
Huan Changming cursed Lu Pianpian, ordered a palace maid to bring a box of burn ointment, pulled Lu Pianpian to sit down beside him, and said fiercely, "Spit out your tongue!"
Lu Pianpian mumbled, "It's none of your business..."
"Say one more word and I'll cut your tongue out!"
Lu Pianpian suppressed her disgust and stuck out a little bit of her tongue. Huan Changming dipped his finger in the medicine and tried to apply it, but Lu Pianpian immediately pulled it back, saying, "I can do it myself."
Huan Changming could tell that he disliked him, so he deliberately prevented him from having his way. "If you accept my favor without gratitude, then someone else will have to suffer it for you."
Who else could the "other person" he was referring to be but Lu Zhong?
Lu Pianpian closed her eyes and stuck out her tongue again, as if she were going to the execution ground.
Huan Changming dipped his fingers in the medicine again, his mood calming down a bit, and slowly smeared it onto Lu Pianpian's tongue.
Huan Changming brushed his fingertip against Lu Pianpian's tongue, feeling the heat and the saliva on his fingertip. As Huan Changming turned back, his fingertip drew up a very thin silver thread.
Upon seeing this, Huan Changming's eyes darkened slightly.
His fingers, which were applying the medicine to Lu Pianpian, moved slowly. It was as if he was deliberately rubbing and pressing on the tip of Lu Pianpian's tongue, and the act of applying the medicine gradually changed its meaning.
Huan Changming's Adam's apple bobbed silently. He couldn't help but lean in and kiss Lu Pianpian's lips, capturing the tongue that had aroused his desire on his fingertips.
Lu Pianpian opened her eyes in terror and tried to push him away, but he pressed down hard on the back of her head and waist, his hoarse voice whispering between her lips, "My tongue is injured too. Use your tongue to apply the medicine for me, it'll be perfect..."
A note from the author:
Hehehe, you stubborn little devil.
Chapter 41
In the golden autumn of October, the civil war between the crown princes of the Li Kingdom is finally about to break out in Jianghuai County.
Huan Changming's army arrived ahead of schedule and set up camp on the banks of the Jianghuai River. Across the surging river, the commander-in-chief confidently awaited the arrival of the enemy.
At night, candles were lit in the military camp, and cooking smoke rose slowly into the air. The patrolmen changed shifts in an orderly manner, guarding the inside and outside of the tents for any signs of enemy infiltration.
Qu Surou changed into a night outfit, concealed her presence, and hid in a tree outside the camp.
Their men learned that Lu Pianpian had also been brought to the front lines by Huan Changming, presumably to use her to distract Huan Juntian during the battle. Qu Surou then planned to take Lu Pianpian back from the enemy under cover of night.
However, Huan Changming seemed to have anticipated their attempt to abduct her, as the guards in the military camp were so heavily deployed. Furthermore, Qu Surou was unable to determine which tent Lu Pianpian was currently being held in, and if she were to sneak in blindly, she might alert the enemy.
Qu Surou squatted on the tree and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, a patrolling soldier broke away from the group, came to the grass under her tree, and pulled down his pants.
Qu Surou turned her face away in disgust. Just as the soldier finished and pulled up his pants, a pebble hit him on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.
Taking advantage of the situation, Qu Surou flew down from the tree and caught the soldier. She dragged him behind the tree, stripped him of his armor and put it on herself. Then she quickly followed the patrol team and blended into the military camp.
The cook called the soldiers to dinner, and Qu Surou patted the soldier in front of her and asked in a gruff voice, "Aren't we going to eat?"
"What are you thinking about? What if the guards are captured by the enemy while we're all going to eat?"
Qu Surou knew immediately that finding Lu Pianpian was a good chance. "You're right, but do those people who are being held captive get food at night? Is their food better than ours?"
"It's hard to say..." The soldier casually pointed to one of the tents, "Look, they're delivering food to the prisoners right now, and the food does seem to be better than ours."
Qu Surou looked in the direction he pointed and, sure enough, saw soldiers carrying food to deliver to the people inside. She secretly noted the location of the tent and patiently followed the patrol team of soldiers.
By the time their patrol was over, the soldiers were almost ready to rest.
Qu Surou made an excuse to go to the restroom, broke away from the army, and quickly sneaked into the tent.
After she went inside, she did find the "hostage" they had mentioned being guarded, but it wasn't Lu Pianpian.
Huan Mi was bound hand and foot and thrown to the ground. She was stunned when she saw Qu Surou. She opened her mouth and was about to scream when Qu Surou covered her mouth.
"Do you have a brain?! I'm here to save you!"
Qu Surou didn't expect Huan Mi to be here, but since she was Huan Juntian's sister, Qu Surou decided to lend a hand and rescue her as well.
Huan Mi belatedly realized, "Did my brother send you to rescue me?"
"Yes." Qu Surou untied the ropes for her. "Do you know where my junior brother is being held?"
"Your junior brother? Lu Pianpian? Even someone as capable as him got arrested?"
Qu Surou had hoped to get news about Lu Pianpian from her, but now it seemed that she couldn't count on that. "I'll go to the military camp to find my junior brother first. Once we find him, we'll come back and take you with us."
"No!" Huan Mi suddenly grabbed Qu Surou's hand. "What if you find Lu Pianpian and then abandon me? You have to take me with you now!"
Qu Surou was furious. "Do you know martial arts or magic? If I take you out of this tent, we'll be captured by Huan Changming's men immediately!"
"Then I can't let you leave like this. I've suffered so much at the hands of that scoundrel Huan Changming, I can't stay here any longer. You must take me with you!"
"I already told you I'd come to rescue you after I found my junior brother. If you don't let me go, then neither of us will be leaving!"
Qu Surou was a lifeline for Huan Mi. No matter how Qu Surou tried to persuade her, she was determined not to let Qu Surou leave. "Then don't worry about your junior brother. Just take this princess with you now and everything will be fine, right?"
"Is my life less precious than your junior brother's?"
"Your life is truly not as precious as my junior brother's!"
Qu Surou pushed Huan Mi away angrily and turned to leave, but the tent curtain was lifted from the outside.
Jingyi walked in slowly, followed by soldiers.
He looked Qu Surou up and down for a while, "Miss Qu, you've changed into our army's uniform. Are you planning to submit to His Majesty and abandon the darkness for the light?"
Huan Mi grabbed Qu Surou's skirt, her eyes gleaming, and said, "You, take me away quickly..."
"What the hell are you going to do?" Qu Surou threw down her helmet, and her sword appeared in her hand out of thin air. "I say, Jingyi, this princess is such a waste, why didn't you kill her sooner? What's the point of keeping her alive?"
Huan Mi said incredulously, "You woman—"
Qu Surou snapped at her, "Shut up!"
“Princess Huanmi is innocent and charming, which makes her endearing,” Jingyi replied calmly. “Miss Qu, you are straightforward and lovely, making you unforgettable.”
Qu Surou grabbed Huan Mi by the back of her collar with one hand and swung her sword forward with the other, shattering the entire tent with her sword strike and sending the soldiers flying.
"Where did you hide my junior brother?!"
Mu Lingzi appeared just in time and steadied Jing Yi. After the wind subsided, she faced Qu Surou directly and said, "Little girl, you should worry about yourself first. You might have made it into our camp, but you might not make it back alive!"
The soldiers surrounded Qu Surou. Mu Lingzi waved his sleeve and released bamboo leaves, the sharp blades aimed at Qu Surou.
Huan Mi screamed in fright. Qu Surou leaped into the air and intercepted Mu Lingzi's attack. The bamboo leaves collided with the sword, sparking dazzling sparks.
Just then, a dragon's roar came from the night sky. Qu Surou knew something was wrong. The scorching dragon flames attacked Qu Surou from above like a curtain of fire.
Knowing that she could not rescue Pianpian by herself tonight, she quickly landed, reluctantly picked up the trembling Huan Mi from the ground, placed her on her sword, and swiftly flew away from the military camp on her sword.
Mu Lingzi gave chase, and the demonic dragon circling in the sky excitedly wanted to follow, but Huan Changming stopped it, saying, "You're not allowed to chase."
The demonic dragon had no choice but to fly away into the clouds in a huff.
Jing Yi approached Huan Changming's side and said, "Your Majesty, Qu Surou has abducted Huan Mi, and Mu Lingzi has already gone after her."
In less than a moment, Mu Lingzi returned empty-handed to the military camp, saying, "I didn't catch them; they got away."
With the loss of Huan Mi, they have one less bargaining chip to use to restrain Huan Juntian.
But Huan Changming, contrary to his usual behavior, did not fly into a rage. Instead, he gave the order, "At noon tomorrow, beat the drums to meet the enemy."
"yes!"
Huan Changming returned to his tent, where Lu Pianpian sat in his commanding position, with a fox fur under her head and her hands tied to the armrests on either side, like a puppet whose freedom had been restricted by Huan Changming.
"Your senior sister was just here," Huan Changming deliberately provoked. "She rescued Huan Mi, but she didn't come to rescue you..."
Lu Pianpian heard some of the fighting noises outside from inside the tent, but hearing Huan Changming say that her senior sister must have escaped successfully, Lu Pianpian breathed a sigh of relief.
"Aren't you angry that she didn't save you?"
Huan Changming walked to the table opposite Lu Pianpian and sat down. He was eager to know Lu Pianpian's current reaction.
Lu Pianpian didn't even bother to look at him. "Senior Sister came to save me tonight. She was pressured too much by your people, so she had no choice but to leave with Huan Mi first."
Whether it's Qu Surou or Huan Juntian, the bond between the three of them—the senior and junior siblings—would not be strained by the deliberate provocation of an outsider.
Upon receiving such an answer, Huan Changming was not angry as expected. Instead, he said with some envy, "Sometimes, I really envy the three of you for being so close."
His words struck Lu Pianpian as odd, but then she remembered that Huan Changming had once been a member of their sect.
Lu Pianpian treated Huan Changming with genuine kindness, cherishing him like a junior sister, but in return, she was betrayed and humiliated.
A flash of resentment and anger crossed Lu Pianpian's eyes, but Huan Changming still caught it.
He squeezed into the head seat, put his arm around Lu Pianpian's waist from behind, and said inappropriately, "Why is your waist getting thinner and thinner?"
Lu Pianpian has been imprisoned by his side for some time now, and not only has her waist become thinner, but she has also lost a lot of weight.
Huan Changming has recently taken to using these lewd and vulgar methods to torment him. The moment Huan Changming's hand touched his waist, Lu Pianpian couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. "Don't touch me!"
He twisted his body to try to dodge, but Huan Changming held him even tighter, his back pressed against Huan Changming's chest.
Huan Changming rested his chin on his shoulder, his fingers tracing his waist back and forth through his clothes. "Why have you lost so much weight?"